I think the biggest story through the first month-plus of this college basketball season has been the SEC’s assertion as the dominant conference this year. They have won multiple preseason tournaments. They just finished a 14-2 a**-kicking in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Currently, NCAA projections have as many as 12 SEC teams in the field of 68. It’s hard to find weaknesses in the conference. We have elite national title contenders. We have All-American caliber players. But there is also a depth in the conference that hasn’t always existed.
So I wondered what has been the best SEC season so far since the conference expanded to 12 teams in 1992? I broke down the four seasons I think are under consideration into four categories:
- NCAA Teams: How many teams made it to the postseason
- NCAA Success: How good did those teams fare
- Ranked Teams: Who finished as one of the country’s 25 best teams in the AP Poll
- All-Americans: Did the conference have elite individuals
Using that criteria, I think there are only four seasons that should be considered: 2018, 2002, 2000, and 1999.
NCAA TOURNAMENT TEAMS
2018: 8 out of 14
2002: 6 out of 12
2000: 6 out of 12
1999: 6 out of 12
These are the four times that at least half of the SEC has made the NCAA Tournament. Obviously, this year that would require nine teams to make the field. But with 12-14 teams with actual aspirations to get there, I think it seems likely the league will reach this threshold this season.
NCAA TOURNAMENT SUCCESS
2018: 2 Sweet 16, 4 Round of 32, 2 Round of 64
2002: 1 Sweet 16, 3 Round of 32, 2 Round of 64
2000: 1 Runner Up, 2 Sweet 16, 2 Round of 32, 1 Round of 64
1999: 1 Elite 8, 2 Sweet 16, 3 Round of 32
The reality is, outside of Kentucky and Florida, not a lot of Final Fours for the SEC. Arkansas has been to 2. Alabama has been to 1. LSU has been to 1. Mississippi State has been to 1. South Carolina has been to 1. Texas and Oklahoma made Final Fours but while they were in the Big 12. Point being, even in our best season, the league hasn’t always produced deep tournament runs.
RANKED IN FINAL AP POLL
2018: 4 out of 14 (Ranked 13, 18, 19, 23)
2002: 5 out of 12 (Ranked 8, 15, 16, 17, 23)
2000: 5 out of 12 (Ranked 10, 11, 13, 19, 24)
1999: 5 out of 12 (Ranked 4, 8, 17, 20, 23)
The league has never had at least half of its teams ranked at the end of the season. That would be quite an accomplishment if the SEC can get it done. It is unlikely as the league will likely beat up on each other throughout January and February. But I will be interested in Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, and Kentucky and if they can remain in the Top 10.
SEC ALL-AMERICANS
*AP All-Americans (1st, 2nd, 3rd team)
2018: 0
2002: 2 (Tayshaun Prince, Erwin Dudley)
2000: 1 (Stromile Swift)
1999: 1 (Chris Butler)
Here’s what is really wild: the SEC really hasn’t put too many guys on the All-American teams over the years. But this year several guys will be in contention, like Mark Sears and Johni Broome, who are likely to be in the running for First Team All-American.
