Alabama

SEC Basketball Preview: 2009-10

CHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:28:59 -0500

A new era of Kentucky basketball begins, but will the likes of Mississppi St, Tennesse, or Vanderbilt spoil John Calipari's entrance. Perhaps no league is loaded with NBA talent like the SEC.

Conference Rank: 4th

10 year average: 2nd

SEC Page

All-SEC Team
Pos.	Player	Team	Yr.

G	John Wall	Kentucky	Fr
G	Devan Downey	South Carolina	Sr
F	Tyler Smith	Tennessee	Sr
F	Patrick Patterson	Kentucky	Jr
F	Tasmin Mitchell	LSU	Sr
Second Team
G	Terrico White	Ole Miss	So
G	Chris Warren	Ole Miss	Jr
G/F	Jeffrey Taylor	Vanderbilt	So
C	AJ Ogilvy	Vanderbilt	Jr
C	Jarvis Varnado	Mississippi St	Sr

Player of the Year - Devan Downey Freshman of the Year - John Wall
CHN Award Winners		Returning Leaders
CHN All-Americans Devan Downey (2nd Team) Patrick Patterson (2nd) John Wall (2nd) Tyler Smith (3rd) Tasmin Mitchell AJ Ogilvy Jarvis Varnado Terrico White All-Freshman Team Kenny Boynton (1st) John Wall (1st) DeMarcus Cousins (2nd) Eric Bledsoe (3rd) John Jenkins		Points: Devan Downey 19.8 Rebounds: Michael Washington 9.8 Assists: Courtney Fortson 5.9 Team: Tennessee 878.4

SEC Standings
Nat'l	Team	League	Tourney

6	Kentucky	SEC	1	NCAA
9	Tennessee	SEC	2	NCAA
23	Mississippi St	SEC	3	NCAA
30	South Carolina	SEC	4	NCAA
32	Mississippi	SEC	5	NCAA
39	Florida	SEC	6	NCAA
47	Vanderbilt	SEC	7	NCAA
63	LSU	SEC	8	NIT
73	Arkansas	SEC	9	NIT
79	Auburn	SEC	10	NIT
96	Alabama	SEC	11	CBI/CIT
180	Georgia	SEC	12

*Click on links for full Top 144 team preview

Poll: Who Do You Think Will Win the SEC?

Other SEC Content

SEC Fantasy Stats Preview

SEC 5-Year Ranking

SEC: Top 25 Players

SEC Media Poll & All-Conference Team

College Basketball Preview - 348 Team Ranking - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

SEC Basketball: Top 25 Players

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:28:19 -0500

Ranking players is more art then science. How do you compare the potential of freshmen with seniors who have already peaked? How much does physical talent come into play versus intangibles and experience? How big a role do numbers play?

In some situations, the bigger challenge is deciding what position to list a player. College basketball is filled with combo guards, wings who can play from the 2 to 4, centers who are really power forwards, and so on.

All of these questions make lists like this fun and debatable.. if you disagree with CHN's rankings, post what you think below.

SEC

PG
1. Devan Downey - South Carolina
2. John Wall - Kentucky
3. Chris Warren - Ole Miss
4. Courtney Fortson - Arkansas
5. Dee Bost - Mississippi State

SG
1. Terrico White - Ole Miss
2. Kenny Boynton - Florida
3. DeWayne Reed - Auburn
4. Brad Tinsley - Vanderbilt
5. Scotty Hopson - Tennessee

- While Downey is a senior, most of the SEC's top guards are quite young. Wall & Boynton are freshmen, while White, Bost and others are sophomores. Ole Miss has an underrated backcourt now that Warren & Eniel Polynice return from injury to join the improving White.

SF
1. Tyler Smith - Tennessee
2. Jeffrey Taylor - Vanderbilt
3. Dominique Archie - South Carolina
4. Ravern Johnson - Mississippi State
5. Darius Miller - Kentucky

PF
1. Patrick Patterson - Kentucky
2. Tasmin Mitchell - LSU
3. Howard Thompkins - Georgia
4. JaMychal Green - Alabama
5. Michael Washington - Arkansas

C
1. Jarvis Varnado - Mississppi State
2. AJ Ogilvy - Vanderbilt
3. Alex Tyus - Florida
4. Wayne Chism - Tennessee
5. DeMarcus Cousins - Kentucky

- The SEC's big man crop is as good as any league out there. Besides the guys listed, you have the potential inclusion of MSU's Renardo Sidney and UK's Daniel Orton. The SF position isn't quite as strong however.

