Busting Brackets
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SEC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season

By Jerran Anderson

Alabama head coach Nate Oats watches a shot fall in during practice for the Crimson Tide Men’s Basketball team Monday, Sept. 25, 2023.
Alabama head coach Nate Oats watches a shot fall in during practice for the Crimson Tide Men’s Basketball team Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. /
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Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Florida Gators

Last season: 16-17, 9-9 in the SEC

The Florida Gators look to compete once again in the SEC ranks after finishing .500 in the conference and eighth in the standings this past season. Head coach Todd Golden saw some growing pains in his first year in the conference but he’ll return with Riley Kugel, Will Richard, Aleks Szymczyk and Denzel Aberdeen with some help from the transfer portal.

Micah Handlogten (Marshall), Walter Clayton Jr. (Iona) and Zyon Pullin (UC Riverside) should be names to know as additions out of the transfer portal. Handlogten should boost their rim protection and paint presence score given his length and ability to operate in the painted area on both ends. Clayton is a playmaking guard looking to make a bigger splash on the high-major stage after winning MAAC Player of the Year in 2022-23. He put together a stat-line of 16.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.2 apg and 1.8 spg on 43.1 percent shooting from deep and 45.5 percent from the floor. Pullin is another graduate transfer guard out of the Big West who posted 12.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg and 3.6 apg on 35.2 percent shooting from deep from 2019-23.

Riley Kugel is the early name to get to know among their returners who should turn a corner entering his second year of college basketball. Kugel was an SEC All-Freshmen selection after producing 9.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg and 1.0 apg on 37.6 percent shooting from deep and 45.6 percent shooting from the floor. He’s a breakout sophomore name to get to know with this group heading into the 2023-24 season.

The potential is there for their transfer portal additions to contribute right away. If they can make their impact felt and the team chemistry can breed success, look for this Florida group to compete for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid, at the very least.

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