The SEC basketball season has had its ups and downs, but right now the Texas A&M Aggies, an unlikely frontrunner, are leading the pack. In their first year under new coach Bucky McMillan, they’ve become a team to watch as the season heads into the final stretch.
It’s been an exciting year for the Aggies. After snagging a road win this past weekend against the Georgia Bulldogs in a tough environment, it’s time to recognize this team as a legitimate contender. The road ahead gets tricky with games against Alabama on Wednesday night and Florida on Saturday. Pulling off a double sweep could have people talking about an Aggies squad with a real shot at the SEC regular season championship.
The Florida Gators are back in the SEC race once again. Led by big man Rueben Chinyelu and with Boogie Fland playing at a high level, plus Todd Golden proving he’s one of the top coaches in the country, they’ve defied expectations. Many thought losing two top guards to the NBA would mean a down year, but think again—this team has the talent to make another run to the Final Four.
In recent weeks, the Gators have been on a tear after their home loss to the Auburn Tigers. Dropping 95 points on the South Carolina Gamecocks and then cruising to a 100-77 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide on Sunday. They dominated the paint with 72 points in the rout of one of the preseason SEC favorites. The Gators are back in the saddle and a team to watch going down the stretch.
The rest of the pack sits at 6-3, creating a logjam behind the favorites. The Arkansas Razorbacks, Kentucky Wildcats, Vanderbilt Commodores, and Tennessee Volunteers all share the same record, and with the SEC still wide open. Anyone’s guess who will rise to the top.
The race to the top is shaping up to be an exciting finish to the season. Kentucky, after starting SEC play 0-2, now has a shot at a top-four bye. Tennessee, who stumbled early, is back in the mix, and Vanderbilt, despite some tough SEC losses, is right there too. The one team that’s fallen off is the Georgia Bulldogs, who started strong but seemed to fade as the season went on.
The Auburn Tigers haven’t had much luck in their first season since Bruce Pearl’s retirement, with his son now guiding the team through some early bumps. Meanwhile, Alabama has fallen into a slump after a home loss to Tennessee and a road defeat against Florida. Knocking the Tide out of the SEC race unless other teams start to falter.
We’ve hit the halfway point, and seeing Texas A&M leading the pack is definitely a surprise. With Florida and plenty of other teams still in the mix, the race for the SEC title is far from over. Just a few weeks until the SEC tournament and March Madness, expect the standings to get wild and crowded as time runs out.
The SEC overall is a bit down compared to last year, but the exciting part is seeing new leaders emerge and fresh teams shake up the standings and the conference as a whole.
SEC Basketball Parity The Best It’s Ever Been
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