SEC Basketball: Fantasy Preview

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:10:21 -0500

This is the 5th of six fantasy stats projections for BCS conference starters. One of my favorite series of the year, and a helpful guide when drafting for fantasy college basketball leagues. For an idea of whether I know what I'm talking about, check out last year's SEC Stats Projection (SEC happened to be by far my worst predictions overall). As always, some teams were nailed better then others.. Tennessee was decent, Vanderbilt was particularly bad.

Keep in mind stats are highly dependent on minutes, and freshmen are obviously the hardest to predict. I try to note places below where other starters not listed may emerge or where competition for major minutes exist. Stats are listed by ppg, rpg, and then apg.

SEC

ALABAMA

G Mikhail Torrance - 12, 3, 4
G Senario Hillman - 15, 3, 3
F Tony Mitchell - 10, 6, 2
F JaMychal Green - 14, 8, 1
C Justin Knox - 7, 6, 1

Notes: Hillman improved substantially last season, and could lead the team in scoring this year. Mitchell is a freshman who will contribute immediately. Demetrius Johnson will add productive minutes behind Knox.

ARKANSAS

G Courtney Fortson - 14, 5, 7
G Stefan Welsh - 10, 3, 3
G Rotnei Clarke - 15, 3, 1
F Michael Sanchez - 6, 6, 1
F Michael Washington - 15, 11, 1

Notes: Washington was a pleasant surprise last year, almost doubling my projected 8 ppg. Clarke has the ability to light it up from deep and Arkansas would be better off he took more shots away from Fortson.

AUBURN

G DeWayne Reed - 15, 3, 4
G Tay Waller - 11, 3, 2
G Frankie Sullivan - 11, 3, 2

F Lucas Hargrove - 9, 7, 2

F Kenny Gabriel - 6, 4, 1

Notes: As usual, Auburn is a guard-heavy team. Reed took a big step up last year and expect Sullivan to be this year's most improved player after averaging 7.6 ppg last year. Gabriel, a freshman, will battle other newcomers like Rob Chubb for minutes up front.

FLORIDA
G Erving Walker - 9, 3, 2
G Kenny Boynton - 14, 4, 3
F Chandler Parsons - 11, 6, 2
F Dan Werner - 8, 6, 2
F Alex Tyus - 14, 8, 1

Notes: I expected a bigger year from Parsons last year, who has more talent then he's shown. Boynton is a big-time scorer who will be one of the league's most productive newcomers. Vernon Macklin, a Georgetown transfer, will also see important minutes and could add 5 ppg and 5 rpg a game.

GEORGIA
G Dustin Ware - 8, 3, 4

G Travis Leslie - 11, 4, 1
G DeMario Mayfield - 7, 3, 1

F Albert Jackson - 6, 6, 1
F Howard (Trey) Thompkins - 17, 9, 1

Notes: Thompkins is the lone SEC-quality player on the roster and should have opportunity to fill up the stat-sheet. Mayfield is a freshman, and probably the best of weak options on the wing. Leslie has potential to be a minor surprise.

KENTUCKY

G Eric Bledsoe - 9, 4, 4

G John Wall - 16, 5, 6
F Darius Miller - 10, 5, 3
F DeMarcus Cousins - 11, 7, 1
F Patrick Patterson - 19, 10, 2

Notes: Miller's #'s were disappointing as a freshman, but he should thrive with so many weapons around him. Wall, Bledsoe, and Cousins are all freshman. Last year, Perry Stevenson saw 28 mpg, but his time will be severely reduced due to all the newcomers.

LSU

G Bo Spencer - 13, 3, 4
G Chris Bass - 6, 3, 3
G Aaron Dotson - 8, 3, 2
F Tasmin Mitchell - 19, 9, 2
C Storm Warren - 8, 6, 1

Notes: Mitchell and Spencer are the only players on the roster with any real experience. Dotson is a freshman who might be the 3rd most talented player on the team, but will take time to develop. Senior Alex Farrer may get minutes over Bass, but don't expect much production from him.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

G Dee Bost - 14, 5, 5
G Barry Stewart - 13, 4, 2
G Phil Turner - 10, 6, 2

F Ravern Johnson - 11, 4, 1
C Jarvis Varnado - 15, 10, 1

Notes: Besides the #'s listed, Varnado also blocks a ton of shots and shoots a high % from the floor. Renardo Sidney is awaiting his NCAA fate, but would be expected to see 25+ mpg if eligibile. Kodi Augustus is a highly efficient reserve forward who would probably score double-digits ppg if he was on a team like LSU.

