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A look into the 2018 Men’s basketball SEC Tournament with predictions

By Billy Williford

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 12: The Kentucky Wildcats and Arkansas Razorbacks tip off during the championship game at the 2017 Men's SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 12: The Kentucky Wildcats and Arkansas Razorbacks tip off during the championship game at the 2017 Men's SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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ATHENS, GA – FEBRUARY 17: Yante Maten
ATHENS, GA – FEBRUARY 17: Yante Maten /

2018 SEC TOURNAMENT KEY PLAYERS

2017-18 Stats: 19.4 ppg, 1.6 apg, 8.8 rpg

The senior forward is without a doubt one if not the best player in the conference. He leads the conference in scoring at a pace of 19.4 ppg and has had 15 games this season with 20 points or more.

Maten currently sits top five in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots in Georgia Basketball history. With his 27-point performance on February 24 against LSU, Maten moved to second place on Georgia’s all-time scoring list.

2017-18 Stats: 18.3 ppg, 3.6 apg, 3.6 rpg

Sexton is one of those freshmen I was talking about that runs the show. He leads Alabama in masterful ways. Not one of his shooting percentages jumps off the page, but Sexton finds a way to get buckets.

He is currently sitting second with 18.3 points per game only behind Yante Maten. What makes Sexton unique is how quick he is with the basketball. He can honestly get to the rack anytime he wants, and is excellent at drawing fouls. He has attempted 213 free throws this season which is good enough for third highest in the league.

2017-18 Stats: 16.4 ppg, 1.8 apg, 2.1 rpg

What a turnaround season it has been for the junior guard from Stone Mountain, GA. All season long I’ve been writing that Kyle Alexander – from Tennessee – deserved SEC most improved player but if there was anyone that was going to beat him it was Bryce Brown.

He is almost scoring ten more points a game this season than last season. His assist numbers are up as well as his shooting percentage from the field. What’s most impressive is the difference from the free throw line. Last season Brown shot a lousy 66.7% compared to 81% this season.

2017-18 Stats: 15.6 ppg, 1.8 apg, 5.8 rpg

He is the heart and soul of the Volunteers and a big reason why they have had so much success this season. Standing at 6-foot-7, Williams is a bit undersized but is one of the hardest players to defend in the conference.

The Vols try to play an inside-out offensive game feeding the big guy as much as they can. Williams will be a huge factor in deciding if the Vols can be contenders in the SEC an NCAA Tournaments.

2017-18 Stats: Two minutes of Action

Porter Jr. is a 6-foot-10 forward that was rated as the top prospect in the nation in the 2017 class according to Rivals and second according to ESPN.

Missouri was in a position to make a run at an SEC Title and a deep run in the NCAA Tournament with Porter Jr., but he went down in the first game of the season against Iowa State.

He makes our list of key players because he might make a comeback and if he does Missouri is an entirely different team. They will definitely be a threat to win the SEC Tournament then.

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