SEC Basketball: 2022 Conference Tournament preview and predictions

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - FEBRUARY 08: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers drives to the basket in overtime against JD Notae #1 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on February 08, 2022 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Tigers 80-76. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

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SEC Basketball Oscar Tshiebwe Kentucky Wildcats (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

SEC Bracketology

Who gets No. 1

After the historic night that was Feb.26, 2022, when all four of the teams the Selection Committee revealed as No. 1 seeds lost – along with two of their No. 2 seeds – it seems there is no longer room for both Kentucky and Auburn – who are two of the teams that lost- to enter the NCAA Tournament as No 1 seeds.

With Kentucky’s S-Curve having them as the best No 3 seed, they will need to win the SEC Tournament, hopefully defeating Auburn in the process to grab a No. 1 seed. If Auburn is able to win, the Selection Committee should reward them with the current No. 1 seed they hold.

Can Mississippi State do enough?

With victories over; Arkansas, Alabama, and Richmond, Mississippi State sits tenth in the SEC and the SEC is predicted to get six bids into the National Tournament. If Head Coach Bob Howland and the Bulldogs are going to get an invitation, they need to hope the Power Six conferences go as predicted and no mid-major conferences get an unexpected additional bid.

All of that has to happen while the Bulldogs help themselves by getting to at least the semi-finals. A first-round loss by LSU would make the Bulldogs’ journey easier, but for them to make it, they have work to do. If Florida can be in the discussion come Selection Sunday, so can the Bulldogs.

Where does Alabama go?

Would it not be fun if Alabama did just enough to get on the six-line so the Selection Committee could decide to send them 1,988 miles to San Diego instead of the 818 miles to Portland. If that was the case, then the Crimson Tide could be in the West region with the Gonzaga Bulldogs who they defeated 91-82 on Dec. 4, 2021.

A five seed would not be able to make that happen, for they will not be sent to Buffalo in the first round, and getting a seven seed in the West region to travel to Indianapolis would just be overkill as Duke – who beat Gonzaga 84-81 on Nov. 26, 2021 – could very well start out in Greenville in the East Region, who meet the West Region in the Final Four.

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