This was not exactly a very interesting year in the SEC. It was Kentucky and a bunch of underachievers. Case in point is Tennessee grabbing the 2-seed. But, the tournament could be interesting, especially after Calipari sort of alluded to the fact that they might not be trying to win this tournament – quote, “We are not trying to win this tournament.”
Well, even though Coach Cal isn’t going to try, Kentucky is the most popular single championship pick in any conference.
Championship Picks
17 for #1 Kentucky
0 for #2 Tennessee
3 for #3 Vanderbilt (KA, Mac, RDoc)
Biggest Upsets
R1 – #12 South Carolina (RDoc)
QF – #7 Ole Miss (Dave, Doogan, J, KA, Mac, Primm)
SF – #6 Mississippi St. (Gersh, Gross, Rikey)
Previous CTC Champions
2011 – Rikey*
2010 – Alexi
2009 – Alexi
2008 – Waters
#8 LSU vs. #9 Arkansas
It wasn’t a terrible year down on the Bayou – at least it wasn’t as bad as it was expected to be. But, either way, the Trent Johnson Era is not exactly a smashing success. As for the Mike Anderson Era at Arkansas, well, it wasn’t much of anything away from home. Both teams struggled this year and are probably just playing for the right to get smashed by UK next round.
This game is pretty split in the CTC, as 9 people have the Razorbacks here (Alexi, Dave, Gersh, Gross, J, Lohse, Mac, Rikey, RSmith). Everyone has Kentucky beating the winner of this game next round.
#5 Alabama vs. #12 South Carolina
I love Anthony Grant. He is a no-nonsense guy who is building a program, not just trying to win games. And, he sent a message this year and may not have cost his team a tournament bid. He did, however, probably cost them a first-round bye. So, they have to play a bad USC team today before a date with Florida tomorrow.
RDoc is the only one that took USC in this huge upset. 7 people have Bama winning again tomorrow (Alexi, Dave, Gross, J, KA, Lynch, Teddy). KA has them going to the finals.
#7 Ole Miss vs. #10 Auburn
After the absolutely miserable season Auburn had last year, a 10th place finish in the SEC is a pretty big step up. On the other side, Ole Miss is a popular “bubble” team these days. But, honestly, I don’t see the meat on the resume. Either way, they almost certainly need a couple of wins here in New Orleans to even be in the discussion. It starts today with Auburn and then they’d get Tennessee tomorrow.
Bry and Waters are the only two that have Auburn in this upset pick. And, a lot of the rest of the field has a lot of confidence in the Rebels, as 6 people have them winning again tomorrow (Dave, Doogan, J, KA, Mac, Primm).
#6 Mississippi St. vs. #11 Georgia
How bad is it going to get for Miss State? I’m starting to ease off my constant defense of Rick Stansbury as a coach because, at some point, you have to hold him responsible for the people he brings into the program. They are so immensely talented, but they are so immature – particularly, Renardo Sidney. They should be in the tournament, but a loss here to UGA and all bets are off. The Dawgs can get it done, too, they beat them handily earlier this season. The winner of this game will get #3 Vandy.
This is probably the most important CTC game of the day in the SEC, as 8 people have a pretty big upset here (Bry, Doogan, J, Mac, Primm, RDoc, RSmith, Waters), and 3 people have Mississippi State winning again tomorrow (Gersh, Gross, Lynch), with Gersh and Gross having them going to the finals.
