The league moves from 12 to 14 teams this year. Missouri and Texas A&M come in. The league had 4 teams in the tourney last year. I think they get 5 (maybe 6) bids this year. The teams I see contending here are Missouri, Tennessee, Florida and Kentucky. As good a coach that Calipari is, I just can’t see him doing this back to back with teams relying so heavily on freshman. I think the year Kentucky had last year with Anthony Davis was an aberration and not something to expect year in and year out (with the team turnover in players). That kid was one special player. We’ll see with Nerlens, but I’m not putting my money on it repeating itself. I love the roster on this Missouri squad and I’m picking them to win the league.
Two teams that I like to make a move up in the standings and vie for bids in the league are Arkansas & Mississippi. Arkansas’ team returns virtually intact from last year and I think Powell & Young can help this team make a little noise this year. The same goes for Mississippi where the roster returns with little gone from last year and I feel Buckner & Holloway will help them improve on last year’s 8-8 conference record.
Special note for Frank Martin…keep your blood pressure meds close by…if you get that pissed off on the sidelines coaching solid squads at K State over the past few years just wait for this year with South Carolina.