Classic SEC Standings

UK falls 82-78 at Texas.  The Cats are 17-8 overall, but they have lost their last three games (Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas) where Lemont Butler didn't play.  They are 5-3 in the SEC with Butler, and 1-3 without him.  Jaxson Robinson has also missed the last two games.  Realistically, if those two guys are both out for the year, then UK's chances are not very good.  And that's a shame, because when healthy the Cats have been much better than I expected.  But the combination of their impossible schedule and their many injuries may be too much for them to overcome.

Meanwhile, Auburn played one of the best games of the season, beating Alabama 94 to 85 in Tuscaloosa, and making the whole game look surprisingly easy.  For the first time in my life as a fan, I really believe that Auburn could win the National Championship.

Here's the Classic SEC standings with three weeks left:

1.  Auburn:  23-2

4.  Florida:  22-3

5.  Tennessee:  21-5

6.  Alabama:  21-4

19.  Kentucky:  17-8

24.  Mississippi:  19-7

30.  Mississippi St:  18-7

41.  Vanderbilt:  17-8

43.  Georgia:  16-10

81.  Louisiana St:  13-12

There hasn't been a decent NCAA Tournament since 2022, when Kansas edged UNC 72-69 in the final.  And there hasn't been a really good NCAA Tournament since 2019, when UVA beat Purdue (in OT), Auburn (by one point), and Texas Tech (in OT) to win it all.  But I have a good feeling about this year's tournament.  It should be a cracker.  If the Tournament were played in 16 Regions -- like the State Tournament -- it would look like this (Ken Pom rankings in parentheses):

Game One:  Saint Mary's (21) v. Connecticut (35)

As usual, UConn doesn't face much of a challenge in Region 1.  Saint Mary's benefits from a down year by U.C.L.A. in Region 16.

Game Two:  Maryland (14) v. Duke (2)

This would be very exciting around here, as the Terps and Blue Devils haven't met since February 15, 2014.

Game Three:  Tennessee (5) v. Missouri (15)

Tennessee has dominated Region Eight in recent years, although UK would have a fighting chance, given that they've beaten the Vols twice already.  Furthermore, since this is an odd year, Region Eight would be played in Freedom Hall.  Mizzou have to beat Kansas again to win Region Twelve.

Game Four:  Auburn (1) v. Mississippi (24)

Ole Miss and Mississippi State would have a battle down in Region Seven, as the Bulldogs have beaten the Rebels twice this year.  Region Six (featuring teams from Alabama, Florida, and Georgia) would be an epic, with Auburn, Alabama, and Florida all ranked in the top six in the country.  I like to think that Region Six would be played at the old Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, where they used to play the SEC Tournament.

Game Five:  Houston (3) v. Arizona (12)

Region 13 would be another epic, with Houston, Texas Tech, and Texas A & M all ranked in the top 13.  I like to think it would be at UT-Austin.

Game Six:  Gonzaga (11) v. Purdue (10)

This would be a good game between two teams that have both lost in the finals during the 2020's.

Game Seven:  Pittsburgh (51) v. Iowa St. (8)

An unusually weak year from Region Three, which usually gives us a strong Villanova team.  Region Ten would be played at the Rosemont Horizon, and would feature Iowa St., Wisconsin, and Illinois, all of whom are ranked in the top 19.  That would be a great tournament.

Game Eight:  St. John's (18) v. Ohio St. (28)

Region Two is usually one of the weakest regions -- unless Syracuse or St. John's have a good team.  This year, the Red Storm would draw an unusually weak Region Nine champion, as the Ohio teams are not up to their usual level.

This would give us the following quarter-finals (all games at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis):

Connecticut v. Duke

Tennessee v. Auburn

Houston v. Purdue

Iowa St. v. St. John's

You couldn't ask for much better matchups than that, which really shows what a deep field we have this year.