2018 Championship Week Primer-SEC

Since 2010, the team that has won the SEC has either been Kentucky or Florida. This year, however, there was not only one new champion, but a second one as well. Auburn and Tennessee split the conference championship this year, while Florida and Kentucky remained well behind. Besides the new champion, the SEC is expected to send at least seven teams to the NCAA Tournament, much more than they have in recent years. This should not come as a surprise that the SEC is on the upswing given that they won the Big 12/SEC challenge for the first time this year. 

 

All fourteen teams will participate in the SEC Tournament this year in five rounds. The top four teams received a double bye to the quarterfinals and the fifth through tenth seeded teams received a bye to the second round. The entire tournament will be held at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. 

 

First Round-Wednesday, March 7th

#13 Vanderbilt vs. #12 Georgia 

#14 Ole Miss vs. #11 South Carolina

 

Second Round-Thursday, March 8th

#9 Alabama vs. #8 Texas A&M

#13 Vanderbilt vs. #5 Missouri

#10 LSU vs. #7 Mississippi State

#11 South Carolina vs. #6 Arkansas

 

Quarterfinals-Friday, March 9th 

#8 Texas A&M vs. #1 Auburn

#5 Missouri vs. #4 Kentucky

#10 LSU vs. #2 Tennessee

#11 South Carolina vs. #3 Florida

 

Semifinals-Saturday, March 10th

#8 Texas A&M vs. #4 Kentucky

#3 Florida vs. #2 Tennessee

 

Final-Sunday, March 11th

Tennessee swept Kentucky this year, something that has not happened in some time. Despite the difficulty in winning three games against the same team in one year, I think the Volunteers will be able to manage it and clinch an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

 

Kentucky 65, Tennessee 70