2022 SEC Tournament Teams to Watch
The SEC had one of the more-interesting 2021-22 regular seasons of any conference in college basketball, one where four teams were cemented at the top of the standings for a majority of the year. Which teams should you be watching for this week?
The Favorite – Auburn Tigers
The 2021-22 SEC regular season champions, Auburn enters the 2022 SEC Tournament as the No. 1 seed, and deserve to be considered as the favorite entering the week, even despite a deep Top 4. Led by the previously mentioned frontcourt duo of Kessler and Smith, few teams within the conference stack-up with the Tigers both offensively and defensively.
Biggest Threat to Favorite – Kentucky Wildcats
While Auburn did lose toward the end of the regular season at Arkansas and Tennessee, Kentucky you could certainly argue might’ve beaten the Tigers at home this season, if not for injuries to guards TyTy Washington and Sahvir Wheeler. If the Wildcats and Tigers meet later this week in Tampa on a neutral court, you could certainly make an argument for both teams as the favorite.
Team to Keep an Eye On – Tennessee Volunteers
The Volunteers come into the 2022 SEC Tournament having won four-straight, a stretch that includes wins over both Auburn and Arkansas at home. An elite team defensively, Tennessee holds wins this season over each of the 1-5 seeds, and are capable of beating any team in Tampa this week.
Sleeper – Alabama Crimson Tide
The defending SEC Tournament champions, the Crimson Tide, despite having struggled at times this season, will not be an easy out this week by any means. While they will likely have to go through Kentucky to do it, Alabama could easily be the team that makes a run this week.