10 SEC men's teams receive postseason bids

10 SEC men’s teams receive postseason bids

19 hours ago
Craig Pinkerton

Photo: Alabama Athletics

10 SEC teams received postseason bids, eight teams earning bids to the NCAA Tournament and two SEC teams obtaining an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament. This record-tying 8 men’s basketball teams have made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018 and tied for the most in the nation (Big Ten). It is the second straight season and fifth overall that the SEC has received 10 postseason bids.

The SEC has had 35 NCAA Tournament selections over the last five tournaments. The SEC is 78-49 (60.5 percent) in the NCAA Tournament since 2012. All 14 SEC teams have made at least one NCAA Tournament appearance in the last eight tournaments.

Alabama earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide are appearing in their third-straight NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1989-92. It is the school’s 23rd NCAA appearance with a 21-22 overall record. Alabama is the first SEC school to be ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press poll since Kentucky in 2015. It marks the 12th time overall that an SEC school has been ranked No. 1 in the final poll.

NOTABLES:

  • The SEC has had at least one team advance to the Sweet 16 in 31 of the last 32 tournaments.
  • Nine different SEC teams have advanced to the Sweet 16 in the last five NCAA Tournaments. All 14 SEC members have advanced to the Sweet 16 since 1996.
  • The SEC has advanced at least one team to the Elite Eight in nine of the last 12 tournaments.
  • The SEC has advanced a team to the Final Four six of the last 11 tournaments.
  • Eight different SEC teams (Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State and South Carolina) have appeared in the Final Four.
  • Alabama is the fourth different SEC school to be ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Poll since the 2018-19 season (Auburn 2022, Kentucky 2020, and Tennessee 2019).
  • Arkansas is appearing in its third straight NCAA Tournament and owns a 48-34 record in NCAA play. The Razorbacks have appeared in the Elite Eight each of the past two years.
  • Auburn is making its 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and fourth in the last five events. The Tigers are 18-11 (.621) all-time in NCAA Tournament games.
  • Florida will make its 12th all-time NIT appearance, holding a 14-13 record in the event and with three semifinal appearances.
  • Kentucky extended its national record for most NCAA Tournament appearances to 60. UK holds NCAA the record for most games played (182) and ranks second with 129 wins.
  • Mississippi State is making its 12th NCAA appearance, including its eighth since 2002. The Bulldogs are 11-11 all-time in the NCAAs.
  • Missouri is set to compete in its 29th NCAA Tournament and first in two years. The Tigers, who garnered their highest seed since 2012, are 22-28 all-time in the event.
  • Tennessee earned a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth and 25th overall. The Vols are 23-24 all-time in the tournament. Rick Barnes is making his 27th appearance as a head coach and his fifth leading the Big Orange.
  • Texas A&M will be making its 15th overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament, as the Aggies hold a 13-15 record in the big dance. Buzz Williams will be taking his third different team to the NCAA Tournament.
  • Vanderbilt is making its second straight NIT appearance and 14th overall. The Commodores won the event in 1990.
  • Five teams are receiving mention in the March 13 Associated Press Top 25 highlighted by Alabama (1st), Texas A&M (17th), Tennessee (20th), and Missouri (23rd). Vanderbilt and Arkansas are among the teams receiving votes.
  • Two teams rank in the Top Five of the NCAA’s selection Sunday NET rankings (1st nationally), five in the Top 30 (2nd nationally), and eight are in the Top 50 (2nd nationally).
  • Five SEC teams are rated among the top 25 defensive teams in the nation according to KenPom: Tennessee 2nd, Alabama 3rd, Mississippi State 6th, Arkansas 16th, Auburn 29th, and Florida 30th.
  • Three SEC coaches rank among the winningest active Division I coaches in the nation: John Calipari (4th with 788 wins), Rick Barnes (6th with 777 wins), and Bruce Pearl (15th with 634 wins).
  • The SEC, ACC, and ESPN announced on Nov. 28 the formation of the SEC/ACC Challenge for men’s and women’s basketball, which will begin as part of the 2023-24 season.

NCAA Tournament (All times Eastern)

DATE GAME LOCATION REGION TIME NETWORK
March 14 11 Mississippi St. vs. 11 Pittsburgh Dayton, Ohio Midwest Region First Four 9:10 pm truTV
March 16 1 Alabama vs. 16 A&M-CC/SEMO Birmingham, Ala. South Region First Round 2:45 pm CBS
March 16 7 Missouri vs. 10 Utah St. Denver, Colo. South Region First Round 1:40 pm TNT
March 16 4 Tennessee vs. 13 Louisiana Orlando, Fla. East Region First Round 9:40 pm CBS
March 16 9 Auburn vs. 8 Iowa Birmingham, Ala. Midwest Region First Round 6:50 pm TNT
March 16 7 Texas A&M vs. 10 Penn St. Des Moines, Iowa East Region First Round 9:55 pm TBS
March 16 8 Arkansas vs. 9 Illinois Des Moines, Iowa West Region First Round 4:30 pm TBS
March 17 6 Kentucky vs. 11 Providence Greensboro, N.C. East Region First Round 7:10 pm CBS

NATIONAL INVITATION Tournament (All times Eastern)

DATE GAME TIME NETWORK
March 14 Yale at Vanderbilt 9:00 pm ESPNU
March 15 UCF at 4 Florida 7:00 pm ESPN2

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