Predictions for Friday’s matchups at the 2024 SEC Tournament

Predictions for Friday’s 2024 SEC Tournament matchups

As the SEC Tournament begins its third day of action, let’s make a few predictions for Friday’s matchups, which see each of the conference’s top four seeds play in Nashville for the first time.

No. 1 Tennessee (24-7, 14-4) vs. No. 9 Mississippi State (20-12, 8-10)

Mississippi State likely secured their spot in the NCAA Tournament with a 70-60 victory over LSU on Thursday, but if there is still any potential doubt as to if they’ll go dancing, then they can completely erase that Friday with a win over No. 1 seed Tennessee. The pick however goes to the Volunteers to get the win, even despite Mississippi State having defeated the SEC regular season champions earlier this season at home, 77-72.

Prediction: Tennessee 77, Mississippi State 68

No. 4 Auburn (24-7, 13-5) vs. No. 5 South Carolina (26-6, 13-5)

Likely the headline matchup Friday comes via the No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed showdown between Auburn and South Carolina, who defeated Arkansas on Thursday by a final score of 80-66. With the winner advancing to play the victor of the above matchup, the pick goes to Auburn, who dropped a road contest to the Tigers a few weeks ago, 101-61.

Prediction: Auburn 80, South Carolina 68

No. 2 Kentucky (23-8, 13-5) vs. No. 7 Texas A&M (19-13, 9-9)

Texas A&M, who sits on the NCAA Tournament bubble, kept their March Madness hopes alive Thursday night with an 80-71 victory over Ole Miss, and will likely clinch a spot in the Big Dance with a win over Kentucky on Friday. However, the pick goes to Kentucky to get the victory, but don’t be surprised if this is a very close game until late in the fourth quarter.

Prediction: Kentucky 76, Texas A&M 70

No. 3 Alabama (21-10, 13-5) vs. No. 6 Florida (22-10, 11-7)

No. 6 seed Florida picked up an 85-80 victory over Georgia on Thursday night to set up a highly-anticipated third showdown this season with No. 3 seeded Alabama. The two teams have split the prior two meetings, with the home team winning each, but the pick to win the third matchup goes to Alabama in a close, high-scoring contest.

Prediction: Alabama 84, Florida 79

Knecht, Sheppard headline 2023-24 SEC basketball season awards

Individual awards, as well as All-SEC teams, announced for 2023-24 SEC basketball season

The SEC officially announced the award winners for the 2023-24 season on Monday afternoon, along with the conference’s All-SEC teams, which are as follows:

2023-24 SEC Basketball Season Awards

  • Player of the Year: Dalton Knecht, Tennessee Volunteers
  • Defensive Player of the Year: Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee Volunteers
  • Freshman of the Year: Reed Sheppard, Kentucky Wildcats
  • Coach of the Year: Lamont Paris, South Carolina Gamecocks
  • Sixth-Man of the Year: Rob Dillingham, Kentucky Wildcats
  • Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Sean East II, Missouri Tigers

First Team All-SEC

Second Team All-SEC

  • Jaylin Williams, Auburn Tigers
  • Walter Clayton Jr., Florida Gators
  • Rob Dillingham, Kentucky Wildcats
  • Reed Sheppard, Kentucky Wildcats
  • Matthew Murrell, Ole Miss Rebels
  • Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State Bulldogs
  • Ta’Lon Cooper, South Carolina Gamecocks
  • Meechie Johnson, South Carolina Gamecocks
  • Jonas Aidoo, Tennessee Volunteers

SEC All-Defense

  • Johni Broome, Auburn Tigers
  • Cameron Matthews, Mississippi State Bulldogs
  • Jonas Aidoo, Tennessee Volunteers
  • Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee Volunteers
  • Andersson Garcia, Texas A&M Aggies

SEC All-Freshman

  • Aden Holloway, Auburn Tigers
  • Alex Condon, Florida Gators
  • Silas Demary, Georgia Bulldogs
  • Rob Dillingham, Kentucky Wildcats
  • Reed Sheppard, Kentucky Wildcats
  • D.J. Wagner, Kentucky Wildcats
  • Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State Bulldogs
  • Collin Murray-Boyles, South Carolina Gamecocks

The announcement of the 2023-24 SEC basketball season awards can be read more about here.

