The NBA Draft has come and gone, and the dust has finally begun to settle from the transfer portal as well. With rosters finally set, it is time to look at how the teams in the SEC stack up.
National Title Contenders
Alabama, fresh off a run to a Final Four in 2024, will return Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell, and Jarin Stevenson among others. They also added Rutgers center Cliff Omoruyi, Auburn guard Aden Holloway, and South Florida guard Chris Youngblood.
They have an All-American guard in Sears, quality depth at every position, and one of the best coaches in the country. Alabama is a top team in the country and will likely compete to cut down the nets at next year’s Final Four.
2- Auburn Tigers
Auburn, like their in-state rival, is absolutely loaded. A slew of quality players return to school, including All-SEC big man Johni Broome. Leaps from Denver Jones and Chad Baker-Mazara could vault Auburn into national title contention. Furman transfer JP Pegues should be able to add a spark of scoring as well.
Bruce Pearl has turned Auburn into a really quality program, and they have a really good chance at making their second Final Four in program history.
Second-Weekend Hopefuls
3- Florida Gators
Todd Golden did a wonderful job in year two, and he has a chance to build upon it in year three. Walter Clayton Jr., Will Richard, and Denzel Aberdeen are returning, while they bring in FAU transfer Alijah Martin, who will add scoring, rebounding and Final Four experience. In the front court, losing Micah Handlogten with an awful leg injury will certainly hurt, but Alex Condon will return for his sophomore season and should take a leap. Todd Golden has the roster he needs to win, now he just needs to go do it.
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4- Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee will be very good in 2024-25. They return a lot, including point guard Zakai Zeigler, but I am hesitant to put them any higher than four. They lost one of the best players in the country last season in Dalton Knecht, as well as Jonas Aidoo, and more.
With Rick Barnes at the helm, we know they will be elite defensively. The season’s ceiling could come down to whether or not Darlingstone Dubar and Chaz Lanier can replace the consistency and production of Dalton Knecht.
5- Arkansas Razorbacks
The Calipari era begins in Fayetteville. Calipari will bring in several UK players and commits as he builds his first roster. Zvonimir Ivisic, Adou Thiero, and DJ Wagner transfer from Kentucky, while the big additions were Tennessee center Jonas Aidoo and FAU transfer Johnell Davis.
Arkansas will be a quality team with regular season success, but the question, as it always is with Calipari, is will he get it done in March?
6- Texas A&M Aggies
If you polled most Aggie fans, I think they’d consider last season a major disappointment. The good thing is that Wade Taylor, Manny Obaseki, and more. They have quality depth up and down the roster.
However, Wade Taylor needs to be better. He needs to be much better if A&M wants to reach their extremely high goals in 2024-25. 36.6% from the field won’t cut it.
Mark Pope is the new man in Lexington, and he has built quite the roster. Kentucky will feature several super-seniors and a lot of experience overall. They will also be one of the best shooting teams in the nation from top to bottom in Mark Pope’s “video game” offense.
The major questions surrounding Kentucky consist of their ability to gel and play together, as well as top-tier talent. They do not have a certified pro on their team and it may limit their ceiling.
8- Texas Longhorns
Texas enters their first season in the SEC. I am not sure how people will perceive this team, but I have high hopes, specifically due to their talent at the guard positions. Miami transfer Jordan Pope and Arkansas transfer Tramon Mark, alongside freshmen Tre Johnson, could combine to make one of the most electric backcourts in the nation.
There are questions about Texas, including coaching, but I think their top-tier talent can carry them to tournament wins.
Tournament Possibilities
9- Ole Miss Rebels
It is time for the year-two leap Chris Beard in Oxford. Matthew Murrell returns with hopes of an All-SEC season, while Virginia Tech transfer Sean Pedulla and returnee Jaylen Murray will also be quality primary ball handlers.
Like him or not, Chris Beard is one of the best coaches in America, and his teams are always tough. The Rebels haven’t made the big dance since 2019, but 2025 could be the year.
10- Mississippi State Bulldogs
Chris Jans is a very good coach and his teams have a high floor, but I am concerned about this roster. Kanye Clary and Josh Hubbard will give the Bulldogs a chance in just about every game offensively, while Jans’ schemes defensively will keep them in most games on that end, but there isn’t much here outside of that.
11- Missouri Tigers
Missouri was dreadful in 2023, but they have made some significant roster upgrades via the transfer portal. Tony Perkins, Jacob Crews, and Mark Mitchell will provide some stability and Marques Warrick should add some scoring juice.
Missouri is old and big, but there isn’t enough top-tier talent to be placed any higher than 11. There is a slight chance they find their way into the NCAA tournament.
Need a Miracle to Make It
12-South Carolina Gamecocks
A year after South Carolina shocked the world and cruised to a 13-5 SEC finish, I am once again doubting the Gamecocks and head coach Lamont Paris. Gone are BJ Mack, Ta’Lon Cooper and Meechie Johnson, and the roster just isn’t good enough right now.Then again, we said the same thing last year and Lamont Paris proved us all wrong.
13- Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia’s team is the definition of “fine”. They plugged some holes during the offseason and Mike White is a fine coach, but I do not see them being anything more than average at best. That won’t get it done in a conference as deep and talented as the SEC.
14- Vanderbilt Commodores
I think there is a little more boom potential in Nashville than some may think. New coach Mark Byington is a tremendous coach and the roster is intriguing. They have some of the same issues I previously mentioned with Kentucky as chemistry and top-tier talent are massive question marks.
I think they could make the NCAA tournament and be a threat in the SEC; however, I cannot put them any higher until I see it first. Vandy has let me down too many times.
15- Oklahoma Sooners
OU’s first season in the SEC will very likely be a long one. Milos Uzan transferred to Houston, Otega Oweh transferred to Kentucky, and Javian McCollum transferred to Georgia Tech.
Despite being on the hot seat, I believe Porter Mosier is a good coach, but there just isn’t enough on the roster to succeed in Norman.
16- LSU Tigers
I hate having LSU down at the bottom. I like Matt McMahon as a coach, and I like a lot of their individual players. However, I struggle to see where LSU finds its wins in 2024. This league is too good and the LSU roster just isn’t good enough to compete on a high level.
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