SEC Basketball: 3 bold predictions for 2019-20 season

By Brian Rauf | Nov 2, 2019

DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 21: Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Florida Gators is defended by Jazz Johnson #22 of the Nevada Wolf Pack in the second half during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts in the second half during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal against the Virginia Cavaliers at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

What crazy things could happen during the upcoming SEC basketball season? Here are three bold predictions for the conference in 2019-20.

Always thought of as a football conference (and for good reason) – SEC basketball has experienced the kind of successful run in recent years that has changed its perception on the hardwood.

Four different teams have earned five total Final Four bids over the last six seasons with two (South Carolina in 2017, Auburn in 2019) recording their first-ever appearance. Six different schools have also won at least a share of the SEC regular-season title during that time frame.

This increased level of success and balance is something conference officials were looking for when they placed an increased emphasis on the sport earlier this decade. The schools responded by hiring well-respected, successful, big-name coaches and, as a result of the number of talented coaches now in the SEC, it’s as deep and competitive as ever.

The 2019-20 season, though, should be interesting. Three programs – Florida, Kentucky, LSU – appear to have separated themselves, but what could happen with the rest of the conference is anyone’s guess (and yes, that includes Vanderbilt, who returns some talent and a high-quality new coach in Jerry Stackhouse).

That much uncertainty is destined to generate a good deal of chaos throughout the season, and it may hit some of those programs that have high expectations.

Here are my three bold predictions for the SEC in 2019-20, starting with two programs that have been among the class of the conference over the past two years.

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