How many teams could the SEC send to NCAA Tournament?

Could the SEC send nine teams to the NCAA Tournament?

In recent years, few conferences across college basketball have sent more teams to the NCAA Tournament than the SEC.

As you’d expect as well, this season will likely be no different, as the SEC is in a position to be well-represented in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The question however remains – How many SEC teams will go dancing?

When asking yourself this question, I believe that you first need to look at the teams who are likely 100% locks to go dancing later this month, regardless of how they finish the regular season.

In the SEC currently, you could make that argument for seven different teams likely as a lock to make the NCAA Tournament – Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Of that group, at least two teams (Alabama and Tennessee) are likely to receive a one-through-three seed, while the others are all comfortably in and off the bubble conversation.

As for the remaining teams in NCAA Tournament contention, at least two are squarely on the bubble, Texas A&M and Ole Miss, with both currently on the outside looking in. The other five programs (Arkansas, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, and Vanderbilt) would likely have to win the SEC Tournament to go dancing this March.

How many teams will the SEC send to the NCAA Tournament? Time will ultimately tell, but it seems to be at least seven, with eight to nine also a real possibility as well.

Appearance schedule announced for 2024 SEC media days

Schedule of appearances announced for 2024 SEC football media days

One of the most anticipated events on the conference’s calendar, 2024 SEC media days will be here before we know it, with this year’s version of the annual event arguably more intriguing than usual with the addition of Oklahoma and Texas.

Scheduled to take place July 15-18 at the Omni Hotel in Dallas, Texas, the SEC officially announced the appearance schedule:.

2024 SEC Media Days Schedule

Monday, July 15

  • LSU – Brian Kelly
  • Ole Miss – Lane Kiffin
  • South Carolina – Shane Beamer
  • Vanderbilt – Clark Lea

Tuesday, July 16

  • Georgia – Kirby Smart
  • Missouri – Eliah Drinkwitz
  • Oklahoma – Brent Venables
  • Tennessee – Josh Heupel

Wednesday, July 17

  • Alabama – Kalen DeBoer
  • Florida – Billy Napier
  • Mississippi State – Jeff Lebby
  • Texas – Steve Sarkisian

Thursday, July 18

Highlights of this year’s lineup include Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables speaking on Tuesday, as well as Texas’ Steve Sarkisian on Wednesday.

Wednesday will also feature two of the SEC’s newest coaches: Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer and Mississippi State’s Jeff Lebby. The conference’s other new head coach, Texas A&M’s Mike Elko, will speak Thursday.

Former SEC stars shine during Super Bowl LVIII

Jennings, Bolton among former SEC players who shined in Super Bowl LVIII

On Sunday night, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, 25-22.

In a game that went to overtime as well, numerous former SEC players took the field Sunday night on football’s biggest stage, with some of those names also among the biggest takeaways from the game itself.

One of the biggest of that group was former Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who had four receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown. Jennings also made an impact in the passing game, completing his lone pass for a 21-yard touchdown to Christian McCaffrey.

In addition to Jennings, former South Carolina wideout Deebo Samuel made an impact having three receptions for 33 yards, as well as rushing for eight yards on three attempts, while former Georgia receiver Chris Conley also had a catch for the 49ers with two tackles. Defensively, former South Carolina defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw had four tackles for San Francisco, while Dre Greenlaw (Arkansas) had three tackles and Charlie Woerner (Georgia) had one.

