2010 SEC Basketball Preview: Eastern Division

SEC East Predictions

1. Kentucky (AP ranked 4th): Kentucky has the most talent since their 1996 team which is considered by many to be the best college basketball team ever assembled. They are by far the most improved team in the league, and in the country. Patrick Patterson was picked by the coaches as Preseason SEC Player of the Year, while John Wall has been picked by many as Preseason NATIONAL Player of the Year. Demarcus Cousins is also a likely lottery pick in next year's NBA draft, but might only be the third Wildcat picked. We could go on and on about this roster all the way down to the bottom, but there's 11 other teams to talk about. (#1 Seed, NCAA)

2. Tennessee (AP ranked 10th): Seniors Wayne Chism, Tyler Smith, Bobby Maze, and JP Prince make the Volunteers one of the most experienced team in the country and also return a super sophomore from the bluegrass state in Scotty Hopson. UT could find itself as a top 10 team and a #1 or 2 seed in March and they'll get thier chance at #1 ranked Kansas on January 10th, but the Volunteers couldn't even beat Kentucky LAST year in two tries. It will certainly be a much tougher task to do so this year, but at least Jodie Meeks is gone... (#2 Seed, NCAA)

3. South Carolina: PG Devan Downey passed up the NBA to return for another season in Columbia. Downey vs. Wall will be one of the best individual matchups in the entire country this season. They should find themselves in the top 15 when it's all said and done. (#4 Seed, NCAA)

4. Vanderbilt: The Commodores' return their star Center, A.J. Ogilvy, from last season and all the Internet rumors (from UNC and Vandy boards) say that they beat North Carolina on Sunday in a secret scrimmage by double digits. We'll see for sure how good Vandy is in early season regular season games vs. Cincinnati and Missouri. (#7 Seed, NCAA)

5. Florida: Billy Donovan's program has slipped since their back to back National Titles 2 years ago. Still, it shows how good the SEC (especially the East division) is with a team only a few years removed from a National Championship picked by many to finish 5th in the division. (#1 Seed, NIT)

6. Georgia: It's gonna be a rough year for first year head coach Mark Fox, although the Bulldogs will still be improved from last year. (SEC tourney, 1st round loss)



That my friends, is a breakdown of the best division in all of college basketball. Hope everybody enjoyed picking on the SEC while it was down. Tomorrow I'll break down the Western Division.