Tennessee

Tennessee Signs Top 5 Forward Tobias Harris

Press Release — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:01:55 -0500

Tennessee added its third basketball signee of the early signing period recently when Tobias Harris signed a National Letter of Intent to attend UT and play for the Volunteers starting with the 2010-11 season. The 6-8, 220-pound forward from New York made his decision public Thursday during a live announcement at the ESPN Zone in Manhattan's Times Square that was televised live on ESPNU.

Harris is rated by Rivals.com as the nation's best forward in the class of 2010 and the country's No. 5 overall prospect. And on the ESPNU Top-100 list, Harris is ranked as the nation's third-best power forward nationally.

"I really had a great relationship with (UT head coach Bruce) Pearl and (associate head coach Tony) Jones," Harris said during his nationally televised announcement. "It's just a family atmosphere down there. I got along with the players real well, and it's just a great opportunity and fit for me."

With the signing of Harris, Tennessee's 2010 recruiting class is now ranked fourth nationally by Rivals.com.

"(This is) huge for our program to get not only a quality player like Tobias, but also a quality young man," Pearl said, "He's a great kid from a great family. He's the kind of guy that's going to help your program on and off the court. On the floor not only can he be a dominant player, but he also makes everyone around him better.

"My coaching staff did a tremendous job. Tony Jones was really outstanding with his recruitment of Tobias from start to finish."

Like fellow early-period Tennessee signees Jordan McRae and Trae Golden--both guards from Georgia--Harris plans to enroll at UT next summer.

"(Tobias) was really impressed with the Sports management program," Pearl said. "That was a big factor for him. He loved that major and could really see himself being successful academically at Tennessee."

As a junior last season at Long Island Lutheran High School, Harris averaged 25 points and 12 rebounds per game while leading the Crusaders to the New York state Class A championship.

He is currently a senior at Half Hollow Hills West High School in Dix Hills, N.Y., where he is coached by Bill Mitaritonna.

Already a high-profile prospect, Harris garnered even more national praise this past summer when he turned in outstanding performances at the LeBron James Skills Academy and the NBA Players Association Top 100 camp.

"He liked our style of play, he liked our campus, the things that we do, but I think our kids were a big factor for Tobias," Pearl said. "I think it makes a statement about our players. Tobias wanted to come and play here in large part because of the teammates he was going to have. We have good character kids and that was important to Tobias."

Harris' father, Torrel, played collegiately at Duquesne and Murray State. And Tobias' older sister, Tesia, plays basketball at the University of Delaware. He also is a cousin of Phoenix Suns center Channing Frye.

-- http://www.utsports.com

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.

Tennessee Basketball Preview: #9

Joel Welser — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:23:16 -0500

Overall Rank: #9

Conference Rank: #2 Southeastern Conference

2008-09: 21-13, 10-6

2008-09 postseason: NCAA

Coach: Bruce Pearl (98-37 at Tennessee, 415-121 overall)

Tennessee underachieved last year, but it was a young team that relied on some unproven talent who had some big shoes to fill. It took some time for the Volunteers to find their way and consistency was an issue. However, Coach Bruce Pearl’s team still won 21 games and made the NCAA Tournament and now they return every player of importance and the high expectations are warranted.

Key Losses: none

Key Newcomers:

Point guard was a problem last year and junior college Melvin Goins will compete for a starting job right away. Even if he does not win that job, the 5-11 speedster will at least give the team a capable backup. Josh Bone, a transfer from Southern Illinois and Skylar McBee will help bolster the depth on the perimeter. Yet, outside of Goins, it is power forward Kenny Hall who has the skills to make an impact right away. Hall is a true low post scorer and while the Vols have a superb frontcourt, they could use a big body who will stay in the paint.

Backcourt:

Bobby Maze did an admirable job running the point. His assist to turnover ratio was two-to-one and he averaged 8.2 points per game. But his minutes will likely go down with the addition of Goins. Josh Tabb spent some time playing the point, but now he will be able to play off the ball and provide the team with some solid defense off the bench. Cameron Tatum was the team’s sixth man a year ago and is a good, albeit streaky, three-point shooter. Scotty Hopson and J.P. Prince are the likely starters on the wing. Hopson had huge expectations heading into his freshman campaign and he did pretty good with his 9.2 points per game. If his outside shot starts falling more consistently, he will turn into the dominating scorer that everybody thought he would be from day one. Prince is not much of a shooter, but he does everything else. He was the backcourt’s top scorer last year and also averaged 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals.