OLE MISS

G Chris Warren - 17, 3, 5
G Terrico White - 17, 5, 3
G Eniel Polynice - 10, 5, 5
F Reginald Buckner - 8, 6, 1
F Murphy Holloway - 9, 8, 1

Notes: Ole Miss has 3 other contributing front-line players in Zach Graham, Terrance Henry, and DeAngelo Riley. Graham averaged 26 mpg last year. White averaged 13.7 ppg as a freshman and will only get better.

SOUTH CAROLINA

G Devan Downey - 21, 4, 5
G Brandis Raley-Ross - 10, 3, 2
F Dominique Archie - 13, 7, 1
F Sam Muldrow - 7, 6, 0
F Mike Holmes - 10, 9, 0

Notes: The Gamecocks return 4 of 5 starters, and Raley-Ross (the new starter) played 25 mpg last year as well, so we know what to expect from these guys. Evaldas Baniulis averaged 6 ppg as a sharp-shooter off the bench and could score 10 ppg if given enough minutes.

TENNESSEE

G Bobby Maze - 10, 3, 3
G Scotty Hopson - 13, 4, 2
G JP Prince - 12, 5, 5
F Tyler Smith - 15, 8, 3
F Wayne Chism - 15, 9, 1

Notes: All of these guys are holdovers from last year. Hopson, who had a rather blah freshman year (9.2 ppg on 42.8% shooting), has the best chance to take a noticeable step up. Brian Williams is a servicable reserve forward who should contribute 7 ppg and 6 rpg.

VANDERBILT

G Jermaine Beal - 11, 3, 4
G Brad Tinsley - 10, 3, 3
F Andre Walker - 8, 6, 1
F Jeffrey Taylor - 15, 7, 2
F AJ Ogilvy - 18, 9, 2

Notes: A deep squad, Vanderbilt has 3 other players worth noting. John Jenkins is a heralded freshman who will see 20+ mpg in the backcourt. Lance Goulbourne is a wing with talent, and Festus Ezeli will see 15+ mpg when Vandy wants to play big.

Projected SEC Leaders

Top PPG
1) Devan Downey (21)
2) Tasmin Mitchell (19)
3) Patrick Patterson (19)

Top RPG
1) Mike Washinton (11)
2) Jarvis Varnado (10)

3) Patrick Patterson (10)

Top APG
1) Courtney Fortson (7)
2) John Wall (6)

3) Bost/Downey/Polynice/Prince/Warren (5)

Fantasy Stats Preview Archive

- ACC

- Big 12

- Big East

- Big Ten

- Pac-10

SEC Basketball: 5-Year Ranking

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:03:46 -0500

SEC 5-YEAR STANDINGS

CHN's annual 5-year ranking answers a simple question is in a simple manner: Who has been the best team in the SEC over the last five years?

Teams get points for league wins, making the postseason (NIT or NCAA) and winning games in the Big Dance. NIT wins are meaningless here, as are non-conference wins. Also, league tournaments wins are not taken into account. (An original trial-scoring system included points for conference tourney wins. But the flukish nature of these tourney's did more harm than hurt: ie, 2008 Georgia, 2006 Syracuse, and 2004 Maryland ended up getting too much credit despite the reality that they were mediocre to sub-par teams.)

100 total points is set up to be the equivalent of batting .300 in baseball.. anything above and beyond is all-world stuff. 50 points is mediocre and you only start to get bad below 40 points.

Pos.	Was	Team	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	Wins	Gms.	Points

1	1	Florida	12	10	13	8	9	52	80	65	Win %
			2nd Round	Champs	Champs	NIT	NIT			30	Post Pts.
										95

2	2	Kentucky	14	9	9	12	8	52	80	65	Win %
			Elite 8	2nd Round	2nd Round	1st Round	NIT			19	Post Pts.
										84

3	3	Tennessee	6	12	10	14	10	52	80	65	Win %
			X	2nd Round	Sweet 16	Sweet 16	1st Round			17	Post Pts.
										82

4	6	LSU	12	14	5	6	13	50	80	63	Win %
			1st Round	Final Four	X	X	2nd Round			16	Post Pts.
										79

5	4	Miss. St	9	5	8	12	9	43	80	54	Win %
			2nd Round	X	NIT	2nd Round	1st Round			11	Post Pts.
										65

