In a game dominated by the power conferences, the SEC is the most powerful. From early in the season, the SEC has taken college basketball by storm and has easily been the best and deepest conference in the country. At the end of the season, 12 of the 16 league teams finished with at least 20 wins, while no other power conference had more than eight.
For most of the season, Auburn has been in a tier of its own when compared to not only the SEC but the rest of the country. But, as the season progressed Florida proved that its early season success wasn’t a fluke and that the Gators were one of the best teams in college basketball. And lets not forget about Alabama with its dominant offense or Tennessee with its suffocating defense.
While, for the most part, things shook out how many thought they would, there were a few surprises this season. Missouri and Vanderbilt completely exceeded all expectations - going from the two worst teams in the conference a year ago to being major players throughout the season. The Tigers were in contention for one of the top four seeds in the conference tournament for most of SEC play. And the job that Mark Pope did in his first year was nothing short of spectacular at Kentucky.
With the additions of Texas and Oklahoma to the fray, this will be the largest SEC basketball tournament in the league's history, which should only add to the intrigue. Its clear that Auburn is the favorite to win the conference tournament, but over the last five SEC Tournaments the No. 1 seed has won the title only twice - so some exciting upsets should be expected.
Will we see a repeat champion for the first time since 2018? Will one of the contenders knock off the favorite Auburn? Or will we see one of the lower seeds go on a run, stealing a bid from one of the bubble teams? No matter who takes home the SEC Tournament title, one thing is for sure, it will be some of the best basketball of the season.
🏀 The Bracket.
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) March 9, 2025
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Final Standings:
01. Auburn Tigers (27-4, 15-3)
02. Florida Gators (27-4, 14-4)
03. Alabama Crimson Tide (24-7, 13-5)
04. Tennessee Volunteers (25-6, 12-6)
05. Texas A&M Aggies (22-9, 11-7)
06. Kentucky Wildcats (21-10, 10-8)
07. Missouri Tigers (21-10, 10-8)
08. Ole Miss Rebels (21-10, 10-8)
09. Arkansas Razorbacks (19-12, 8-10)
10. Mississippi State Bulldogs (20-11, 8-10)
11. Georgia Bulldogs (20-11, 8-10)
12. Vanderbilt Commodores (20-11, 8-10)
13. Texas Longhorns (17-14, 6-12)
14. Oklahoma Sooners (19-12, 6-12)
15. LSU Tigers (14-17, 3-15)
16. South Carolina Gamecocks (12-19, 2-16)
Players to watch
There’s an abundance of talent in the SEC, so there could be any number of players featured here, but here are three that stood out all season.
Johni Broome - Auburn Tigers
There’s no doubt that Johni Broome has been the conference’s best player all season. Broome has been a walking double-double, averaging 18.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game while recording 17 double-doubles in 28 games. Broome led the SEC in rebounds and blocks (2.4 bpg) this season, solidifying his spot as one of the best defenders in the conference. Few players in the country dominated both ends of the court like Broome did almost every time he walked onto the court.
Mark Sears - Alabama Crimson Tide
Sears has been one of the most entertaining players to watch this season. Even with his slight 6’1 frame, Sears can beat you at every level and finds ways to finish at the rim. But when he gets hot from deep, he is the most lethal. Sears is averaging 19.5 points and 5.0 assists per game, which both rank second in the conference this season. His numbers are even better during conference play, where he is averaging 20.6 points and 5.7 assists.
Tre Johnson - Texas Longhorns
The Texas freshman has been one of the most consistent players in the country this season. Johnson is the conference’s leading scorer this season at 20.2 points per game. He’s scored in double-figures in all but two games this season and has three 30-point games against SEC opponents. There might not be another player in this tournament who has as big of an impact on their team's success. If Texas makes a deep SEC tournament run, it will be because Johnson put up some heroic numbers.
