Watch Gators And SEC East Again To Be Strong

SEC hoops preview: Look out for Gators in ’10

Florida returns five starters; Ole Miss the team to beat in the West

Written by SETH EMERSON
semerson@thestate.com
Posted on 05.25.10

The college basketball offseason may have begun only a little more than a month ago, but it might as well be over. The NBA early entry deadline has passed and the recruiting classes are filled, so the rosters for the 2010-11 season are basically set.

So it’s safe to offer a projection of next year’s SEC. And here’s some old news: The strength will be in the East Division, where players tended to pass on the pros (except for Kentucky) and top recruits were signed. The West, meantime, looks wide open — a nice way to say “mediocre.”
EAST



1. FLORIDA


Key losses: F Dan Werner

Key additions: F Patric Young, G/F Casey Prather

Once Alex Tyus pulled out of the draft, it meant Florida would return all five starters from an NCAA tournament team. The Gators also added Young, a top-30 recruit, and Prather, a top-50 recruit. But Florida’s chances to be a national-title contender will depend on the returning players. Guard Kenny Boynton and forward Chandler Parsons could develop into scorers who average 20 points per game.

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2. TENNESSEE


Key losses: F Wayne Chism, G Bobby Maze, F J.P. Prince

Key additions: F Tobias Harris, G Jordan McRae, G Trae Golden

Coach Bruce Pearl nearly made his first Final Four last season. That team lost a lot of talented players, but second-leading scorer Scotty Hopson passed on the NBA draft. Tennessee has one of the nation’s top recruits in Harris, rated seventh nationally by both Rivals and Scout.

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3. KENTUCKY


Key losses: G John Wall, F/C DeMarcus Cousins, F/C Patrick Patterson, G Eric Bledsoe

Key additions: C Enes Kanter, PG Brandon Knight, G-F Doron Lamb, G-F Stacey Poole

Yes, seemingly everyone left, from SEC player of the year Wall to fellow freshman Daniel Orton. There even have been reports that coach John Calipari is looking at the NBA. But the Wildcats are reloading with enough talented players that they will not drop off much. Kanter, whose amateur eligibility is in question, is the nation’s third-rated recruit and Knight the sixth-rated according to both Rivals and Scout.

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4. VANDERBILT


Key losses: C A.J. Ogilvy, G Jermaine Beal

Key additions: F Rod Odom

Ogilvy ended the suspense early, signing with an agent and passing on his senior year to enter the NBA draft. But how much will it hurt the Commodores, considering the center improved little over the course of his career and was so inconsistent? The bigger loss might be the graduation of Beal. Vanderbilt returns swingman Jeffery Taylor, a second-team All-SEC pick who could become one of the league’s top scorers.

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5. GEORGIA


Key losses: G Ricky McPhee, F-C Albert Jackson

Key additions: PF Donte Williams, G Sherrard Brantley

The Bulldogs were expected to be a joke in coach Mark Fox’s first year. Instead, they ended up being a plucky team that easily could have won more than five SEC games. Forward Trey Thompkins, who averaged 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds as a sophomore, returns, as does Travis Leslie (14.8 ppg.).

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6. USC


Key losses: G Devan Downey, F Dominique Archie, G Brandis Raley-Ross

Key additions: F/C Damontre Harris, PG Bruce Ellington, F Malik Cooke

The Gamecocks will have talent: a large, highly ranked recruiting class headlined by Harris and Ellington. Cooke, a transfer from Nevada, becomes eligible, and starting center Sam Muldrow will be a senior. But when you lose Downey a three-time All-SEC pick, from a team that had a losing record, expectations will be low. While the Gamecocks will be deeper and more versatile, scoring will be a big concern.
WEST



1. MISSISSIPPI STATE


Key losses: PG Dee Bost, C Jarvis Varnado, G Barry Stewart

Key additions: F/C Renardo Sidney

The departure of Bost, who had two seasons of eligibility remaining and is unlikely to be drafted, was a jolt. But coach Rick Stansbury’s team is not without talent. Second-leading scorer Ravern Johnson is back. So are power forward Kodi Augustus, Phil Turner and Romero Osby. But much will depend on Sidney, a ballyhooed prospect who was forced to sit out last year by the NCAA.

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2. MISSISSIPPI


Key losses: F Terrico White, F Murphy Holloway, G Eniel Polynice

Key additions: C Demarco Cox, G Dundrecous Nelson

The Rebels suffered heavy losses, with White and Polynice bolting early for the draft and Holloway transferring. That’s three of the team’s top five scorers from last year. But the Rebels still have leading scorer Chris Warren — the best point guard in the league not named Downey or Wall last season. Cox and Nelson are top-100 recruits.

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3. ALABAMA


Key losses: G Mikhail Torrance, G Anthony Brock, F Justin Knox

Key additions: PG Trevor Releford, F Jason Carter, G Charles Hankerson

Coach Anthony Grant lost a couple of seniors, and Knox’s transfer was a surprise, but he got back the big one, power forward JaMychal Green, who passed on the pros. The Crimson Tide also have guard Senario Hillman, forwards Tony Mitchell and Chris Hines and a decent recruiting class, headed by Releford.

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4. ARKANSAS


Key losses: G Courtney Fortson, F Michael Washington

Key additions: G Rickey Scott, G Mardracus Wade

Fortson’s departure for the NBA hurt, since the Razorbacks were a much better team when he became eligible last season. They return guard Rotnei Clarke and forward Marshawn Powell, their second- and third-leading scorers, respectively. Scott and Wade are top-100 recruits. Coach John Pelphrey may need to have a really good season to keep his job.

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5. LSU


Key losses: F Tasmin Mitchell

Key additions: F Matt Derenbecker, PG Andre Stringer, F Malcolm White

The league’s worst team loses its best player (Mitchell) yet should be better. White, a transfer from Mississippi, becomes eligible and adds a presence in the post that includes Storm Warren and other big bodies. The recruits bolster the backcourt, which returns senior point guard Bo Spencer.

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6. AUBURN


Key losses: F Lucas Hargrove, G DeWayne Reed, G Tay Waller,

Key additions: F Luke Cothron, F Shawn Kemp Jr.

This is going to be a different Auburn program, with a new coach — Tony Barbee replaces Jeff Lebo — a new arena and the top three scorers from last year gone. Barbee has landed one big recruit, Cothron, a consensus top-50 player.