Frontcourt:

Wayne Chism is the big man who will spend most of his time under the basket, although he does have the ability to stretch out the defense with his three-point shooting ability. Even though Chism spends quite a bit of time on the perimeter, he is a great rebounder and a decent shot blocker. Brian Williams is an underappreciated rebounder who grabbed 5.6 rebounds per game despite only averaging 16.4 minutes. Add the emerging sophomore Emmanuel Negedu, if he can stay healthy, and Hall to the rotation and Coach Pearl has more than enough bodies to go ten deep without much of a drop off in talent.

Who to Watch:

It seems like every year we wonder if Tyler Smith is coming back or going to the NBA. Once again, Smith is back in college and the do-it-all forward is poised for a huge senior season. Last year he easily led the team with 17.4 points per game. He got to the free-throw line an incredible 6.5 times per contest, but he is not just a slasher or post player…Smith can hit the long ball, although he would be better off sticking to his mid-range game and attacking the basket. No matter how he does it, Smith will score in bunches and help the team out on the glass and create open looks for his teammates.

Final Projection:

Last year’s relatively disappointing season has somewhat stymied the expectations of the 2009-2010 Tennessee team, and that should not be the case with so many players returning. This is a team that has the talent, depth and experience to win the Southeastern Conference and make a deep, deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

Projected Starting Five:

Bobby Maze, Senior, Guard, 8.2 points per game

Scotty Hopson, Sophomore, Guard, 9.2 points per game

J.P. Prince, Senior, Guard, 9.9 points per game

Tyler Smith, Senior, Forward, 17.4 points per game

Wayne Chism, Senior, Forward, 13.7 points per game

Next Top 144 Teams
10		11		12		13

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

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

The Ultimate Schedule: SEC East

Raphielle Johnson — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 02:24:32 -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: Georgia @ Oklahoma State (September 5^th)

We’ll find out early whether or not Georgia has any hopes of challenging Florida for the SEC East title. Oklahoma State has one of the nation’s most explosive offenses, led by the trio of QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter and WR Dez Bryant. The biggest development for the Cowboys: the hiring of Bill Young as defensive coordinator. Young was last in the Big 12 in 2007, when he helped lead Kansas to a 12-1 record and a victory in the FedEx Orange Bowl. It’s not every year that a non-conference team with the pedigree of Georgia visits Stillwater, so expect a frenzied atmosphere. If the Bulldogs run the ball efficiently they can control the clock and avoid a shootout; if not, they may be in some trouble.

Other Game Considered: South Carolina @ NC State (9/3)

Week 2: UCLA @ Tennessee (September 12^th)

Played Labor Day weekend last season, this meeting was a harbinger of things to come for both teams. The Bruins won despite serious quarterback issues, something that caught up to them as the season progressed. The same went for Tennessee, who found that they were sorely lacking at the position in the season’s first game. Both are looking to rebound, and this game is the starting point for both. The Volunteers will be extremely young at wide receiver, and the Bruins have one of the nation’s best corners in Alterrraun Verner. With he on one side and Eric Berry on the other two likely first-round draft picks will be in Neyland Stadium. Seems like a good reason to tune in.

Other Games Considered: South Carolina @ Georgia (9/12), Vanderbilt @ LSU (9/12)

Week 3: Tennessee @ Florida (September 19^th)

Back with the Volunteers, this time for their trip to Gainesville. Things got interesting on National Signing day when Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin accused Florida of cheating in the recruiting of WR Nu’Keese Richardson. Of course that was inaccurate, earning a reprimand from the SEC, but Urban Meyer isn’t a coach you want to give ammunition to. Georgia did in 2007 and the Gators paid them back by using all three of their timeouts late in the fourth quarter, to make sure the Bulldogs didn’t miss one second of the beating. What will be on tap for the Volunteers should things get out of hand? Who knows.

Other Games Considered: Georgia @ Arkansas (9/19), Louisville @ Kentucky (9/19)

Week 4: Arizona State @ Georgia (September 26^th)

The Bulldogs will have a very good idea of which direction their season is headed in once the Sun Devils visit Athens. Georgia will either be right in the thick of things nationally or looking at this game as a possible “season saver”. Dennis Erickson will start an inexperienced senior in Danny Sullivan at quarterback, and the goal for Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez will be to pressure him as they did Rudy Carpenter last season. The key for Arizona State will be how well they run the football. One of the worst rushing offenses in the Pac-10 last season, ASU struggled offensively due to their lack of balance.

Other Games Considered: Ole Miss @ South Carolina (9/26), Vanderbilt @ Rice (9/26)

Week 5: LSU @ Georgia (October 3^rd)

Arguably the toughest five-week stretch for any team in the country comes to an end when the Bulldogs host LSU. Georgia put up more than fifty points in Baton Rouge last season, exposing the Tiger defense in the process. LSU’s defense didn’t end up as advertised in 2008, and that’s a reason why John Chavis is now the defensive coordinator. While a loss won’t necessarily kill either team’s chances at winning their respective divisions it certainly won’t help since both aren’t the favorites to end up in Atlanta.