Key Teams
Favorite: Auburn
Auburn has been the best team in the country for most of the season and is the overwhelming favorite to win the SEC tournament crown. The Tigers started 9-0 in league play and have only dropped three conference games this year and a total of four games all season. Led by Johni Broome and Chad Baker-Mazara, the Tigers are one of the most dominant teams on both ends of the court - averaging 85.2 points on offense and giving up 70 on defense. And what makes this team nearly impossible to beat is its depth. If one of the stars is having an off night or is out with an injury someone else simply steps up, and the team barely misses a beat. Auburn is the overwhelming favorite to win the tournament.
Contenders: Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee
There are at least four teams in the SEC capable of winning the national title this season, so it's tough to narrow the contenders list down to just one or two teams. Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama have all, at times this season, looked like the best teams in the country and could easily win the conference tournament.
Florida has one of the most electric offenses in the country, with Walter Clayton Jr (17.2 ppg) leading four Gators averaging double-digit points on the season. Florida is one of the top three points shooting teams in the country, making nearly 10 per game, but the Gators are even better at the rim. Florida is averaging nearly 38 points per game in the paint, making this offense lethal inside and out. But let's not forget about their defense. Florida has the third-best defense in the conference since the start of SEC play. If it weren't for Auburn, the Gators would probably be the favorite to walk away with the SEC Tournament title.
For as great as Florida has been on offense, Alabama has been even better. The Crimson Tide lead the country in scoring with 91.2 points per game and have scored at least 100 points in a game eight times this season - including five times in conference play. Seniors Mark Sears (19.2 ppg) and Grant Nelson (12.1 ppg) lead the team in scoring, with a handful of others averaging double-digit points as well. And even with a bad defense, Alabama plays at a breakneck pace and scores more than enough points to take down nearly every team in the country.
Compared to the rest of the conference, Tennessee plays a completely different style of basketball, which makes the Vols a tough team to beat. Tennessee’s defense is one of the best in college basketball, giving up 61.9 points per game and allowing opponents to only make 37.7 percent from the floor. And even with how great the SEC has been offensively, the Vols are still holding conference opponents to a paltry 66.1 points per game. If Tennessee’s offense catches fire, mostly Chaz Lanier (17.9 ppg), at any point then the Vols could very well win the SEC title.
Dark horse: Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt has taken down several ranked SEC teams this season, which makes them a prime candidate for a Cinderella run through the SEC tournament. The Commodores have pulled off some of the best upsets this season, including beating Tennessee and Kentucky within a week of each other - both Tennessee and Kentucky were ranked in the top 10 at the time of these games. Vanderbilt doesn’t do anything exceedingly well, but the Commodores are incredibly well-coached and have a very high floor. Any team willing to take Vanderbilt lightly in the SEC tournament will most likely get upset, especially with the tournament being played in the Commodores' backyard.
Bracketology
Only one conference has ever sent 10 or more teams to the NCAA Tournament - in 2011 the Big East had 11 teams. This year, the SEC looks to break that record. According to Joe Lunardi’s latest bracket projection, 13 SEC teams are in the field and one is in the first four out. This isn’t a surprise since the SEC has been the best conference in the country all season, but to have 14 of 16 teams still vying for a tournament berth is remarkable.
Lunardi has six of the top 16 overall seeds in the NCAA Tournament filled by SEC teams, with Auburn and Florida taking up two of the 1-seeds. Tennessee and Alabama are squarely a 2-seed, while Texas A&M and Kentucky making the tournament as 3-seeds. Missouri has fallen to a 5-seed following three straight losses.
And then there is a whole mess of SEC teams seeded in the 7-12 range. Lunardi has Ole Miss as a 7-seed, Mississippi State as an 8-seed, Vanderbilt as a 9-seed, Arkansas and Georgia made a late-season push and are listed as a 10-seed, and Oklahoma as a 12-seed playing in one of the first four games. Oklahoma is the second-to-last team in the field so there is still a chance that the Sooners could be dropped if there are a few bid stealers from some of the other conferences.
