Three SEC teams will make the NCAA tournament and two others still have a chance at hearing their name called on Selection Sunday, unless there’s a miracle run through the conference tournament, which begins March 8 in New Orleans.
Here’s a look at the teams with tournament dreams.
On the dance floor: Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Florida.
As the nation’s No. 1 team, the Wildcats (28-1, 14-0 SEC) could earn the No. 1 overall seed for the NCAA tournament. They have defeated North Carolina, Kansas and strong RPI teams Louisville, Alabama and Florida and haven’t lost since Dec. 10. Even if Kentucky isn’t the overall top seed, it will be one of the four No. 1 seeds.
The Commodores (21-9, 10-5) are gearing up at the perfect time, winning four of their past five, including Tuesday’s victory over No. 16 Florida. Their RPI is No. 6, and their strength of schedule is 22. Despite bad losses to Indiana State and Cleveland State, they could enter the tournament as a No. 6 seed.
They’re going the wrong direction at the wrong time, but the Gators (22-8, 10-5), who have lost two consecutive games, are in the NCAA tournament, no matter the outcome of Sunday’s regular-season finale against Kentucky. Florida is looking for answers without Will Yeguete, who is out with a broken foot, but could still be a fourth or fifth seed.
Should make it: Alabama.
The Crimson Tide has somehow managed to salvage a season filled with suspensions and turmoil by figuring it out and getting hot at the right time. Their RPI is a strong 25, their strength of schedule is 13th and have quality victories over Purdue and Wichita State. ESPN projected Alabama to be a No. 10 seed.
Down to last fingernail: Mississippi State.
The losses are piling up for the Bulldogs, but ESPN was still projecting them as a No. 12 seed before Wednesday’s game against South Carolina. Losses to bad RPI teams Auburn and Georgia during their current skid have damaged their case.
Hot shot
Jeronne Maymon has become Tennessee’s most consistent player.
He had scored at least 12 points in every SEC game this season entering Wednesday’s game at LSU.
Maymon had 18 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Mississippi and followed that with 14 points and eight rebounds to help knock off South Carolina on Saturday.
“If you need a bucket, you can always go to him,” teammate Jordan McRae (who played at Liberty County High) told the AP. “Jeronne, he causes a lot of attention, and him being so unselfish, he gets us a lot of shots. Jeronne will find you wide open. He has no problem making that pass.”
Maymon, who has a team-high seven double-doubles, transferred from Marquette and sat out the first half of last season. He averaged 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 14 games after becoming eligible.
Have not
Rick Stansbury could be facing his final days at Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs have missed the past two NCAA tournaments and are on the verge of fumbling away another one despite having a strong core of players, including Dee Bost, Rodney Hood and Arnett Moultrie.
Mississippi State was No. 18 in the AP poll Jan. 16, but has steadily slipped.
“Things have definitely been down the wrong path lately, and we let it get too deep,” Moultrie told the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion-Ledger. “It shouldn’t have [gone] this far. A five-game losing streak is unheard of at any level in basketball, especially when you have all this talent.”
On a roll
- Vanderbilt's John Jenkins is still draining 3-pointers, making six in a win over Florida on Tuesday. He scored 22 points in the victory and has scored in double digits in 63 consecutive games.
- Mississippi's Murphy Holloway and Reginald Buckner combined for 31 rebounds in a win over Arkansas. Holloway is third in the SEC with 8.9 rebounds and Buckner is fourth at 8.3.
- Freshman B.J. Young reached double figures in scoring for the 25th time this season with 19 points in Arkansas' loss to Mississippi. He leads the Razorbacks at 16.4 points.
Must-see TV
Kentucky at Florida, noon Sunday (CBS)
The Gators need a win to stop a two-game losing streak and earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye for the SEC tournament.
Quotable
“It’s interesting because there’s a perception among some people that our guys — I’m hard on them. … I told them immediately following the Kentucky game that one is allowed to cry on Senior Night — and they obliged.” — Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings after the Commodores’ win over Florida on Tuesday.
By the numbers
17-3 Arkansas' record at Bud Walton Arena after opening the season with 17 consecutive wins.
68 Anthony Davis' shooting percentage from the field in Kentucky's past 11 games. He has made 66 of his past 97 attempts.
