SEC Basketball: One breakout candidate for each team during 2023-24 season
By Matt Melton
![FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - JANUARY 11: Rylan Griffen #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks to the bench during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on January 11, 2023 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Crimson Tide defeated the Razorbacks 84-69. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - JANUARY 11: Rylan Griffen #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks to the bench during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on January 11, 2023 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Crimson Tide defeated the Razorbacks 84-69. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/da355bce002016300f8497cca474fb6b3ec02c33f619668214afa28943924d72.jpg)
With the start of the 2023-24 SEC basketball season only weeks away, let’s take a look at all 14 teams across the conference, and list one potential breakout candidate for each program entering the year. (NOTE: Freshmen were not included in this list)
One breakout candidate for each SEC basketball team during 2023-24 season
Alabama Crimson Tide – G Rylan Griffen
While the defending SEC basketball champions have a few other options to potentially choose from such as forward Nick Pringle, likely the obvious pick entering 2023-24 is Griffen. Griffen would appear in 37 games off Alabama’s bench a year ago to average 5.9 PPG and 2.6 RPG as a freshman, and is likely to emerge in a larger role this season for the Crimson Tide.
Arkansas Razorbacks – G Joseph Pinion
Aside from their freshman class, Arkansas is a very experienced team in 2023-24, with many of their returning players previously having already broken out. Because of this, the Razorbacks pick goes to Pinion, who averaged 2.4 PPG on 38.2% shooting from three during 26 games off Arkansas’ bench as a freshman.
Auburn Tigers – G Tre Donaldson
With starting point guard Wendell Green Jr. having moved on, Auburn will be counting on a new face at the position in star freshman Aden Holloway this season, as well as a potential breakout sophomore season from Donaldson. Donaldson was a constant off the Tigers bench a year ago across 32 games, playing a key backcourt depth role by averaging 2.5 PPG, 1.4 RPG, and 1.2 APG on 40.6% shooting from three.