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SEC Basketball: 5 takeaways from NCAA Tournament seeding & first round matchups

By Matt Melton

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 13: Josiah-Jordan James #30 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies in the Championship game of the SEC Men's Tournament at Amalie Arena on March 13, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 13: Josiah-Jordan James #30 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies in the Championship game of the SEC Men's Tournament at Amalie Arena on March 13, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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The bracket for the 2022 NCAA Tournament is now officially set, with six SEC Basketball teams set to go dancing in the coming days. Coming out of Sunday night’s Selection Show however, what are a few takeaways from the seeding and first round matchups when it comes to SEC Basketball?

5 SEC Basketball takeaways from the 2022 NCAA Tournament seeding and first round matchups

Texas A&M doesn’t get in

Despite the Aggies run this past week to the SEC Tournament title game, Texas A&M was left as the fourth team in the “First Four Out” category on the bubble, and is now set as a one-seed in the NIT Tournament. For a Texas A&M team that you could certainly argue had a more-impressive resume than a few of the bubble teams who got in, the Aggies will now be one of the favorites to win the NIT.

Tennessee doesn’t get a two-seed

While Auburn and Kentucky both got two-seeds, SEC Tournament champion Tennessee did not. The Volunteers are now set to play Big South Conference champion Longwood in the first round as a three-seed, and will face the winner of Colorado State/Michigan should Tennessee advance to the second round.

Arkansas in a tricky first round matchup

Arkansas will face AEC Conference champion Vermont in the first round for the 4/13 matchup, a tricky first round opponent for the Razorbacks in Buffalo, NY. The Catamounts are a very-experienced team that shoots a combined 49.3% from the field and 36.4% from three, and while Arkansas will certainly be the favorite going in, Vermont is a team with the pieces that could give the Razorbacks trouble.

Alabama’s tough road

Speaking of tricky first round matchups, six-seed Alabama awaits the winner of the First Four matchup between Rutgers and Notre Dame, both of which could give the Crimson Tide trouble in some areas. If Alabama were to advance past the first round as well, the Crimson Tide would have a tough road ahead, likely having to go through Texas Tech and Duke to reach the Elite 8.

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Auburn gets in-state matchup

Two-seeded Auburn gets an intriguing in-state matchup in the first round when the Tigers take-on A-SUN regular season champion Jacksonville State. An experienced Gamecocks team (top seven scorers are juniors/seniors), Jacksonville State has played teams such as Alabama and Wichita State close on the road this season, and while Auburn will certainly be the favorite, this is a matchup to watch for.

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