NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Southeastern Conference brings its expanded men’s tournament to Nashville, with Texas and Oklahoma visiting Music City for the first time as league member and even a neutral court can look like a cage match after the meat-grinder of a regular season.
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes certainly wants the Volunteer faithful to make the short drive and paint Bridgestone Arena orange and white.
Hey, it’s March! Any advantage helps, and his Vols lost three road games by a combined five points including a 2-point loss in January at then-No. 1 Auburn.
With six of the SEC’s seven ranked teams inside the top 15, the league has never been stronger. An unprecedented 13 members are hoping to grab NCAA Tournament berths and two likely No. 1 seeds as well.
The SEC’s 16 teams will play 15 games over five days starting Wednesday with No. 9 seed Arkansas and coach John Calipari kicking it off against 16th-seeded South Carolina. Regular season champion and No. 3 Auburn is looking to repeat as the tournament champ, though No. 5 Alabama won the 2023 title and Tennessee took the trophy home in 2022.