6	5	Vanderbilt	8	7	10	10	8	43	80	54	Win %
			NIT	NIT	Sweet 16	1st Round	X			10	Post Pts.
										64

7	7	Alabama	12	10	7	4	7	40	80	50	Win %
			1st Round	2nd Round	NIT	X	X			7	Post Pts.
										57

8	8	Arkansas	6	10	7	9	2	34	80	43	Win %
			X	1st Round	1st Round	2nd Round	X			8	Post Pts.
										51

9	9	So. Carolina	7	6	4	5	10	32	80	40	Win %
			NIT	NIT	X	X	NIT			3	Post Pts.
										43

10	10	Ole Miss	4	4	8	7	7	30	80	38	Win %
			X	X	NIT	NIT	X			2	Post Pts.
										40

11	12	Auburn	5	4	4	7	10	30	80	38	Win %
			X	X	X	X	NIT			1	Post Pts.
										39

12	11	Georgia	2	5	8	4	3	22	80	28	Win %
			X	NIT	X	1st Round	X			3	Post Pts.
										31

-Ties are broken by favoring conference winning %

SEC Thoughts

- LSU, despite inconsistency, has won 50 leagues games, surprisingly only 2 behind Florida & Tennessee.

- Vanderbilt was a rare 8-win SEC team that didn't even get an invite to the NIT.

- Not one SEC team has advanced beyond the Sweet Sixteen in the last two years, allowing the likes of Florida/Tennessee/UK to remain at the top despite disappointing years.

Postseason Points

NIT = 1

NCAA 1st Round = 2

NCAA 2nd Round = 4

Sweet = 6

Elite 8 = 8

Final Four = 10

Final = 11

Champs = 12

Other 5-Year Rankings

ACC

Big 12

Big East

Big Ten

Pac-10

.. All

Preseason All-SEC: Coaches

Press Release — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:21:50 -0500

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Southeastern Conference unveiled its sixth annual men’s basketball coaches preseason All-SEC first and second teams Monday, tipping off another great season of SEC men’s basketball.

Twenty-seven different players received votes for the teams and Kentucky, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee led all schools with two selections each. Six of the eight first team selections were unanimous picks. South Carolina’s Devan Downey, LSU’s Tasmin Mitchell, Kentucky’s Patrick Patterson, Tennessee’s Tyler Smith, Mississippi State’s Jarvis Varnado and Ole Miss’ Terrico White were each unanimous picks.

The coaches preseason All-SEC first and second teams consist of a minimum of eight players on each squad, voted on by the SEC Head Men’s Basketball Coaches. No ties were broken and no predicted order of finish was made.

FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC       Pos         Ht           Wt          Cl            Hometown

Devan Downey, South Carolina#               G             5-9          175         Sr.           Chester, S.C.

Tasmin Mitchell, LSU#    F              6-7          235         Sr.           Denham Springs, La.

A.J. Ogilvy, Vanderbilt    C             6-11       250         Jr.           Sydney, Australia

Patrick Patterson, Kentucky#     F              6-9          235         Jr.           Huntington, W.Va.

Tyler Smith, Tennessee#              G/F        6-7          215         Sr.           Pulaski, Tenn.

Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State#            F              6-9          230         Sr.           Brownsville, Tenn.

Michael Washington, Arkansas F              6-9          239         Sr.           McGehee, Ark.

Terrico White, Ole Miss#              G             6-5          211         So.          Memphis, Tenn.

SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC Pos         Ht           Wt          Cl            Hometown

Dominique Archie, South Carolina            F              6-7          200         Sr.           Augusta, Ga.

Wayne Chism, Tennessee            F/C         6-9          246         Sr.           Jackson, Tenn.

JaMychal Green, Alabama           F              6-9          220         So.          Montgomery, Ala.

DeWayne Reed, Auburn               G             6-1          175         Sr.           Houston, Texas

Trey Thompkins, Georgia             F              6-10       247         So.          Lithonia, Ga.

Alex Tyus, Florida             F              6-8          220         Jr.           St. Louis, Mo.

John Wall, Kentucky       G             6-4          195         Fr.           Raleigh, N.C.

Chris Warren, Ole Miss G             5-10       165         Jr.           Orlando, Fla.

#-Unanimous Selection

Ties are not broken

Poll: Who Will Win the SEC?

