Basketball Predictions

It's November, and as a Vanderbilt fan, that usually means focusing 100% on the start of basketball season. However, with the Commodores one win shy of bowl eligibility, it's an unusual feeling, but I'm happy to be able to care about both. Here's how I see the season playing out:

SEC East
1. Tennessee- Return everyone but Dane Bradshaw and add Tyler Smith and JP Prince to a team that should have been in the Elite 8.
2. Vanderbilt- total homer pick, but we return 3 starters from a team that made the Elite 8 Sweet 16 and add heralded freshman AJ Ogilvy, who was the best player at the Under 19 World Championships (yes, better than all the Burger Boys).
3. Kentucky- I wanted to pick Florida here, but they don't have any experience to speak of. I'm not ready to buy into Clyde's hype train and will wait for the Cats to establish a true post presence before I declare that Clyde is the messiah.
4. Florida- a bunch of talented freshmen, but that's about it. The oh-fours are gone, and so is the batterer Brandon Powell, and only the former will be missed.
5. Georgia- will Felton ever turn the corner. I applaud him for suspending and dismissing players for not getting it done in the classroom, but they kicked off Takais Brown and have suspended other key players.
6. South Carolina- They add Devan Downey and Zam Frederick, but lose Tre Kelly, who was their entire offense last year. The Gamecocks will be looking for a new coach in April.

SEC West
1. Mississippi State- lots of talent, especially in Gordon and Rhodes. I don't know how $tansbury attracts players to $tarkville, but he's been successful before.
2. Arkansas- will we see a return of 40 minutes of hell? I don't know if Pelphrey will bring the defensive intensity for that, but the offensive tempo will be there on a talented roster.
3. Alabama- losing Ronald Steele hurts big time, and they've got good talent, but Mark Gottfried is still the coach.
4. Ole Miss- Andy Kennedy did a great job in year 1, but I don't see anything better than 8-8 in year 2.
5. Auburn- Lebo has brought in some talent, but does anyone care?
6. LSU- all John Brady has to look forward to are mustache rides from Misty Champagne.

Final Four Teams: North Carolina, Kansas, Memphis, Louisville