It feels like a down year for the SEC.
Yes, the conference claims the best team in the nation, as well as the defending national champions. The No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks (26-0, 13-0) are absolutely excellent, while the upside of the No. 13 LSU Lady Tigers (23-4, 10-3) makes them a threat to take down any team. On Thursday, the Gamecocks wrapped up at least a share of the regular season SEC championship, with head coach Dawn Staley also earning her 600th career win.
Currently, no other SEC is ranked in the top 25, with Mississippi State receiving two votes and Tennessee a single vote in the most recent AP Poll. In the preseason, both the Bulldogs and Lady Vols were ranked, coming in at No. 25 and No. 11, respectively. Ole Miss also began the season ranked No. 12.
Yet, ESPN’s latest Bracketology projection forecasts nine SEC teams making the NCAA Tournament, tied with the ACC for the most from a single conference. However, three of those teams—Texas A&M, Auburn and Vanderbilt—are among the last four to earn a spot in the 68-team field. If those squads fail to finish strong, the SEC would sink to six tourney teams.
So, is the SEC up, down or somewhere in between?
The quality of the conference will be determined by how the SEC’s…
