Texas head coach Rick Barnes talks with his players during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oklahoma State, Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, in Austin, Texas. Oklahoma State won in overtime 65-63. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)CHARLOTTE – Less than two hours before the Southeastern Conference officially released its preseason men’s basketball media poll on Wednesday, Tennessee senior guard Kevin Punter was already planning to see the Vols picked near the bottom of the league.
So when UT was voted 12th among 14 teams as it adjusts to its third coach in three seasons under new Vols boss Rick Barnes, Punter wasn’t shocked.
“It doesn’t go unnoticed,” he said. “It motivates us every day.”
As expected, Kentucky was noticed by the most writers and broadcasters, the Wildcats chosen to win the league for the 11th time since the 1998-99 season. What may surprise some folks is that Vanderbilt was picked second, followed by Texas A&M at third and LSU fourth.
However, LSU freshman Ben Simmons was not only one of two freshmen named to the first team _ along with UK’s Skal Labissiere _ but was also voted the preseason SEC Player of the Year.