For the Chiefs, former Missouri linebacker Nick Bolton had a game-high 13 tackles to lead Kansas City’s defense, along with one TFL and two QB hits. Former Kentucky safety Mike Edwards also had a big game, amassing seven tackles and one PD.

Mecole Hardman, a former Georgia wide receiver, also had three receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown, while a few others also made an impact on defense. A pair of former Mississippi State defenders, Willie Gay and Chris Jones, each had four tackles (Jones also had two QB hits), while Malik Herring (Georgia) had one tackle.

Former Florida punter Tommy Townsend also had a big day on special teams by averaging 50.8 yards per punt, as well as placing two punts inside the 20-yard line.

Deebo Samuel, Chris Jones headline former SEC players in Super Bowl LVIII

Deebo Samuel, Chris Jones among the former SEC players set to play in Super Bowl LVIII

Football’s biggest stage will officially return this upcoming Sunday night, as Super Bowl LVIII takes place from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.

Similar to every other year as well, the Super Bowl will be loaded with SEC talent, as 25+ former players will be represented between the two teams this Sunday night on the sport’s biggest stage. Included in the names are some familiar faces to the Super Bowl stage, as well as some others who will be making their debuts in the game.

Here is a complete list of the former SEC players who are on the Chiefs and 49ers rosters entering Super Bowl LVIII.

Kansas City Chiefs

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
  • DL Isaiah Buggs, Alabama
  • OL Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn
  • RB La’Michal Perine, Florida
  • WR Kadarius Toney, Florida
  • OL Jawaan Taylor, Florida
  • P Tommy Townsend, Florida
  • WR Mecole Hardman, Georgia
  • DL Malik Herring, Georgia
  • OL Darian Kinnard, Kentucky
  • CB Mike Edwards, Kentucky
  • RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU
  • DE Neil Farrell, LSU
  • DT Chris Jones, Mississippi State
  • OLB Willie Gay Jr., Mississippi State
  • QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
  • LB Nick Bolton, Missouri
  • OL Trey Smith, Tennessee

San Francisco 49ers

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
  • TE Cameron Latu, Alabama
  • QB Brandon Allen, Arkansas
  • OLB Dre Greenlaw, Arkansas
  • WR Chris Conley, Georgia
  • TE Charlie Woerner, Georgia
  • OLB Robert Beal Jr., Georgia
  • RB Tyrion Davis-Price, LSU
  • WR Deebo Samuel, South Carolina
  • DL Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
  • WR Jauan Jennings, Tennessee
  • ILB Oren Burks, Vanderbilt

Arkansas picked to win SEC in 2024 baseball preseason poll

Arkansas picked to win the SEC in preseason

With the start of the 2024 SEC baseball season next week, the preseason poll was officially released by the conference Thursday ahead of first pitch next Friday, along with the preseason picks for the All-SEC teams.

The preseason pick to win the conference in 2024 was Arkansas, who would receive nine first-place votes. In addition to the Razorbacks, LSU, the 2023 national champions, received three votes, while Florida also received two.

Arkansas was also picked to win the SEC West by receiving nine first-place votes and were followed by LSU with five. Following the two teams were Texas A&M, Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State to round out the predicted West finish.

Florida was also the overwhelming pick to win the SEC East, receiving 11 first-place votes. Tennessee also received two, while Vanderbilt received one, and was followed in order by South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, and Missouri.

The SEC also announced the two preseason All-SEC teams Thursday, which are as follows:

2024 Preseason First Team All-SEC

  • C Cole Messina, South Carolina
  • 1B Jac Caglianone, Florida
  • 2B Cade Kurland, Florida
  • SS Colby Shelton, Florida
  • 3B Tommy White, LSU
  • OF Jace LaViolette, Texas A&M
  • OF Ethan Petry, South Carolina
  • OF Kendall Diggs, Arkansas
  • DH/UTL Ike Irish, Auburn
  • SP Hagen Smith, Arkansas
  • SP Drew Beam, Tennessee
  • RP Brandon Neely, Florida

