Busting Brackets
Fansided

SEC Basketball: Preseason rankings for 2018-19

By Brian Rauf

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 22: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats speaks to PJ Washington #25 in the first half against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 22: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats speaks to PJ Washington #25 in the first half against the Kansas State Wildcats during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament South Regional at Philips Arena on March 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 15
Next
ST LOUIS, MO – MARCH 11: Hamidou Diallo #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats cuts the net after the 77-72 victory against the Tennessee Volunteers during the Championship game of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 11, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO – MARCH 11: Hamidou Diallo #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats cuts the net after the 77-72 victory against the Tennessee Volunteers during the Championship game of the 2018 SEC Basketball Tournament at Scottrade Center on March 11, 2018 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

The SEC sent a record eight programs to the NCAA Tournament last year and 2018-19 promises be another strong season for the conference.

Once thought of as the worst power conference not too long ago, SEC basketball made a name for itself as a national power last season by sending a conference-record eight teams to the NCAA Tournament.

The conference also proved to be one of the most unpredictable. Kentucky finished in a three-way tie for fourth and gave way to both Auburn and Tennessee at the top of the conference. It was the Vols’ first title in 10 years while Auburn hadn’t been at the top of the conference since 1999.

A number of high-profile players are now gone – Alabama‘s Collin Sexton, Kentucky‘s Kevin Knox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Missouri‘s Michael Porter Jr. were all picked in the lottery – but there is still plenty of top-tier talent, headlined by many top recruits. In fact, nine of the top 26 prospects in 247sports’ Composite Rankings are headed to SEC schools.

Given last season’s unpredictability and the overall strength of the conference, the race for the conference title is expected to be one of the most entertaining in the country.. Seven teams made our projected 2019 NCAA Tournament field and several others are expected to find themselves on the bubble.

How will all of those teams stack up against each other? Here are our SEC basketball preseason projections for the 2018-19 season!

Home/SEC