The only team outside of the top 68 that still had a chance at getting in is Texas. The Longhorns are in the first four out, so at this point, they would most likely need to either make a deep run in the SEC Tournament or win it outright to break into the NCAA Tournament field. That shouldn’t be counted out with how deep the SEC has been this season. But overall, there aren’t any glaring omissions in Lunardi’s bracket projections.
Predictions
First Round
No. 9 Arkansas over No. 16 South Carolina
South Carolina picked up a couple of wins late in the conference slate, but away from Colonial Life Arena, the Gamecocks have struggled. Arkansas started SEC play with five consecutive losses, but the Razorbacks are a much better team now. With how good the Hogs have been playing as of late, it's an easy pick to have Arkansas advance.
No. 12 Vanderbilt over No. 13 Texas
Texas enters the SEC tournament with a 3-7 record over its last 10 games, including a disappointing loss to rival Oklahoma on the final day of the regular season. Vanderbilt enters the tournament having lost its last two games. The Commodores are basically playing a home game, and with the inconsistencies in Texas’ offense, Vanderbilt has the edge and moves on.
No. 10 Mississippi State over No. 15 LSU
LSU hasn’t scored more than 70 points in a game since mid-February and has lost its last five games. Mississippi State has one win in its last five games, the Bulldogs beat LSU by 12 a couple of weeks ago. MSU should win this one easily with how bad LSU has been to end the season.
No. 14 Oklahoma over No. 11 Georgia
Georgia has a four-game win streak entering the SEC tournament and has put up some impressive offensive performances. Oklahoma is riding the high of wins over Missouri and Texas in its last two games. Georgia’s defense is elite, but the Bulldogs aren’t always great offensively, Oklahoma is much more balanced and advances, avenging the early season loss.
Second Round
No. 9 Arkansas over No. 8 Ole Miss
Both of these teams are trending in the opposite direction. Arkansas has seemingly figured out its offensive issues and has scored at least 86 points in four of its last five games. Ole Miss has struggled defensively lately. The Rebels have only held two teams under 75 points in their last 10 games. The Hogs are rolling right now so its hard to not have them advance against the Rebels slumping defense.
No. 5 Texas A&M over No. 12 Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt has struggled defensively lately, especially on the defensive boards. The Commodores are averaging less than 20 defensive rebounds in SEC play. That is a recipe for disaster against Texas A&M. The Aggies live on the offensive glass, grabbing nearly 13 per game in SEC games. It’s hard to pick against A&M’s defense and rebounding against a less experienced team. It should be a close game, but the Aggies move on.
No. 7 Missouri over No. 10 Mississippi State
Both teams are giving up close to 91 points per game over their last five games. The only redeeming thing about these defenses is they are the two best teams in the conference getting steals. Mississippi State’s offense has been good but very inefficient. Missouri’s defense needs to show up in a big way to get out of a three-game skid. The Tigers are the better team and should advance, but it won’t look pretty.
No. 6 Kentucky over No. 14 Oklahoma
This one should be all Kentucky. The Wildcats, even with some injuries, are one of the best offenses (85.8 ppg) in college basketball. Oklahoma has some offensive firepower but nothing compared to Kentucky. The Sooners might have a chance if they can slow down the Wildcats on the perimeter, but few teams have been able to do that the season. Otega Oweh should have another stellar game against his former team, helping the Wildcats advance.
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Auburn over No. 9 Arkansas
Auburn has been dominant all season, though in their first meeting Arkansas was able to make the Tigers look mortal, holding Auburn to 67 points in the loss. Arkansas has been playing much better since then - winning four of five. The Hogs will have the incredibly tough task of trying to slow down Johni Broome (18.6 ppg, 10.6 rpg) with a short rotation. After a disappointing week leading up to the SEC Tournament weighing heaving, the Tigers will most likely be looking to make a statement in their opening game of the postseason.
