State of the SEC Race (Wed 27 Feb)

[GothamGator]

As you can see below, Florida leads Alabama by one game and Kentucky by one-and-a-half. I've added the last 4 games for each team.

1. Florida 12-3 - at Tenn(L), Alabama, Vandy, at Kentucky
2. Alabama 11-4 - Auburn (W), at Florida, at Ole Miss, Georgia
3. Kentucky 10-4 - Miss St., at Arkansas, at Georgia, Florida
4. Ole Miss 9-5 - Texas A&M, at MSU, Alabama, at LSU

Tennessee, Missouri and Arkansas are all technically in the race as well, but they best they can do is share the title, and that would require too many crazy upsets.

It's safe to assume that Kentucky will wax Miss State tonight. Once that happens, Florida will have a one-game lead, with games against each of the other two contenders.

If the Gators beat Alabama on Saturday, they can clinch at least a share of the title if Kentucky loses against Arkansas later that day or, if Kentucky wins by beating Vanderbilt in the O'Dome the following Wednesday. If the Gators beat Alabama and Kentucky loses, the Gators will be playing for sole possession of the SEC Championship against Vandy, with a chance to cut down the nets at home.

Both Alabama and Kentucky face a similar challenge. They are each 1-game back of Florida (or will be after tonight), and have one game left against the Gators and a tough game on the road. Each needs to beat Florida to pull even with the Gators, and then either win their other games, or hope Florida drops one.

Ole Miss has an outside chance to share the title. They have the easiest schedule and a chance to pin a loss on Alabama at home. If Ole Miss can run the table, Florida loses to Alabama and Kentucky, and Kentucky loses on the road at Arkansas, there will be a four-way tie at 13-5.

[themistocles]

Good Summary Goth.

The Gators, so far, are undefeated at home, and 2 of the 3 remaining games are at home.

Kentucky appears to be recovering from the loss of Noel and are being competitive, so, I wouldn't mark the game in Lexington up as a victory.

Vanderbilt has not played very well this year, and the Gators usually beat the Commodore in the O'Dome, but, you never know.

Alabama might be able to upset the Gators.

The question is whether Frazier is up to snuff by Saturday, and Yeguete can play a reasonable number of minutes (say 8-10), either or both of which reduce Bama's chances

[tommyuf21]

Alabama will be a good bounce back game for us. They have responded well to set backs and from what I have seen of Bama, we'll be in good shape at home.

Vandy is terrible. There is no reason that we shouldn't be able to beat them by 20+.

If we're back to full strength for UK, I like our chances. We may actually get the game that a lot here want to see, which is a close, hard fought road win.

[GothamGator]

One thing I would like to avoid is a trip into Rupp with the SEC Championship on the line for UK. That means we need to win our next two and hope Kentucky drops one, with the only likely game being at Arkansas on Saturday at 4pm.

[UFish]

Like I said, I don't see Alabama winning here nor do I see Kentucky winning at Arkansas.

And if it comes to the SEC Championship in Rupp, I still like our chances with an eight man rotation.

[WESGATORS]

One thing I would like to avoid is a trip into Rupp with the SEC Championship on the line for UK. That means we need to win our next two and hope Kentucky drops one, with the only likely game being at Arkansas on Saturday at 4pm.

I'll be rooting for Kentucky to lose, but if they don't, that would just make a win up there that much more fun.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

[MadduxFanII]

Lord, I really don't want us to lose the SEC this year.

[ufgator865]

Our limping to the finish line in the SEC regular season feels just like us trying to close out a close win. I hope I am wrong.

[REM08]

I honestly don't think Florida has trouble at Rupp this year. I swear this isn't self protective, self handicapping, or any other type of convenient thinking for me either. If Florida just all out fails to show up or shoots 10% from 3, then you very well may lose. But, especially if you guys are healthy again, I don't see the only differences between the two teams being the location of the game.

I think Kentucky wins tonight against MSU. Probably wins against UGA, although certainly not a given. I think they lose at Arkansas and lose on senior day.

[oneatatime]

If we beat Bama , it will likely be over by the time we go to Lexington.

I don't expect Kentucky's young team to win at Arky and they might not beat Georgia on the road either

I also don't expect Bama to win at Ole Miss.

[ReggieNelson]

alabama is quite possibly the worst offensive team in college basketball. if we lose to them, i will jump off a cliff

[gatorbogey]

i want this SEC regular season title! go gators, go get it!

[GothamGator]

I think things will work out for us to cut down the nets against Vandy, but there is a lot of basketball between now and then.

[GatorPlanet]

Cutting down the nets on Senior Day would be a special thing for Boynton, Rosario, and Murphy.

[WESGATORS]

Cutting down the nets on Senior Day would be a special thing for Boynton, Rosario, and Murphy.