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:54:27 -0400

SEC Basketball: High-Low Preview

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:58:42 -0400

Everybody loves a prediction. People that claim to hate sports predictions are just jealous that no one cares what they have to say or that their predictions are never right. But sometimes when making predictions, certain teams or groups of teams are truly to close to call. On CHN or in preview mags, we do our best to slot teams into specific spots, but sometimes you just want to say honestly, teams A, B, and C are virtually the same and luck will determine how they finish. You can't say that in a Top 144 ranking, but I'm saying it here in a series of High-Low predictions. Instead of plugging teams into specific spots, I'll give a range for each team's finish and a few reasons why.

(How about the high production values with that picture?..)

SEC HIGH-LOW

The SEC should return to prominence this year due to an influx of talent at UK along with big-time teams like Tennessee & Mississippi State returning entire squads.

* my projected finish in yellow

EAST

KENTUCKY
1	2	3	4	5	6
As great as the freshmen will be, it was the return of Patrick Patterson that really solidified UK's grasp on the SEC. With that said, Tennessee is no joke and it may take time for the Cats to come together.

TENNESSEE
1	2	3	4	5	6
The Vols return everybody from a team that won 21 games last year, but underachieved. There's little reason to expect less than at least the program's 3rd Sweet Sixteen in the last 4 years.

SOUTH CAROLINA
1	2	3	4	5	6
Potential SEC POY Devan Downey returns to lead a team heavy on experience. South Carolina should finally get over the NIT hump this year and make the Big Dance.

VANDERBILT
1	2	3	4	5	6
With a proven commodity in AJ Ogilvy and two emerging sophomores in Beal & Taylor, Vandy has all the pieces to return to the NCAA's after a year break. Some mags see Vandy as a Sweet 16/Elite 8 type team, though I'm not going that far.

FLORIDA
1	2	3	4	5	6
5 out of 6 looks bad, but I actually like this group of Gators, who should win 20+ games even without Calathes. Boynton should score 15+ from the get-go and last year's young forwards will only get better. Could easily top both USC & Vandy.

GEORGIA
1	2	3	4	5	6
In an otherwise loaded SEC East, Georgia simply has inferior talent. The lone exception is Howard Thompkins, capable of putting up 18 & 10 type numbers.

WEST

MISSISSIPPI STATE
1	2	3	4	5	6
Rick Stansbury's teams have rarely met expectations (often unfair ones I should note). However, if this year's squad doesn't win 25+ games and get past the 2nd round, it would have to be considered a disappointment once again.

OLE MISS
1	2	3	4	5	6
While David Huertas (18 ppg) graduates, the key is the healthy return of Chris Warren. If one of the freshmen bigs step up and contribute on the boards & on D, Ole Miss has the pieces to finally get back to the Tourney.

ARKANSAS
1	2	3	4	5	6
Expect this year's team to be somewhat between the one that shocked the world early on and then collapsed late. Something around 8-8 or 7-9 would put the Hogs in the NIT.

ALABAMA
1	2	3	4	5	6
Alabama hasn't finished .500 or better in the SEC since 2006. That trend should continue this year, although the West is wide enough open where Bama could surprise.

AUBURN
1	2	3	4	5	6
Auburn has a lot of intriguing pieces, I just don't see how it all fits together into a winning puzzle. 5 league wins would be a good +/- number.

LSU
1	2	3	4	5	6
Only two player on the roster averaged 10+ mpg last year, at least those two (Spencer & Mitchell) are solid. I actually think the Tigers will be more competitive then people expect and could easily push Auburn for 5th.

>> ACC: High-Low Preview

>> Big 12: High-Low Preview

>> Big Ten: High-Low Preview

>> Pac-10: High-Low Preview

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Preview Interviews

CHN College Football: Preseason Top 25 & Bowl Predictions

Raphielle Johnson — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:42:50 -0400

I’d like to preface this by saying just how much I do not like the concept of preseason polls. Yes they’re great conversation pieces, but how much is really known about what each team will do in the upcoming season? I’m more a fan of waiting a couple of weeks, allowing voters to get a picture of each team so they can make an informed decision. As for the coaches: not really sure what to do there. Some take the responsibility seriously while others pass the buck to their SID, and that shouldn’t be the way in which the Coaches Poll should work.

Hopping off of the soapbox, it’s time, now that I've previewed all the conferences, to pick my own Top 25 and what I believe the BCS matchups will be. Converse all you want; the good thing is that all the paper and web space used for previews mean nothing now that the season has officially started. Enjoy.