No. 5 Texas A&M over No. 4 Tennessee
We could see a record for the fewest combined points in an SEC Tournament game in this matchup of the two best defenses in the conference during league play - Texas A&M allowed 70.3 points per game and Tennessee allowed 66.1. Both teams have proven they can score the ball, but are much more comfortable grinding out wins. Tennessee has won four of five coming into the tournament, but A&M is riding a two-game win streak that includes a victory over Auburn. It might be a complete slog, but the Aggies get the revenge win advancing to the semifinals.
No. 2 Florida over No. 7 Missouri
Missouri making it this far might seem like a miracle with how bad the Tigers have been defensively, while Florida has looked nothing short of the best team in the country. Missouri upset Florida early in SEC play but that won’t happen again in Nashville. The Gators have tightened up their defense and are getting incredible play from Will Richard and Alex Condon lately to make this team that much more dangerous offensively. The Tigers will need an excellent offensive performance to take down the Gators, but without a reliable defense, Florida should walk away with the win with relative ease.
No. 3 Alabama over No. 6 Kentucky
Alabama is averaging 99 points against Kentucky this season, sweeping the two-game series against the Wildcats. Kentucky kept the first game close but dropped the second by 13 points. Neither team has much of a defense, though Kentucky has been slightly better on that end of the court (which isn’t saying much). Mark Sears is averaging 27 points against Kentucky this year, which is a bad sign for the Wildcats. Alabama is hungry to build on last season’s success and that starts against Kentucky. Alabama moves on in a high-scoring game.
Semifinals
No. 1 Auburn over No. 5 Texas A&M
In their only meeting this season Texas A&M beat Auburn 83-72, handing the Tigers their worst loss of the season. The Aggies held Johni Broome to eight points and seven rebounds in the win, which isn’t something that happens often. A&M had three players have as many or more rebounds than Broome which shows how great the Aggies are on the glass. It will take another dominant rebounding performance from Texas A&M to beat Auburn for the second time in as many weeks. Which is way easier said than done. Auburn has rarely looked beatable this season, and now that it has experience with A&M play style it should be expected that the Tigers get revenge over the Aggies, moving on to the SEC Tournament Finals for the second year in a row.
No. 2 Florida over No. 3 Alabama
Florida has had Alabama’s number of the past couple of seasons, winning the last three matchups against the Tide. In this season’s only meeting, Alex Condon erupted for 27 points to help the Gators win on the road. Mark Sears’ heroic 30-point performance wasn’t enough to slow down the balanced Florida offense. This should be another high-scoring game between two of the top offenses in the conference, but it's Florida’s defense (68.2 ppg) that should put the Gators over the top. Florida has a ton of size and length, making it nearly impossible to score on them anywhere on the court, but especially on fast breaks - which is where Alabama does a lot of damage. Florida knocked Alabama out of the SEC Tournament a year ago and will do the same this year.
Finals
No. 2 Florida over No. 1 Auburn
I know it's a bit boring to predict that the top two teams in the conference would meet in the title game, but that’s what happens when the two best teams in the conference also happen to arguably be the two best teams in the country. And it's also a bit boring to predict a repeat of the title game from last season. But these two teams are far better than they were when they met last year. A year ago, Florida got embarrassed in the championship game of the SEC Tournament, losing to Auburn 86-67. The Gators already got their revenge this season taking down the Tigers 90-81, handing Auburn its first conference loss.
Both Florida's (84.5 ppg) and Auburn's (85.2 ppg) offenses have been has been hard to slow down all season, only Tennessee was able to hold the Gators below 70 points and Auburn below 60. While neither of these defenses is quite as good as the Vols, both the Gators and the Tigers can shut down opponents. I don’t know if we will see a defensive battle in the championship, but just know that both teams are capable of winning one. Florida has been the better team as of late, which leads me to give the Gators the edge in this matchup. Johni Broome will most likely put up huge numbers, but Florida’s depth and the scoring ability of some of its role players put the Gators ahead. Florida takes home the SEC Tournament title for the first time since 2014.