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SEC Basketball: 2020 conference tournament preview and predictions

By Robert Nealon

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - FEBRUARY 22: Ashton Hagans #0, Immanuel Quickley #5 and Tyrese Maxey #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrate defeating the Florida Gators 65-59 after the game at Rupp Arena on February 22, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - FEBRUARY 22: Ashton Hagans #0, Immanuel Quickley #5 and Tyrese Maxey #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats celebrate defeating the Florida Gators 65-59 after the game at Rupp Arena on February 22, 2020 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
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SEC Basketball
AUBURN, ALABAMA – FEBRUARY 08: Javonte Smart #1 of the LSU Tigers drives against J’Von McCormick #5 and Isaac Okoro #23 of the Auburn Tigers  (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

For the next several days, the SEC Basketball tournament will be played in Nashville. Who will be the favorites to win the event?

Entering the season, SEC Basketball was expected to be one of the most exciting conferences in all of college basketball. Auburn was entering the season a year removed from a Final Four appearance, Kentucky had another strong roster and Alabama, with first-year head coach Nate Oats, had a lot of expectations. Auburn and Kentucky were the clear heavyweights, but many thought the Crimson Tide with sophomore guard Kira Lewis Jr. and Junior Gaurd John Petty Jr. could make some noise.

Auburn started strong, being ranked as high as No. 4 in the country before losing its first game to Alabama. LSU was listed in the top-25, becoming one of the hottest teams in the country before losing to Vanderbilt for their first home conference win of the season. Kentucky finished the season No. 8, however, at the start of the year, the Wildcats lost to Evansville 67-64. Evansville finished the season 0-19 in conference play. It was a wild ride of emotions, but that’s college basketball.

But as the season progressed, teams began to settle down and it was apparent who was good, bad and just not tournament material. Regardless of what happens in Nashville, Kentucky, Auburn and LSU will make the round of 64.

However, Alabama, the team many thought could make noise, is just about out of hope. To make the NCAA tournament, the Crimson Tide will have to win the SEC Tournament. If they beat Tennessee in the opening round, they’d play the Wildcats, who have knocked them out each of the past four years.

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