2024 Preseason Second Team All-SEC

  • C Devin Burkes, Kentucky
  • 1B Charlie Condon, Georgia
  • 2B Christian Moore, Tennessee
  • SS Jonathan Vastine, Vanderbilt
  • 3B Billy Amick, Tennessee
  • OF Braden Montgomery, Texas A&M
  • OF Dakota Jordan, Mississippi State
  • OF Bobby Peirce, Auburn
  • DH/UTL Hayden Travinski, LSU
  • SP Jac Caglianone, Florida
  • SP Carter Holton, Vanderbilt
  • RP Alton Davis II, Alabama

5-star athlete to decide between three SEC programs

The nation’s top athlete will decide between three SEC schools.

The recruitment of the nation’s top athlete is set to conclude this Wednesday on National Signing Day, as Terry Bussey will reportedly make his decision between a trio of SEC programs. Georgia, LSU, and Texas A&M are all in the running for the Aggies commit.

Among the nation’s top recruits entering National Signing Day who are at the moment unsigned, Bussey is rated as a five-star athlete out of Timpson High School in Texas. The five-star is also considered the nation’s No. 11 player in the 2024 class according to the 247Sports Composite, as well as the No. 1 overall athlete nationally.

Bussey is coming off a stellar high school career in which he simply did a bit of everything, accounting for 5,000+ passing and rushing yards across from 2021-23, as well as 160+ total touchdowns. The five-star also had over 250+ tackles defensively, as well as 20+ INT’s in the state of Texas.

Currently, a Texas A&M commit, Bussey has been committed to the Aggies since September of 2023, but will now make his final decision on where he will play this Wednesday reportedly.

Will the electric playmaker be playing in Athens, Baton Rouge, or College Station this upcoming fall?

SEC announces new format for 2025 baseball tournament

The SEC has announced a new 2025 baseball tournament format.

The SEC officially announced Thursday afternoon that the annual conference tournament will be undergoing some change starting in 2025, coinciding with Oklahoma and Texas joining the conference that year from the Big 12.

Applying to baseball, the conference’s annual tournament in Hoover, Alabama, will now include all 16 of the SEC’s teams making the conference tournament. This is a change from what is currently a 12-team format. In addition to all 16 teams making the tournament, it will be solely single-elimination throughout, which is also a change from the current format with games also remaining from Tuesday to Sunday.

As for the conference’s current SEC Tournament format with 14 teams, each of the Top 12 teams in the conference earn a trip to Hoover, with the two bottom teams in the conference missing out. The current format is also a mix of both single-and-double elimination.

An additional breakdown of seeding and round-byes can be found on the SEC’s website, as well as the days/times which each seed plays and more.

Johnson, Quaintance headline SEC signees on McDonald’s All-American Game rosters

Johnson, Quaintance headline SEC signees selected to McDonald’s All-American Game

The official rosters for the upcoming 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game were released Tuesday afternoon, with multiple SEC signees selected to play in this year’s version of the annual contest.

With players selected only from the 2024 class, Alabama and Kentucky led all SEC programs with two signees each, and were both tied with Duke, North Carolina, and Rutgers for the most players selected.

Those SEC signees, as well as where they are committed to play in 2024-25, are as follows (Rankings according to 247Sports Composite):

East: 4-star C John Bol (Ole Miss), 5-star CG Boogie Fland (Kentucky), 5-star CG Tahaad Pettiford (Auburn), 5-star C Jayden Quaintance (Kentucky)

West: 5-star SG Tre Johnson (Texas), 5-star PF Derrion Reid (Alabama), 5-star C Aiden Sherrell (Alabama)

The McDonald’s All-American Game is one of the premier annual events on the high school basketball calendar, featuring many of the nation’s best prep prospects. This year’s McDonald’s All-American Game will take place Apr. 2, 2024, from Toyota Center in Houston, TX.