Preseason Top 25

Florida

Texas

Oklahoma

USC

Ole Miss

Alabama

Ohio State

Virginia Tech

California

LSU

11. Boise State

12. Penn State

13. Oklahoma State

14. Georgia Tech

15. TCU

16. Georgia

17. Oregon

18. BYU

19. Michigan State

20. USF

21. Nebraska

22. Oregon State

23. Notre Dame

24. Pittsburgh

25. Florida State

Keep an eye on (in alphabetical order): Arizona, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Houston, Illinois, Kansas, North Carolina, Rutgers and West Virginia

Bowl Predictions

BCS National Championship Game: Florida vs. Texas

The Rose Bowl Game Presented by AT&T: USC (Pac-10) vs. Ohio State (Big Ten)

Allstate Sugar Bowl: USF (Big East) vs. Ole Miss (at-large)

Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma (at-large) vs. Boise State (at-large)

FedEx Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech (ACC) vs. California (at-large)

Alabama Basketball Preview: #96

Joel Welser — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:30:23 -0400

Overall Rank: #96

Conference Rank: #11 SEC

2008-09: 18-14, 7-9

2008-09 postseason: none

Coach: Anthony Grant (First year at Alabama, 76-25 overall)

Alabama managed to nab one of the hottest young coaches in the nation when they picked up Coach Anthony Grant. Grant was extremely successful during his short stint at Virginia Commonwealth University and has a ton of experience in the Southeastern Conference as an assistant at Florida. The Crimson Tide have some key pieces to replace this year, but a solid recruiting class and the hope that Coach Grant has brought to the program should mean a better year for Bama.

Key Losses: F Yamene Coleman, G Alonzo Gee, G Brandon Hollinger, G Ronald Steele

Key Newcomers:

This might not be the most talented class in the SEC, but it is a good one. Incoming freshmen Shawn Kemp and Tony Mitchell are highly touted and will make a big impact sooner or later. Fellow freshmen Ben Eblen is expected to be the point guard of the future, but it is a couple junior college transfers who may make the biggest impact this year. Shooting guard Charvez Davis and small forward Chris Hines may not have the potential or the pure talent of the newcomers, but they are experienced players who will give the team a much needed boost on the wings.

Backcourt:

The talent on the wings however is not completely lacking. Senario Hillman is coming off of a successful sophomore campaign in which he tallied 12.9 points per game. He is not much of a shooter, and it can be argued that he tries to shoot too much, but he can certainly put the ball in the basket. If Hillman improves his shooting touch this year, he will be extremely difficult to defend. Andrew Steele, the brother of the now departed Ronald Steele, will battle with the newcomers for minutes as well. His freshman campaign was full of inconsistency, but he has enough talent to at least emerge as a capable shooter and scorer off the bench.

Frontcourt:

Yamene Coleman opted to leave the program a year early and that will force the freshmen into a little more playing time, but with the talent they have, it should not be a problem. Meanwhile, JaMychal Green and Justin Knox will likely remain in their starting roles. Green was not disappointing as a freshman, averaging 10.2 points per game and leading the team with 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. Having him back gives the Tide a consistent big man under the basket who can do it all. Knox is not much of a scorer, but he will do the dirty work in the paint and hit the glass hard. Demetrius Jemison, a 6-7 senior, will have to compete with Kemp and Mitchell for playing time.

Who to Watch:

Alabama seems to have all their scorers in place and that just leaves Mikahil Torrance to get them the ball. The 6-5 senior has great size for a point guard and really stepped his game up during his career while the elder Steele was dealing with injuries. Last year he started 15 games and tallied 2.3 assists and just 1.4 turnovers per contest. With a quality and experienced backup like Anthony Brock waiting on the bench, the Crimson Tide will have no worries about their point guard play.

Final Projection:

This is a surprisingly talented team. The absence of Alonzo Gee hurts, but Hillman, Green and Torrance are all great scorers who are all capable of taking over a game. The newcomers are also all capable players who have a ton of potential. If the junior college transfers can use their experience and the if the freshmen live up to their potential, this could be a very good season.

