When John Calipari strolls onto the courtroom at Rupp Area on Feb. 1 main Arkansas right into a highway battle with Kentucky, it can make for an unforgettable second within the profession of a coach who has been the face of SEC basketball. Calipari led UK for 15 seasons, beginning out within the 2009-10 season, when the convention featured simply 12 groups and despatched solely 4 to the NCAA Event.
Now, as Calipari embarks on the second chapter of his SEC teaching odyssey, the league options 16 groups, together with 9 who reached final season’s NCAA Event. The convention has made important strides on the hardwood amid the emergence of packages like Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee, all of whom have reached the Elite Eight or deeper lately.
Towards that backdrop, Calipari’s soar from one proud SEC program to a different is especially fascinating. When he arrived at UK in 2009 contemporary off a prolific run of success at Memphis, Calipari waved a magic wand and turned the Wildcats from an NIT crew right into a 35-3 squad that earned a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Event with the assistance of an elite freshman class.
Such a exceptional turnaround is impractical these days, partially due to how a lot better the SEC competitors has develop into. Faculty basketball can be an upperclassman’s sport now, and that actuality will check Arkansas in 2024-25 as Calipari deploys a couple of freshmen in his first Razorbacks rotation. In the meantime, at Kentucky, former Wildcats participant and BYU coach Mark Pope has stepped in with a roster stuffed with veteran transfers. His first crew could not be any extra completely different than Calipari’s first crew was at UK 15 years in the past. However between the switch portal, NIL and the advance of SEC hoops, not a lot is identical because it was then.
We’ll be reminded of that actuality on Feb. 1, when Calipari is stomping up and down the Rupp Area sideline carrying Razorback purple whereas teaching in opposition to this system that he as soon as led to unquestioned convention supremacy.
SEC Preseason Participant of the 12 months
Mark Sears | Alabama | G | Gr.
Sears made a legendary soar in his senior season, main Alabama to its first-ever Ultimate 4 whereas averaging 21.5 factors on 43.6% 3-point taking pictures. The artful lefty is among the sport’s elite exterior shooters, however he is additionally adept at reaching the free-throw line and is expert at knifing his technique to environment friendly appears contained in the arc. His resolution to return for his bonus season makes Alabama the plain choose to win the SEC. Search for Sears to compete for first-team All-American honors as he solidifies his place among the many finest to ever put on the Crimson Tide uniform.
Preseason Freshman of the 12 months
Tre Johnson | G | Texas
Texas bid farewell to beginning guards Max Abmas and Tyrese Hunter, clearing the best way for a brand new forged of backcourt stars to emerge because the Longhorns transition into the SEC. Amongst them is Johnson, who ranked because the No. 6 participant within the Class of 2024, per 247Sports. The five-star prospect and McDonald’s All-American was thought to be “one of many best scorers within the nationwide class,” by 247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein and needs to be able to make an prompt affect for the Longhorns.
4 extra gamers to look at
Johni Broome | C | Auburn: Broome expanded his vary to the 3-point line final season whereas incomes a handful of third-team All-American honors. The previous Morehead State star is among the nation’s premier publish scorers and shot blockers. His return solidified the Tigers as a respectable risk to in-state rival Alabama within the race for SEC supremacy.
Johnell Davis | SG | Arkansas: After spearheading FAU’s legendary Ultimate 4 run in 2023, Davis returned to the Owls and gained AAC co-Participant of the 12 months final season. Now, he is off to Arkansas to make use of his last season of eligibility below coach John Calipari. Davis is an environment friendly three-level scorer with the form of veteran savvy that the Razorbacks will want as they reboot in a rugged convention.
Wade Taylor | PG | Texas A&M: Taylor’s offensive effectivity dipped a bit throughout his junior season, however he stays one of the electrical guards within the nation. He averaged 25.6 factors throughout Texas A&M’s 5 postseason video games. If he improves on final yr’s 32.5% 3-point taking pictures mark, Taylor may very well be an All-American for an Aggies crew that’s anticipated to be among the many SEC’s finest.
Jaxson Robinson | SF | Kentucky: Robinson gained Sixth Man of the 12 months within the Huge 12 final season whereas taking part in below Mark Pope at BYU. Now he is following Pope again to the SEC after spending time at Texas A&M and Arkansas earlier in his profession. UK’s roster is constructed in a means that clears the trail for the lanky wing to be a major scoring possibility.