The SEC March to Madness – With the 2024 NCAA Tournament only weeks away, the picture of which 68 teams will make the Big Dance is coming into focus. Conference races are hitting their final stages, and highly-ranked SEC squads like Tennessee, Auburn and Alabama continue to make their case for prime seeding.
Just how many of the conference’s 14 teams can expect to hear their names on Selection Sunday? Who is comfortably in, sweating it out on the bubble, or already eliminated from contention? Here is an updated look at the SEC’s March Madness outlook, including top March Madness free picks:
Locks: Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina
The SEC boasts an impressive five lock teams in the latest tournament projections.
No. 5 Tennessee (21-6, 11-3) remains one of the nation’s hottest teams, reeling off wins in 17 of their last 20 contests. Veterans like Santiago Vescovi and Zakai Zeigler have meshed perfectly with talented freshmen to make the Vols a threat for the first No. 1 seed in program history. This week brings huge tests at No. 11 Auburn and No. 13 Alabama.
Speaking of those two squads, Bruce Pearl’s No. 11 Tigers (21-6, 10-4) and Nate Oats’ No. 13 Crimson Tide (19-8, 11-3) are March Madness stalwarts once again. Both bring high-flying offenses and future NBA talent like Brandon Miller. After losing to Kentucky last week, Alabama has a chance for revenge against red-hot Tennessee on Saturday.
And don’t count out the Wildcats (19-8, 9-5). While slightly underseeded as a No. 5 team, Kentucky showed its capabilities by crushing Alabama 117-95 last week behind double-doubles from Oscar Tshiebwe and Cason Wallace. If the ‘Cats play to their ability, another deep March run could be in store.
Finally, Lamont Paris has brought South Carolina (22-5, 10-4) to uncharted heights in his first year. Veterans like GG Jackson are buying into Paris’ defense-first mentality, making the Gamecocks a tough out.
Battling the Bubble: Florida, Mississippi State, Texas A&M
The middle tier of SEC teams are firmly on the bubble as potential play-in or opening round opponents.
Florida (19-9, 9-5) narrowly missed a marquee win last Wednesday, losing in overtime at Alabama. The Gators likely need to avoid any bad regular season losses and pick off an SEC or NIT power to feel good heading into selection week.
Mississippi State (19-8, 8-6) is surging after five straight wins under first-year coach Chris Jans. Back-to-back blowouts of LSU and Ole Miss have landed the Bulldogs squarely in the Big Dance mix. Upcoming games against Kentucky and at Auburn give MSU a platform for a signature victory.
And don’t sleep on Texas A&M (19-7, 11-2), last year’s surprise SEC Tournament champ. The Aggies have won five of six games and feature one of the league’s top defenses.
Facing Long Odds: LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt
The bottom four teams in the SEC standings need conference tournament magic or an automatic bid to make the field.
LSU (16-10, 6-8) is reeling from three straight losses and the firing of head coach Matt McMahon. The Tigers’ resume lacks substance and their roster depth took a further hit with Adam Miller’s season-ending injury.
Missouri (17-9, 5-9) is experiencing similar dysfunction, losing nine of their last 11 games under embattled coach Dennis Gates. A soft non-conference schedule and recent blowout losses hamper the Tigers’ argument.
Ole Miss (17-10, 7-7) peaked too early, racing to a 13-2 start but going just 4-8 since. Kermit Davis’ Rebels could play spoiler with matchups left against South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi State.
And Vanderbilt (13-14, 5-9) faces the longest odds after losing 14 of 16 games during one woeful stretch. An NIT berth would be an accomplishment for Jerry Stackhouse’s rebuilding project.
The SEC March to Madness: The Road Ahead
With most resumes locked in place, the final two weeks represent prime seeding time. Tennessee, Auburn and Alabama all have realistic shots to grab No. 2 or 3 seeds with strong finishes. And Kentucky or South Carolina could play their way onto the fourth or fifth line.
Meanwhile, the conference’s bubble teams, highlighted in our daily sports premium picks, need to rack up wins and displace would-be at-large candidates from power leagues like the ACC, Big East, and Pac-12. Stealing a bid from one of those traditional basketball powers would show the SEC’s expanding March Madness firepower, underscoring the value and insight provided by daily sports premium picks in navigating the complexities of the tournament landscape.