Projected Post-season Tournament: CBI/CIT

Projected Starting Five:

Mikhail Torrance, Senior, Guard, 10.0 points per game

Senario Hillman, Junior, Guard, 12.9 points per game

Chris Hines, Junior, Forward, DNP last season

Justin Knox, Junior, Forward, 5.7 points per game

JaMychal Green, Sophomore, Forward, 10.2 points per game

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Preview Interviews

The Ultimate Schedule: SEC West

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:04:13 -0400

SEC Scheduling “Rules”:

- Four non-conference games

- Eight conference games (five within the division)

- SEC Championship Game (December 5^th in Atlanta)

Week 1: Virginia Tech vs. Alabama (September 5^th in Atlanta)

Once again the Crimson Tide takes on the preseason favorite to win the ACC; will this be a challenge or will Alabama expose the Hokies? Things got tougher for Virginia Tech due to the torn ACL suffered by star running back Darren Evans in fall camp. The chores in the running game will now be handled by committee, and more responsibility falls upon the shoulders of QB Tyrod Taylor. Virginia Tech is a tougher team than last year’s Clemson outfit, so this should be a far more competitive contest. Special teams should also be fun to watch; “Beamer Ball” going up against one of the SEC’s best punt returners in Javier Arenas. The goal of the ACC in expansion was to gain a seat at the table with the SEC; a win by the Hokies would go a long way in garnering some respect for the conference.

Other Games Considered: Louisiana Tech @ Auburn (9/5), Ole Miss @ Memphis (9/6)

Week 2: Bye Week (September 12^th)

Not a banner week on the schedule for SEC West teams. Mississippi State and Auburn play in a matchup of new head coaches while Alabama hosts Florida International. Not a good week to take your bye, but there’s no way around this.

Week 3: West Virginia @ Auburn (September 19^th)

Things got out of hand in Morgantown for the Tigers last season, due primarily to their inability to move the football. Auburn was outgained 445-260 and gave up 31 consecutive points after jumping out to a 17-3 lead in the second quarter. Pat White may be gone but Auburn’s primary tormenter, RB Noel Devine (207 yards rushing) is back for his junior season. Kodi Burns led the Tigers with eighty-two yards rushing…and he’s a quarterback. Auburn running backs combined for seventy-four yards on the ground. West Virginia will also show up motivated, representing a school and a conference that feels like they’re the Rodney Dangerfield of college football.

Other Game Considered: Georgia @ Arkansas (9/19)

Week 4: Ole Miss @ South Carolina (September 26^th)

At first glance this looks to be a routine win for the Rebels. But for a program that has never played in an SEC Championship Game a trip to Columbia is anything but routine. Last year the Gamecocks spoiled Homecoming in Oxford, knocking off the Rebels 31-24. Ole Miss finished the game with three turnovers to South Carolina’s one, returning a Rebel fumble for a touchdown. However, South Carolina doesn’t have Chris Smelley at the ready and there’s little game experience behind Stephen Garcia. If the Rebels can pressure the junior they can force some turnovers. There are games in the midst of a championship season where you survive as opposed to win; this could be one of those games for Ole Miss.

Other Games Considered: Arkansas @ Alabama (9/26), LSU @ Mississippi State (9/26)

Week 5: Arkansas vs. Texas A&M (October 3^rd in Arlington, TX)

The Hogs were supposed to host Texas this season but thought better of it given how tough their conference schedule is. But they will be playing a foe from their Southwest Conference days; it’s just that the Aggies are rebuilding while the Longhorns are national title contenders. The game will be played in the new Cowboys Stadium, allowing owner Jerry Jones the opportunity to see his alma mater without leaving the comforts of his own palatial digs. The quarterbacks offer up contrasting styles; Ryan Mallett is primarily a pocket passer while Jerrod Johnson is just as adept at running as he is at passing.

Other Games Considered: LSU @ Georgia (10/3), Auburn @ Tennessee (10/3), Georgia Tech @ Mississippi State (10/3)

Week 6: Alabama @ Ole Miss (October 10^th)

One of three games that will essentially decide who wins the division, with the Rebels hosting what could be the biggest home game in the history of the program since the 1960s. Alabama won in Tuscaloosa last season 24-20, holding on for dear life after getting out to a 24-3 lead in the second quarter. Ole Miss shot themselves in the foot with three turnovers and an inability to convert third downs (2-of-14), numbers that must improve if they’re to return the favor in Oxford. The loser falls behind the eight-ball, needing the winner to lose twice while winning out themselves in order to get to Atlanta.

Other Games Considered: Florida @ LSU (10/10), Auburn @ Arkansas (10/10)

Week 7: Arkansas @ Florida (October 17^th)

The Gators made short work of the Razorbacks in Fayetteville last season, rolling to a 38-7 win on the strength of 514 yards of total offense (278 on the ground). Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps both eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground, but Arkansas’ Michael Smith was also effective on the ground with 133 yards and a touchdown. Florida’s got superior playmakers on both sides of the football, but no one gave Ole Miss a chance to win in The Swamp last season and we all know what happened there.

