A look into the 2018 Men’s basketball SEC Tournament with predictions
Game 7: No.1 Auburn (13-5) vs. Winner of Game 3
Watch: ESPN Time: 1:00 pm ET
Billy Williford prediction: Auburn vs. Alabama
Winner: Auburn Tigers
Billy: I keep thinking Auburn isn’t that good and guess what; they keep proving me wrong. I liked the Gamecocks chances against Auburn on Saturday but despite lousy shooting Auburn was able to find a way to come back and win the game. They aren’t co-champs of the SEC for nothing. I think they get the best of the Crimson Tide. Again.
Ian McBride prediction: Auburn vs. Alabama
Winner: Auburn Tigers
Ian: Iron Bowl III on the hardwood…These two teams have met twice already, splitting the two meetings. Both teams won on their home courts, but how will this one play out in neutral territory? The Tigers have struggled a bit since losing Anfernee McLemore but still held on to share the regular season title with Tennessee.
Playing with only eight scholarship players, I question how deep Auburn can go before they begin to wear down. However, playing with very fresh legs against Alabama, I believe they pull this one out. After questioning how real Auburn was for over half the season and counting them out on multiple subsequent occasions, I’ve learned my lesson. Auburn wins here.
Caleb Calhoun prediction: Auburn vs. Alabama
Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide
Caleb: Yes, I’m going with the upset here. Again, Alabama has a heck of a lot to more to play for than Auburn. They have proven they can beat Bruce Pearl’s team already this year. Also, the Tigers were mentally drained from the elation of clinching the SEC regular season championship. And don’t forget that they stumbled down the stretch to get that title, needing to come back against the South Carolina Gamecocks to win. Alabama is stumbling too, but they’ll right the ship here and pull off the upset.
Game 8: No.4 Kentucky (10-8) vs. Winner of Game 4
Watch: ESPN Time: 3:00 pm ET
Billy Williford prediction: Kentucky vs. Missouri
Winner: Missouri Tigers
Billy: In recent years, the SEC Tournament has been Kentucky’s to lose. I think this year is different. All season long the Cats have struggled to find consistent play out of their young talent.
On the other hand, Missouri is playing well and plays tough defense which seemed to bother Kentucky in the two games in the regular season. I know, it’s John Calipari, and it’s Kentucky but give me the Tigers at home. There isn’t a better image in all of sports than Kentucky fans leaving an arena upset.
Ian McBride’s prediction: Kentucky vs. Missouri
Winner: Kentucky Wildcats
Ian: Another round 3 matchup after these teams split the first two. Missouri has been a tough beat all season, and the Wildcats recently seemed to have found their stride despite Florida absolutely owning Kentucky in the last regular season game.
On paper, UK has the edge across the board, outranking Mizzou in almost every statistical category. Again, being played in St. Louis the Tigers will have fans in the stands, but no one travels like the Big Blue Nation. I think, here, you go with UK’s statistical advantage. Also, it is really tough to bet against John Calipari in March. UK wins in a nail-biter.
Caleb Calhoun prediction: Kentucky vs. Missouri
Winner: Kentucky Wildcats
Caleb: This is the hardest game for me to pick. The Kentucky Wildcats are the most talented team in the SEC Tournament. But they have been inconsistent this year more than even other years under John Calipari. And they are playing in Missouri, which favors the Tigers, who are getting Michael Porter Jr. back potentially. I think this will be the most important game of the tournament, and Kentucky pulls it out late.
Game 9: No.2 Tennessee (13-5) vs. Winner of Game 5
Watch: SECN Time: 7:00 pm ET
Billy Williford prediction: Tennessee vs. LSU
Winner: Tennessee Volunteers
Billy: LSU hits the end of the line when they play Tennessee on Friday night. That’s not to say that this LSU shouldn’t scare Tennessee, but I think this Vols team has something about them where they want a championship.
With the way Admiral Schofield is playing this Tennessee team will be tough to beat. This won’t be the same game as the 23-point win the Vols had during the season, but they will still get the win.
Ian McBride prediction: Tennessee vs. LSU
Winner: Tennessee Volunteers
Ian: I really don’t see much here. On paper, this is somewhat of a close matchup. But, then again, every team matches the Vols well on paper. They are a team with no real stars, and they lead the conference in, well, really nothing (except for wins). That’s their style.
They press, grind, hustle, and out physical most of their opponents. That is exactly what will happen here. I’d like to say I know how or who will lead the Volunteers to victory, but honestly have no clue, and neither does anyone else. It might be hot shooting; it may just be a grind. The only guarantee is that super solid Volunteer defense will be involved and be the determining factor in the victory.
Caleb Calhoun prediction: Tennessee vs. Mississippi State
Winner: Tennessee Volunteers
Caleb: This is not a guarantee, even if the LSU Tigers are in this spot. Everybody knows the history behind the Tennessee Vols and the flameouts in the SEC Tournaments. Can they be different with a good team under Rick Barnes? Nobody knows.
However, the Vols blew out both the LSU Tigers and Mississippi State Bulldogs this regular season. I have them playing Mississippi State, but it shouldn’t matter. They are significantly better than both teams, and although the Bulldogs will be playing as a bubble team, they won’t have enough to compete with Tennessee. The Vols advance to Saturday, which as everybody knows, is an extremely rare thing for them to do.
Game 10: No.3 Florida (11-7) vs. Winner of Game 6
Watch: SECN Time: 9:00 pm ET
Billy Williford prediction: Florida vs. South Carolina
Winner: Florida Gators
Billy: The Gators are playing good basketball right now. After losing three straight games, Florida ended the season on a three-game winning streak. When Hudson and Allen are playing well, just like many teams in the SEC they are hard to beat.
They two teams split the season series, but I like Florida to win this one. Chris Chiozza will be a crucial factor in getting the Gators going.
Ian McBride prediction: Florida vs. Arkansas
Winner: Florida Gators
Ian: Florida was the SEC’s enigma. They had some great wins early on and moved forward only to struggle. Dropping what was an embarrassing game at home to Loyola-Chicago. The Gators lost to UGA, Vandy, and Tennessee. But then turned around and beat Auburn, Bama, and crushed the Wildcats. They can be a very tough read.
Arkansas has a highly efficient offense, but are not so on the defensive side of the ball. The Gators can play fairly well on both sides, their defense being 19th most efficient according to kenpom.com. They’re lethality increases when they are shooting well from beyond the arc. I think Florida keeps Arkansas from hitting their average ppg, while putting in enough buckets to win the ballgame.
Caleb Calhoun prediction: Florida vs. Arkansas
Winner: Arkansas Razorbacks
Caleb: The Florida Gators were another incredibly inconsistent team down the stretch of the season. This is a team that managed to lose to the Vanderbilt Commodores late but still has huge wins over the Auburn Tigers and Kentucky Wildcats. They have proven they can play with anybody, and at home, I’d have them beating Arkansas.
However, as I already mentioned, playing in St. Louis is almost like a home game for the Razorbacks, and they are already very good on neutral sites anyway. That should be enough to handle an inconsistent team like the Gators, which they will do. Arkansas advances to Saturday as one of the Cinderella Thursday teams.