| 28 March 2010
As predicted, the basketball season has ended for the SEC. In the process, I have received several nice emails ... many of which included enough mispellings that I honestly would have believed the screen should have had drool on it. Sure, Kentucky did not make it as deep as I initially would have believed, and that is fine. On the other hand, the UT Vols busted exactly where I believed they would ... and some nameless shit slingers can not take it. Sure, the Vols represented the conference well in a tight loss, but a loss is a loss. Remove the glasses boys, put on the big boy pants, and let's take a look at the state that is SEC basketball.
To understand SEC basketball is easy. There are several quality coaches in the league that have proven track records. These coaches (and their staffs) have managed to secure solid teams underneath them. So where are the championships?
The Kentucky Wildcats are SEC basketball. Face it, the Wildcats really are. As much as the typical homer can not stand to admit it, UK holds the edge in every statistical category known to man. Not saying you should love it. Not saying it is the best thing since sliced bread ... but it is past time to look at where the entire league is over all.
The SEC can officially claim TEN National Titles in men's basketball ...there are three more titles that are claimed. Ten is not a very high number considering the title list runs back to 1948 for official titles and 1933 for the 'claimed' titles. Welcome to the world's best football conference. It is a fact. It sucks if you are a basketball fan, but face the north wind and the truth.
Of the thirteen titles the league lays claim to, the UK Wildcats own nine of them. Nine of 13 is strong no matter how you explain it away. To top it off, there have only been four teams within the conference to ever cut the nets down following the National Title Game. FOUR. Kentucky, LSU, Arkansas, and Florida.
This leads me to my point ... I am not saying the rest of the league sucks ... it really does not. The Tennessee Vols played very competitive basketball this season. Mississippi State played very well late in the season. Vanderbilt was a LOT of people's choice team to make noise in the tourney. The Wildcats are stocked with a talent laden NBA roster. The SEC, even with the solid coaching and tight players, did not get as deep in the tourney as many expected, why?
No inside game was a killer to many teams this season. Want to stop Kentucky? Keep them out of the paint. Force the Wildcats into poor shots. Want to stop Tennessee? Press in the back court, do not allow any penetration inside the arc, and pray the Vols continue to jack up three balls from all over the court. While John Calipari, Bruce Pearl, Billy Donavon, Rick Stansbury, and Kevin Stallings are all quality coaches. It is difficult to win a basketball title in a football conference.
Just take a look at the players on the teams. Kentucky is loaded. MSU had one of the best defensive players in league history (Jarvis Vanardo) ... outside of that, most of the players from the SEC will be doing something other than putting a ball into a hoop for money following their collegiate careers. That is an undeniable fact.
So where are the titles? Most of them are already in the trophy case in Lexington. If the teams from the SEC want to win titles, their philosophy must change. When looking at the previous five or six title winners (from within the league) .... all of these teams had solid inside games that they could rely on. Now? Just look for yourself, you have a mind, analyze it ... it is NOT there. While UT, UF, MSU, and UK will likely have outstanding recruiting classes this next season, there are no 'big men' sitting in this class ... at least anyone that appears to be able to walk into the league and turn into a game breaker. The league will continue to struggle on the national front as long as this situation is present.