Especially if it happens on Kentucky's Senior Day. I wonder if they'd let us cut down their nets.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

[UFnuts]

Two years ago we clinched the SEC Regular Season Title at home vs Bama and we didn't cut down the nets. Anyone know why? Do we only cut down the nets for SEC Tournament, NCAA Regional, and NCAA Finals?

[WESGATORS]

It wasn't an outright title. Pretty sure Billy commented on this at the time, but they didn't win the title outright until the win against Vanderbilt.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

[co_gator89]

Very important win today. Vandy game next Wednesday will be for at least a share of the SEC title. If Kentucky loses today then we can win it all Wednesday. Go Hogs!

[GatorJeff]

Two years ago we clinched the SEC Regular Season Title at home vs Bama and we didn't cut down the nets. Anyone know why? Do we only cut down the nets for SEC Tournament, NCAA Regional, and NCAA Finals?

Donovan said there was still work to do to win outright. If you clinch an outright title at home, you cut them down. We've cut them down for all three Sec tourney titles, all four regional titles to get us to the Final Four, and both national championships.

[UFnuts]

It wasn't an outright title. Pretty sure Billy commented on this at the time, but they didn't win the title outright until the win against Vanderbilt.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

Pretty sure we cut down the nets in 2000 when we beat South Carolina at home, even though it was only for a share of the title which we ultimately split with three other teams (UK, UT, & LSU) with a 12-4 record due to a finale loss at Rupp Arena. It was K Weaks Senior Night. I was a freshman in the Rowdy Reptile Section that night. Good times.

[HALLGATOR]

Especially if it happens on Kentucky's Senior Day. I wonder if they'd let us cut down their nets.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

Is there like a rent-a-senior place if you don't have any?

[WESGATORS]

Nuts, I don't recall for sure, but I remember being somewhat disappointed at losing at Rupp that weekend (of course, at that time, losing at Rupp was nearly expected). I would just speculate that if we did cut it down in 2000 then he was working on a different standard than what he has now. Those were the days of the best Rowdy Reptiles since the early 90's (mostly due to Tupacbiff, everybody else was just along for the ride).

HALL, look for Twany Beckham to get the start and go nuts next weekend (yes, I had to look that one up :D ).

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

[GothamGator]

Teams typically don't cut down the nets for regular season conference titles, but that's generally due to practical matters. You often clinch on someone else's floor, and your not going to cut down their nets. You also often clinch when you aren't playing (like we did yesterday after the Kentucky - Arkansas game. Finally, there is the whole question of clinching a share vs. clinching sole possession.

That said, Billy did have the team cut down the nets in 2007. He said at the time he felt the guys needed a fun event like that given how much of a grind the season had been.

Ultimately, whether we cut down the nets will depend on whether Billy feels its the right way to motivate the team (and whether or not we win).

[WESGATORS]

I wonder how many conferences acknowledge the regular season champ as "the champion" the way the SEC does. I know the ACC and the Big East acknowledge "the champion" as the conference tournament champion.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

[UFnuts]

Those were the days of the best Rowdy Reptiles

Agree. You had the ski mask dudes, the Growl Towel guy (he lost his original and I felt so bad I gave him mine), yourself, etc. Lots of characters. It was first-come first-serve for seating so you had more folks waiting in line all day and camping out so the best and most passionate fans got the best seats. That doesn't appear to be the case anymore.

[UFnuts]

I wonder how many conferences acknowledge the regular season champ as "the champion" the way the SEC does. I know the ACC and the Big East acknowledge "the champion" as the conference tournament champion.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

I think most do it like the SEC where they have a regular season champion and tournament champion. Yes, the ACC awards their one and only conference title to the tourney champ. I know I may be in the minority but I actually prefer it that way. I know one week shouldn't mean more than a full 18-game season but that's how the NCAA awards their championship so whatever. The regular season championship could be considered flawed too given the unbalanced schedules. Also don't like how there can be split titles. In 2000, four teams tied for the championship at 12-4 (UF, UK, UT, LSU) and a fifth one (ARK) won the SEC Tournament! That was FIVE teams, almost half of the conference, raising a banner and getting some sort of conference title ring. Just seems a bit silly to me. The SEC Tournament might actually be more meaningful if it actually determined the one and only SEC Champion for that year, just like the ACC. As it stands now, I think both the SEC regular season and tournament titles get a bit devalued.

[oneatatime]

I wonder how many conferences acknowledge the regular season champ as "the champion" the way the SEC does. I know the ACC and the Big East acknowledge "the champion" as the conference tournament champion.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

I wonder if this tradition at least in the ACC, goes back to the day when there were only 16 teams in the NCAA tournament and one team per league.

On more than one occasion the regular season ACC champion ended up in the NIT

[UFnuts]

Indiana (INDIANA!) cut down their nets at home after a LOSS to Ohio State last night:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaab--indiana-hoosiers-wins-share-big-ten-title-turn-senior-night-into-a-mockery-081319430.html

And that was for only a share of the title...wow.