By John Zenor
The Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Mississippi State's Rick Stansbury had one question when his team was picked ahead of Alabama: Why?

Kentucky's Tubby Smith contends Florida is the SEC East's team to beat.

Sorry, guys. The Wildcats were picked as the favorites to win the SEC championship, drawing nine votes to the Bulldogs' eight and the Gators' one Thursday among media covering the SEC's media days.

"Alabama has four starters back and only loses a walk-on," Stansbury said. "LSU has four starters back and a McDonald's All-American. We have three starters back. I don't understand it."

One of those three starters is SEC player of the year Lawrence Roberts.

Alabama coach Mark Gottfried said his team doesn't belong as a front-runner either, though no SEC team advanced further in the NCAA Tournament last season.

"Florida, Mississippi State and Kentucky - those are the three teams to beat," said Gottfried, who led the Tide to the Elite Eight. "Florida's as talented as anybody in the country. We're a long way from those three."

Kentucky's Smith also gives the nod to the Gators.

"I think they're just as good as last year or better," said Smith, who led the Wildcats to the league title and a 27-5 record last season. "I think they're going to be the team to beat."

Not so fast, says Billy Donovan.

In terms of experience, the Gators coach said, "there are a lot of teams in this league that are in a much, much better position than we are at this point in time."

Of course, he also has all five starters back, led by point guard Anthony Roberson.

The Wildcats received 16 of 18 first-place votes in the East, while Florida got the other two.

The Crimson Tide got the only first-place vote that didn't go to Mississippi State in the West.