SEC men's tournament wide open for a change

Kentucky's Jamal Murray (23) and Alex Poythress celebrate during Saturday's 94-77 win over LSU. The Wildcats are seeded second in this week's SEC tournament.
Kentucky's Jamal Murray (23) and Alex Poythress celebrate during Saturday's 94-77 win over LSU. The Wildcats are seeded second in this week's SEC tournament.

SEC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

All times EasternWednesday8 p.m. — Tennessee (12) vs. Auburn (13)Thursday1 p.m. — Florida (8) vs. Arkansas (9)3:30 — Vanderbilt (5) vs. Tenn./Auburn winner7 — Ole Miss (7) vs. Alabama (10)9:30 — Georgia (6) vs. Mississippi State (11)Friday1 p.m. — Texas A&M (1) vs. TBD3:30 — LSU (4) vs. TBD7 — Kentucky (2) vs. TBD9:30 — South Carolina (3) vs. TBDSaturday1 & 3:30 — SemifinalsSunday1 p.m. — Championship

The winners of the last two Southeastern Conference men's basketball tournaments went undefeated during the regular season.

Kentucky beat all three opponents in last year's SEC tournament by a minimum of 15 points, but this week's five-day affair at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena is expected to be wide open. The 2016 league extravaganza tips off Wednesday night with 12th-seeded Tennessee facing 13th-seeded Auburn.

"I don't think there is a read into what might happen," South Carolina coach Frank Martin said Monday. "We went into Auburn and won. Kentucky went into Auburn and lost, and Kentucky came into our building and hammered us. We went to Texas A&M and won. Kentucky went to A&M and lost.

"The games are going to be incredible, and I think it's going to be a great tournament."

Kentucky blew through last year's SEC tournament on the way to a 38-0 record entering the NCAA Final Four, where the Wildcats were stunned by Wisconsin in the national semifinals. Florida was putting together a 30-game winning streak two years ago when the Gators won the league tournament on their way to the Final Four.

Texas A&M and Kentucky are the top two seeds in this year's event after tying for the regular-season crown with 13-5 league marks. Not since 1991 with LSU and Mississippi State and 1990 with Georgia have the league's regular-season champions wound up with so many losses.

"I think there has been unbelievable parity in the league," Georgia coach Mark Fox said. "There was a tie at the top and right below that, and going into the tournament it's hard to pick a team that's the odds-on favorite. A&M and Kentucky are at the top of the standings and would probably be the places to start, but there have been a lot of hotly contested games.

"We finished the regular season with some wins, and that beats the alternative, but the momentum has to be established in Nashville. I don't think you can carry it there."

Since the league expanded to 14 teams before the 2012-13 season, the tournament champion has come from among the top four seeds. Joining the Aggies and Wildcats with byes to Friday's quarterfinals this week are South Carolina and LSU.

Despite being the second seed, Kentucky is the favorite after winning at Florida (88-79) and thumping LSU (94-77) to close its regular season.

"If Kentucky's front line can play with any consistency, Kentucky can win it all," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. "When their front line gets outplayed, that's when they've gotten beat. Their backcourt really hasn't been outplayed all year long."

Winning it all is always Kentucky's goal, with the Wildcats having reached the Final Four in four of the last five years and having won the 2012 national championship.

"The tournament we're all fighting for obviously is the NCAA tournament," Kentucky's John Calipari said. "Conference tournaments add to the intrigue, because it gives a chance to teams that need one more push to get themselves in. We use the tournament to improve our seed.

"It's a huge thing to Kentucky fans, and we want to play as well as we can play, but we're using it to improve our seed in the NCAA tournament."

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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