With names like Sylvia Fowles, Candace Parker and Tasha Humphrey gone from the Southeastern Conference this season, most expected the SEC to be poorly represented in the NCAA tournament.But with seven bids — including four teams with a No. 6 seed or better — the conference that has produced five Final Four bids in the past three years is well represented again in the Big Dance.YOUNG LADY TIGERS LOOKING TO MAKE RUNLSU is an underdog in its quest to advance to a sixth-straight Final Four. The Lady Tigers are a No. 6 seed in the Raleigh region and will play No. 11 seed Wisconsin-Green Bay on Sunday in the PMAC.The Phoenix come into the Big Dance having won 21-straight games.Wisconsin-Green Bay is the opposite of LSU in terms of experience with four starting seniors. But junior guard and first-team All-SEC selection Allison Hightower said what the Lady Tigers give up in experience to the Phoenix, they will gain back in playing in the PMAC.”It’s a great thing to have the tournament here,” Hightower said. “[The fans] always give us an energy boost, and that is exactly why we love playing for them.”LSU freshman forward LaSondra Barrett said after dealing with a 1-3 start and a few injuries throughout the season, the Lady Tigers are a better team than they were earlier in the season and are equipped to make another tournament run.”I have always been told it is not how you start, it is about how you finish,” Barrett said. “With all of those obstacles we have faced throughout the season, we have learned from them, and that will make us stronger.” The winner of Sunday’s game will take on the winner of No. 3 seed Louisville and No. 14 seed Liberty. TWO-TIME DEFENDING CHAMPS IN AWKWARD POSITIONTennessee’s position is similar to the Lady Tigers’, as the Lady Vols also had to replace all five starters from its 2008 national championship team.The Lady Vols had growing pains throughout the season and ended up receiving a No. 5 seed — their lowest seed in program history.But not being the favorite to cut down the nets isn’t a problem to Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt, whose team will face No. 12 seed Ball State in the first round Sunday.”It doesn’t really bother me,” Summitt said following the NCAA Tournament Selection Show. “A four seed would have been good, but as I look at the bracket, I don’t see where it’s a big deal.”The Lady Vols’ bracket would presumably have them facing No. 4 seed Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA tournament before playing No. 1 seed Duke in the Sweet 16.The Blue Devils beat the Lady Vols, 62-54, on Feb. 16 in Knoxville.Having a team with 10 losses is not unfamiliar territory for Summitt.The Lady Vols finished the 1997 regular season with 10 losses, and that season, Tennessee ended up winning the national championship.”I keep thinking about that,” Summitt said. “Ten losses, and now we’re going to [play to] win it all.”AUBURN GETS TOP NCAA SEEDING AMONG SEC TEAMSFor most of the season, it looked like Auburn would lock up a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. But a pair of losses to Vanderbilt down the stretch forced Auburn into a No. 2 seed in the Oklahoma City Region where they will take on No. 15 seed Lehigh.The players on Auburn’s current roster got their first taste of the NCAA tournament last season and made the field of 64 as a No. 11 seed before losing to Georgia Washington, 66-56 in the opening round.SEC Player of the Year DeWanna Bonner said last season’s tournament experience will aid the Lady Tigers in their quest to reach the Final Four.”I think we have the advantage now,” she said. “You kind of have the little jitters the first time you get to the NCAA tournament, and now it’s not jitters. Everything is just flowing right now.”OTHER SEC TEAMS IN THE FIELD:Vanderbilt – No. 4 seed in Raleigh Regional. Will face No. 13 seed Western Carolina in the opening round.Florida – No. 8 seed in Trenton Regional. Will face No. 9 seed Temple in the opening round.Georgia – No. 11 seed in Trenton Regional. Will face No. 6 seed Arizona State in the opening roundMississippi State – No. 11 seed in Berkley Regional. Will face No. 6 seed Texas in the opening round.- – – -Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]