SEC Basketball: 5 storylines to watch as 2023-24 league play gets going
![Dec 19, 2023; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Lamont Paris Dec 19, 2023; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Lamont Paris](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2700,h_1518,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/184/01hk32cjzfn8dp24pj6a.jpg)
Who are the early favorites for SEC Player of the Year?
Mark Sears - Alabama
Sears is having a strong season shooting the basketball. He's currently shooting 45.6 percent on the perimeter and 53.6 percent from the field for Alabama while leading the SEC in points per game (19.3). He's proven to be a much more valuable piece in the Crimson Tide backcourt this season and despite the adversity they've faced, he's managed to handle it well. He'll be one name to keep an eye on in this year's SEC Player of the Year race.
Antonio Reeves - Kentucky
Reeves has been the only holdover for the Wildcats' 2023-24 roster which features a lot of freshman talent. He's shown he can still lead the way while producing 19.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game on 52.3 percent shooting from the floor and 45.9 percent shooting from 3-point land. He ranks first currently in the conference in 3-pointers made per game (2.8) and second in points per game.
Dalton Knecht - Tennessee
Dalton Knecht is a name that should take the SEC by storm. He's been a key piece in the Tennessee Volunteers' success this season as he's posting 15.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest as a new face in the rotation. He's an impressive slashing presence shooting 36.2 percent from deep and 45.1 percent from the field at 6-foot-6. He's a graduate transfer out of Northern Colorado who's proven he can hold his own in the Tennessee backcourt. Now, he'll need to keep it going in league play entering the month of January.