Busting Brackets
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SEC Basketball: Top returning players on each team for 2019-20 season

By Charlie DiSturco

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 09: Lamonte Turner #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates against the Florida Gators at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 09, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 09: Lamonte Turner #1 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates against the Florida Gators at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 09, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Photo Credit: Tom Pennington – Getty Images)
Photo Credit: Tom Pennington – Getty Images) /

Auburn – Samir Doughty

After nearly losing to New Mexico State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, Auburn strung together a surprise Final Four run even with star Chuma Okeke going down with a season-ending injury in the Sweet 16.

Okeke has since declared for the NBA and was joined by Bryce Brown and Jared Harper, Auburn’s dynamic backcourt duo. That leaves the future in the hands of junior Samir Doughty, who played all 40 games last season for the Tigers.

On a crowded and extremely talented Auburn team, Doughty played just 24.2 minutes per game, but managed to score 7.3 points per game on 45.8 percent shooting and 42.5 percent from 3. Add in his defensive capabilities — 1.4 steals per game — and Doughty has the opportunity to take a huge leap forward this season, both as a leader and all-around star for Auburn.

Kentucky – Ashton Hagans

On a team that is known for churning out one-and-done prospects, there are very few times where starters return to Kentucky for a sophomore season. But Ashton Hagans, who quickly became a large piece of the Wildcats, is an exception after pulling his name from the NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-3 floor general started 30 games last season, leading the team with 4.3 assists per game. He’s a quick guard and provides defensive stability — team-best 1.6 steals per game — in the Kentucky backcourt.

There’s still room for Hagans to improve, particularly in his shooting. He wasn’t a shoot-first player and shot just 27.5 percent from beyond the arc. Expect Hagans to improve his offensive nature his sophomore season while continuing to excel both defensively and as a leader on a normally-young, but potent Kentucky team.

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