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Previewing and picking winners for the second week of conference tournaments - college basketball - ESPN
SEC
When: Wednesday (first round); Thursday (second round); Friday (quarterfinals); Saturday (semifinals); Sunday (championship)
Where: Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.
Bracket and results
The favorite: Florida hasn't exactly been invincible, suffering losses in its past three road games. But the Gators are still the most stable assembly in the SEC. They're top-five in adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency per Pomeroy. They're shooting 48.5 percent from the field, a mark that is ninth in the country. Their starting rotation features speed (Kenny Boynton is averaging 12.5 PPG), size (Patric Young is averaging 10.5 PPG) and versatility (6-foot-10 forward Erik Murphy is shooting 46.6 percent from the beyond the arc). Florida is still the best team in the conference.
The top challengers: Well, take your pick. Kentucky has won four of seven games without star Nerlens Noel. Archie Goodwin scored 16 points in a critical win over Florida on Saturday. John Calipari's young bubble team has matured through adversity. Few teams in the conference have matched Tennessee's late momentum, though. Jordan McRae (16.2 PPG) has led the Vols to eight wins in their past nine games. Missouri -- when Phil Pressey (11.9 PPG, 7.1 APG, 1.8 SPG, 3.7 TPG) is focused, of course -- can beat any other team in the conference. Anthony Grant's Alabama team has the SEC's No. 2 scoring defense (59.7 PPG allowed) and one of its best players (Trevor Releford is averaging 15.6 PPG). Ole Miss (76.3 PPG, first in the conference) recovered from a rocky stretch by winning four of its past five games. Marshall Henderson (19.7 PPG) leads the conference in scoring.
My pick: The field includes a multitude of desperate teams, but Tennessee has responded to the pressure as well as any other team in the SEC. Cuonzo Martin's program has also played with a vigor that it had lacked in the first portion of the SEC season. The Vols are determined right now, and they're not interested in giving the selection committee a chance to seal their fate. They'll decide that by winning the SEC tournament.