Busting Brackets
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SEC Basketball: Regular season title open for the taking

By Annie Costabile

Mar 13, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; South Eastern Conference logo under the scoreboard prior to the game between the Florida Gators and the Kentucky Wildcats in the third round of the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; South Eastern Conference logo under the scoreboard prior to the game between the Florida Gators and the Kentucky Wildcats in the third round of the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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18-0 is pretty much a prerequisite for the SEC basketball titleholder, or at least it was for the last few years.

2015-16 brings about change in the SEC, and for the first time in 3 seasons there won’t be an undefeated champ. Of all the power conferences, the SEC is arguably the most wide open in terms of who will be crowned champ. There is a log jam at the top of the conference, and there could be a case made for all in terms of winning the title.

Take a look at the top four teams in the SEC:

Starting with Texas A&M – who is 7-1 in conference play – followed by South Carolina, Kentucky, and LSU –  who all sit at 6-2 in conference.

There is something to be said about every top team in terms of being number one when its all said and done. Texas A&M is the most experienced squad in the pack and we all know experience goes a long way in college hoops, especially in the second half of the season.

More from Kentucky Wildcats

Not to mention the Aggies’ remaining schedule is arguably the easiest among the top four as well. They don’t play any top 25 teams away, and their toughest road match will be against LSU on Feb. 13 in Baton Rouge.

That brings us to the Tigers. Despite the fact that this team isn’t ranked, they should not be counted out. LSU is young, but man are they talented, and we’re not even just talking about Ben Simmons. If you look beyond this years top lottery pick, you’re looking at a tough backcourt with Keith Hornsby and Tim Quarterman at the helm.

Adding Craig Victor to Simmons aid makes this LSU team really difficult to guard, their only problem is maintaining consistency. They blew two huge leads in games that really mattered first against Georgia and then again against No. 1 Oklahoma, which wasn’t a conference game but in terms of staple victories, that was one they needed.

South Carolina is another team in the race and they most certainly should not be overlooked. At 6-2, like Kentucky and LSU, this team is going to have to take advantage of their remaining schedule. The Gamecocks play Georgia on the road and have another huge road test in Texas A&M following that. After that the tough games come home and you have to win at home, especially this season.

Last but certainly not least we have the basketball blue blood, Kentucky. No doubt Kentucky is the best team on paper, you look at them and just think how are they not winning every game? Skal Labissiere and Tyler Ulis are two keys in the success of this Wildcats team but they have many other weapons in their arsenal as well. When they bring it together come March, they’re going to be dangerous. The problem right now is winning tough games in the final minutes, and Calipari is still teaching his team how to do that.

More busting brackets: Is Duke's Drop From the Rankings a Sign of Trouble?

In a season of college hoops that anything goes, I mean come on we just watched Duke drop from the top 25, it isn’t surprising that the SEC won’t crown an undefeated champ. This conference has always been pretty one sided, a race for number one was over due.

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