SEC Basketball: What is each team’s deepest NCAA Tournament run?

SEC basketball is no stranger to teams making deep runs in March, with multiple having even won the national championship before. Taking a look at all 14 SEC teams, what is each’s deepest run in the NCAA Tournament historically, and when did it happen? (As of May 2023) 

What is each SEC Basketball team’s deepest NCAA Tournament run?

Alabama Crimson Tide – Elite Eight (2004)

Alabama has only advanced to the Elite Eight once in their program’s history, which came during the 2003-04 season as a No. 8 seed.

Arkansas Razorbacks – National Champions (1994)

There are a few SEC basketball teams who have gone all the way in the NCAA Tournament, the first of which is Arkansas, who won the national championship back during the 1993-94 season as a No. 1 seed.

Auburn Tigers – Final Four (2019)

Auburn’s deepest run in the NCAA Tournament came recently during the 2018-19 season, when the Tigers made their lone run to the Final Four in program history as a No. 5 seed.

Florida Gators – National Champions (2006, 2007)

Florida is another one of those SEC basketball teams who have won the national championship before, with the Gators having done it twice in back-to-back years in 2006-07. The Gators won during the 2005-06 season as a No. 3 seed, as well as once again in 2006-07 as a No. 1 seed.

Georgia Bulldogs – Final Four (1983)

Georgia has reached the Final Four once in program history, which came during the 1982-83 season as a No. 4 seed.

Kentucky Wildcats – National Champions (1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996, 1998, 2012)

Historically the most accomplished SEC basketball program, Kentucky has won the national title a total of eight times. Those years are as follows – 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996, 1998, and 2012.

LSU Tigers – Final Four (1953, 1981, 1986, 2006)

The LSU Tigers have reached the Final Four a total of four times in program history, which is among the most of any SEC basketball team, but have never been able to advance to the national championship game. Those four years were 1953, 1981, 1986, and most recently, 2006.

Mississippi State Bulldogs – Final Four (1996)

Mississippi State’s furthest NCAA Tournament run was a Final Four appearance, which came during the 1995-96 season as a No. 5 seed.

Missouri Tigers – Elite Eight (1976, 1994, 2002, 2009)

Missouri is a program that has come close to making a Final Four appearance, reaching the Elite Eight a total of four times in their program’s history. Those years were 1976, 1994, 2002, and 2009.

Ole Miss Rebels – Sweet 16 (2001)

The Rebels deepest run in the NCAA Tournament is to the Sweet 16, which Ole Miss reached back in 2001.

South Carolina Gamecocks – Final Four (2017)

South Carolina’s deepest NCAA Tournament run also happens to be the last time the Gamecocks participated in the Big Dance, as they went on a run to the Final Four during the 2016-17 season as a No. 7 seed.

Tennessee Volunteers – Elite Eight (2010)

Similar to Alabama previously, Tennessee has reached the Elite Eight only once in program history, which came during the 2009-10 season as a No. 6 seed.

Texas A&M Aggies – Sweet 16 (1969, 1980, 2007, 2016, 2018)

Texas A&M’s deepest NCAA Tournament run has come to the Sweet 16, which the Aggies have made five different times. Those years were – 1969, 1980, 2007, 2016, and 2018.

Vanderbilt Commodores – Elite Eight (1965)

We conclude here with Vanderbilt, as the Commodores deepest NCAA Tournament run came back in 1965 with an Elite Eight appearance.