Other Games Considered: South Carolina @ Alabama (10/17), Kentucky @ Auburn (10/17)

Week 8: Tennessee @ Alabama (October 24^th)

Just when you thought that the resignation of Phil Fulmer would take away some of the luster of this rivalry, along came Lane Kiffin. He’s taken some shots at the Crimson Tide, adding fuel to what is already one of the more heated rivalries in college football. Alabama was in control from start to finish last season, shutting down the Volunteer offense in a 29-9 win. Tennessee’s offense may be better this time around, but a lot of the young faces on Alabama’s defense are now a year older and a year wiser. The Volunteers rushed for just thirty-six yards and managed just ten first downs in last year’s game. We’ll find out if the offense has improved.

Other Games Considered: Auburn @ LSU (10/24), Arkansas @ Ole Miss (10/24)

Week 9: Ole Miss @ Auburn (October 31^st)

Few people will expect the Tigers to beat the visiting Rebels on Halloween, but they’ll improve their chances if they don’t give up 233 yards on the ground again. Jevan Snead simply had to be efficient in the 17-7 victory, allowing backs Cordera Eason and Dexter McCluster to do the heavy lifting. Auburn, on the other hand, ran for just seventy-five yards on the day while throwing for 319. 2008 was a tough season for the Tigers; normally known for playing stout defense Auburn actually ranked eighth in the SEC in rush defense. The inability to stop the run results in down and distance situations in favor of the offense as well as an advantage in time of possession. If Auburn can’t get Ole Miss off the field on third down it’ll be a long day on The Plains.

Other Games Considered: Tulane @ LSU (10/31), Mississippi State @ Kentucky (10/31)

Week 10: LSU @ Alabama (November 7^th)

Round two of the three-round series that will decide this race, with the Crimson Tide hosting the Bayou Bengals after surviving Nick Saban’s first trip back to Baton Rouge last season. Jarrett Lee was the quarterback on that day for LSU, and in his short time as a starter Jordan Jefferson proved to be a far more accurate action at the end of last season. As much as the Tigers lost following their national title, they were still in search of an identity as well as role definition for much of last season. There should be no such problems; it’s simply a matter of whether or not Jefferson can handle the hostile crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Other Game Considered: South Carolina @ Arkansas (11/7)

Week 11: Troy @ Arkansas (November 14^th)

This is what the SEC West’s non-conference schedule has done. Instead of taking in the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry” when Auburn visits Georgia, we’ll be watching Arkansas host the preseason favorite to win the Sun Belt. Maybe the Trojans can pull off an upset, or at least make things interesting. Larry Blakeney’s team returns eight starters on offense, including QB Levi Brown and WR Jerrell Jernigan. They’ve got the ability to put some points on the board; whether or not they got the goods to slow down Arkansas’ Michael Smith remains to be seen.

Other Game Considered: Auburn @ Georgia (11/14)

Week 12: LSU @ Ole Miss (November 21^st)

By this point in the season one of these two could be playing for a trip to Atlanta…or both could be in survival mode with the hope that someone knocks off Alabama. The Rebels were dominant in last season’s meeting, holding the Tigers to just thirty-seven yards on the ground in the 31-13 victory. Given the inexperience at quarterback LSU couldn’t handle a performance like that, nor can they this season. But Jordan Jefferson (and freshman Russell Sheppard) will be better equipped to make plays on his own should the running game be shut down. Jevan Snead was superb in the win, and he enjoyed the luxury of open passing lanes and limited pressure. Look for John Chavis to ratchet up the heat in the rematch.

Other Game Considered: Mississippi State @ Arkansas (11/21 in Little Rock)

Week 13: Alabama @ Auburn (November 27^th)

Last year’s “Iron Bowl” was a painful one if you’re an Auburn fan. Taking a largely inept offense on the road to play the best defense (tied with Tennessee) in the conference is no way to go about salvaging something from a disappointing season. Alabama shut out the Tigers 36-0, holding Auburn to just 170 yards of offense while forcing three turnovers. The defeat was the largest for either team in the rivalry since 1962, and the Crimson Tide snapped a six-game losing streak in the series. Gene Chizik should have his team hungry and ready for revenge when Alabama rolls into town two days after Thanksgiving.

Other Games Considered: Arkansas @ LSU (11/28), Ole Miss @ Mississippi State (11/28)

Week 14: SEC Championship Game (December 5^th in Atlanta)

The pick here is that Florida defends their SEC title, beating Ole Miss in the Rebels’ first appearance in the championship game.