SEC Hoops Update: Tigers and Gators Look Strong
The Missouri Tigers and the Florida Gators are building a good resume towards the NCAA Tournament in the non-conference schedule thus far. The Tigers have wins over the West Virginia Mountaineers and UCLA Bruins to their credit as they have run out to a 10-0 start to the season. They still have two big games left before SEC play starts. The next game is against the Illinois Illini on Saturday and then the NC State Wolfpack the following Saturday. Should they win one or both of those games, their NCAA Tournament bid should all but be locked up unless they completely collapse in SEC play, which is highly unlikely.
Florida has wins over the Florida State Seminoles, Kansas Jayhawks and Memphis Tigers and also two every close road losses at the Wisconsin Badgers and UConn Huskies on their resume so far. They will take on the Fresno State Bulldogs this Saturday and still have the Richmond Spiders on their non-conference slate. Like Missouri, they would have to completely collapse in SEC play not to make the NCAA Tournament. Florida is 8-2 going into tomorrow’s game with the Bulldogs.
Missouri is led by Jordan Clarkston who is averaging over 19 points and four assists per game. Johnathan Williams III is the big man underneath leading them in rebounds (8.4) and blocked shots (1.4). They are ranked #23 in this week’s AP Poll.
Florida is led by Casey Prather with nearly 19 points per game and adds six rebounds per game as well. Dorian Finney-Smith leads the team in rebounding at nearly eight per game to go along with his 11 points per game average. Scottie Wilbekin dishes five assists per game and also leads in steals with three per game. And Patric Young averages six rebounds and one block per contest. Florida is the highest ranked team in the SEC at #16.
The Kentucky Wildcats have a strong resume as well with wins over the Providence Friars and Boise State Broncos so far. They also have close losses to highly ranked teams such as the Michigan State Spartans, Baylor Bears and North Carolina Tar Heels, all in single digits. The Wildcats have a difficult game in Saturday with the Belmont Bruins and still face the Louisville Cardinals before SEC play starts. Those would be two nice wins to have on the resume. UK should safely be in the NCAA field barring a big collapse in conference play as well. Julius Randle leads them in scoring at 17 points and 11 rebounds per game. Willie Cauley-Stein is blocking over four shots per game and averaging one steal per game as well.
