BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Here's a look at the Southeastern Conference men's basketball tournament, which begins Thursday:

Team to beat: Kentucky. Since it has won 20 of the previous 37 SEC Tournaments, including five of the past six (a 17-1 tourney record in that span), it's always one of the favorites. When it sweeps through the SEC like it has this year, and plays so well on the road (11-0) and at neutral sites (6-1), it's even a better pick.

Team nobody wants to face: Mississippi. Since a three-game skid a month ago, the Rebels have closed with a six-game winning streak, including victories at No. 7 Kentucky and at home against No. 12 Arkansas. Their winning streak is currently the longest in the conference.

Team that most needs the automatic bid: Georgia. The Bulldogs (15-13) were ranked 19th in preseason and stood 9-2 at one point, but their subsequent collapse included a six-game losing streak. They have shown flashes of potential, including taking North Carolina to overtime, so winning this tournament isn't an impossibility.

Team that least needs one more game: Tennessee. The Volunteers (19-7) are 21 in the RPI, so they should be safe for the NCAA Tournament. But they have been beset with so many injuries that they would probably prefer having time to heal.

Toughest draw/Weakest draw: Toughest - Alabama or Vanderbilt. Whichever wins this first-round meeting faces a well-rested Kentucky team the next day. Weakest - South Carolina. The Gamecocks get a bye, then likely play Auburn, which it beat 65-51 in Auburn on Jan. 24.

Player most likely to be MVP: Ansu Sesay. Mississippi's 6-foot-9 senior forward leads the SEC in scoring (18.9 avg.) and is seventh in rebounding (7.3).

Best unknown player: Nick Davis. The 6-foot-9 Arkansas senior forward ranks second in the nation in rebounding (10.8 avg.) and leads the SEC in blocks (2.6 avg.). He also scores 11.4 points per game. Unsung, but invaluable.

Player under the gun: BJ McKie. South Carolina's junior guard ranks second in the SEC in scoring (18.3 ppg), but he hasn't gotten consistent scoring help from his frontline.

Bracket
March Madness page