Other Games Considered: Auburn @ Tennessee (10/3), Ole Miss @ Vanderbilt (10/3)

Week 6: Florida @ LSU (October 10^th)

These two programs have combined to win the last three national titles, and their meeting in Baton Rouge may also be the stiffest test the Gators face on their quest to repeat as national champion. Florida’s defense could make it a long day for Jordan Jefferson and company, while the Tigers will have their hands full with Tim Tebow and company. Last year the Gators ran for 265 yards in the 51-21 beating, holding LSU to eighty yards on the ground in the process. The difference between those numbers needs to become smaller if the Bayou Bengals are to entertain any thoughts of pulling the upset.

Other Games Considered: Georgia @ Tennessee (10/10), Kentucky @ South Carolina (10/10)

Week 7: Georgia @ Vanderbilt (October 17^th)

The Bulldogs struggled in their last trip to Nashville, needing a Brandon Coutu field goal late in the fourth quarter to beat the Commodores. Head coach Bobby Johnson has a better team in 2009 than he did in 2007, making them all the more dangerous this time around. If Georgia doesn’t come out focused, thinking that this is the same Vanderbilt team that was a shoo-in to finish in the SEC East cellar they could fly back home with a loss. Last year’s game was a struggle for the Bulldogs as well, winning by ten (24-14) in an otherwise sloppy performance. Vanderbilt may need to win one game they’re not expected to in order to ensure bowl eligibility, and this may be that game.

Other Games Considered: South Carolina @ Alabama (10/17), Arkansas @ Florida (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: Vanderbilt @ South Carolina (10/24), Florida @ Mississippi State (10/24)

Week 9: Georgia vs. Florida (October 31^st in Jacksonville)

2007 featured a touchdown celebration that sparked a Bulldog victory; 2008 featured the payback. Georgia will be a decided underdog this season, with many looking at the rivalry game as the last roadblock between the Gators and another trip to Atlanta. Georgia actually outgained Florida in last year’s game but four turnovers started them on the road to a 49-3 deficit. Final score: 49-10. If Joe Cox and company do not take care of the football another blowout could be the end result.

Other Game Considered: South Carolina @ Tennessee (10/31)

Week 10: Bye Week (November 7^th)

An extremely light week on the schedule before the stretch run. By this weekend we’ll know who’s in the driver’s seat for a ticket to Atlanta, and the most intriguing game on the schedule for SEC East teams will likely be Vanderbilt visiting Florida. Good idea to take this weekend off.

Week 11: Florida @ South Carolina (November 14^th)

This is Florida’s final conference game, and it also comes with a bit of intrigue. Tim Tebow fell one vote short of being a unanimous First Team All-SEC selection this summer. That one dissenting vote (for Jevan Snead) was sent in by South Carolina. Although it was “corrected” at SEC Media Days it could be a source of motivation for the senior quarterback and his teammates. When you give Florida bulletin board material bad things can happen. Whether or not the Gators show any mercy, especially when dealing with an alumnus, remains to be seen.

Other Games Considered: Auburn @ Georgia (11/14), Kentucky @ Vanderbilt (11/14)

Week 12: Vanderbilt @ Tennessee (November 21^st)

Last season’s meeting was a sloppy affair that featured six combined turnovers. Tennessee couldn’t pass the ball (21 yards) while Vanderbilt couldn’t run the ball (25 yards). Tennessee scored twenty points, all in the second quarter, in winning 20-10 in Nashville. Despite a dreadful season the Vols were able to knock off both Vanderbilt and Kentucky in 2008. The Commodores should be much improved offensively, ranking dead last in the SEC in total offense last season. Vandy ended a 22-game losing streak in the series in 2005 with a win in Knoxville and they’ve got a chance to win at Neyland Stadium again.

Other Game Considered: Kentucky @ Georgia (11/21)

Week 13: Georgia Tech @ Georgia (November 28^th)

This rivalry was a clear sign that things had changed under Paul Johnson, with the Yellow Jackets ending a six-game losing streak to Georgia in last season’s 45-42 win. Running backs Jonathan Dwyer and Roddy Jones combined for 358 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, gashing the Bulldog defense in a 26-point third quarter. The option offense, no matter what you call it, is one of the hardest systems to prepare for since so few teams use it. And when you combine the strategy with the ability of players such as Dwyer, Jones and QB Josh Nesbitt you could be in for a long afternoon. If Georgia can’t get the Jackets off of the field it may be another long day for the Bulldog defense.

Other Games Considered: Florida State @ Florida (11.28), Clemson @ South Carolina (11/28), Tennessee @ Kentucky (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.