SEC: League receives six bids in down year

Georgia managed to win four games over the course of the entire SEC regular season but somehow found a way to win four games in four days during the most bizarre SEC Tournament ever played.

Consider the following: The Dawgs won two games in overtime, including one on a short jumper by a player (Dave Bliss) averaging 7.7 points per game and another on nifty step-back turnaround 3-pointer by a freshman (Zac Swansey) who hit a total of four threes during the 16-game SEC season. Have we mentioned that Georgia won two games in one day, as well? What about the fact that the tournament was played in two different venues?

Well, it’s all true, and it added up to an incredible four-day run for Dennis Felton, a coach whose job security had become a major issue over the past few weeks. Felton will be back, and his team is in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002, joining SEC brethren Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Kentucky.

Before we take a look at the SEC teams’ outlook for the NCAA Tournament, let’s take a quick look back at some of the happenings in Atlanta.

Most surprising team — This one’s easy. Georgia, which finished in last place in the SEC, beat one very good NIT team (Ole Miss) and three NCAA Tournament teams (Kentucky, Mississippi State and Arkansas) en route to the tournament title.

Most disappointing team — Too many to choose from. Is it Florida, which desperately needed to win at least two games in Atlanta yet fell behind Alabama 30–5 in the first half on its way to an 80–69 loss? Or is it Ole Miss, which might have snuck into the field with one win yet lost on Thursday night to a Georgia team that went 4–12 during the regular season? What about LSU, which had emerged as a popular darkhorse pick after winning four straight games late in the season but flamed out with an uninspiring 77–73 loss to South Carolina in the opening round? And we can’t forget about regular-season champ Tennessee, which needed a Chris Lofton 3-pointer to beat South Carolina in the quarterfinals before bowing out to Arkansas in the semis.

Best player — Sundiata Gaines, Georgia’s underappreciated senior point guard, took home MVP honors after averaging 17.3 points over the Dawgs’ four games. Gaines has been a consistent performer on some mediocre to bad Georgia teams, and now the New York City native will have an opportunity to showcase his game on the national stage.

Best freshman — Vanderbilt center A.J. Ogilvy scored a career-high 27 points (on 12-of-13 shooting) against an undersized Auburn team in the opening round, then came back with 14 points and seven boards in an 81–75 loss to Arkansas.

Most fortunate victory — Georgia managed to hold off Ole Miss 97–95 in double-overtime despite fouling a Rebel shooter behind the 3-point line in the closing seconds of regulation and the first overtime. Georgia led by three points each time, and the Ole Miss shooter (David Huertas then Chris Warren) connected on all three free throws on both occasions.

Most unfortunate situation — Auburn started one player taller than 6’5 against Vanderbilt, and that one player, senior forward Quan Prowell — listed at 6’8 — managed to stay on the floor for a total of 11 minutes before fouling out. With Prowell sidelined, Vanderbilt freshman A.J. Ogilvy (see above) scored with ease around the basket in the Commodores’ 93–82 opening-round win.

Mr. Clutch — Mykal Riley sent the Alabama-Mississippi State game into overtime with a 3-pointer that spun around the rim and bounced off the backboard before settling into the net. Then, after an hour delay due to the tornado, Riley almost shot the Tide into the semifinals, but his potential game-winning 3-pointer in overtime rimmed out as the buzzer sounded.

Worst matchup — Including the SEC Tournament, Vanderbilt is 21–12 over the last two seasons in league play, and four of the Commodores’ losses have come against Arkansas — two in the regular season and two in the tournament. The Hogs’ athleticism on the perimeter and size and length around the basket continues to give Kevin Stallings’ club problems.

Best bounceback — South Carolina’s two worst defeats of the season came against the Tennessee Vols — a 24-point loss in Columbia in mid-January and a 33-point beatdown in Knoxville on the final weekend of the regular season. But the Gamecocks, in Dave Odom’s final game as a head coach, battled the Vols to the final horn, falling 89–87 on a Chris Lofton 3-pointer with 11.4 seconds remaining.

Onto the NCAA Tournament…

Tennessee: No. 2 seed in the East

The Vols, a beneficiary of a favorable seed two years ago (No. 2), were dealt a difficult hand by the selection committee this time around. Not only did the Vols fail to receive a No. 1 seed, they were placed in a bracket with the best No. 1 seed (North Carolina), the best No. 3 seed (Louisville), the best No. 5 seed (Notre Dame), and the best No. 7 seed (Butler). Tennessee’s path to the Final Four could include American, Butler, Louisville and North Carolina. Prediction: Lose to Louisville in the Sweet 16.

Vanderbilt: No. 4 seed in the Midwest

The Commodores have not been getting much respect from the national pundits, many of whom are picking against Kevin Stallings’ team in a first-round matchup with Siena. That isn’t likely to happen. Vanderbilt, however, could find some trouble in the second round, especially if the talented and athletic Clemson Tigers are the opponent. Prediction: Lose to Clemson in the second round.

Mississippi State: No. 8 in the South

Rick Stansbury’s team lacks depth but has all of the other ingredients necessary for a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs have a very good point guard (Jamont Gordon, one of the most difficult players to guard in the nation), solid wing shooters (Ben Hansbrough, Barry Stewart) and two quality post players (Charles Rhodes, Jarvis Varnardo). Prediction: Lose to Pittsburgh in the Regional Semifinals.

Arkansas: No. 9 in the East

For the second straight season, the Hogs made a deep run in the SEC Tournament after an underwhelming regular season. Last year, Arkansas was unable to carry the momentum into the NCAAs, losing 77–60 to USC in the first round. This year, the Razorbacks get a talented Indiana team that has struggled of late. Assuming Arkansas gets past IU — and we are assuming it will — the powerful North Carolina Tar Heels would be next. Prediction: Lose to North Carolina in the second round.

Kentucky: No. 11 in the South

Kentucky did what few thought was possible two months ago — earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats snuck into the field, due in large part to a 12–4 record in SEC play, and are paired up against Marquette, a team that went 11–7 in the tough Big East. Billy Gillispie has proven to be a masterful strategist and game coach, but I think the Eagles are just too talented for the depleted Cats. Prediction: Lose to Marquette in the first round.

Georgia: No. 14 in the West

Georgia’s miracle run to the SEC Tournament title was one of the great stories of championship week, but the Bulldogs’ stay in the NCAA Tournament doesn’t figure to last very long. Prediction: Lose to Xavier in the first round.

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