Andy Hutchins at the Sporting News has predicted Mississippi State to be the best basketball team in the SEC this year...
"The best team in the SEC will be Mississippi State. Forget about the John Wall Show at Kentucky: The only team in the SEC coming off an NCAA Tournament berth and returning all five starters plays in Starkville. Add Renardo Sidney, currently caught in eligibility limbo, and the Bulldogs may have the most imposing frontline in college hoops in Sidney and one-man block party Jarvis Varnado. Maintaining the quietly above-average guard play of last season could be their key."My thoughts? I mean, considering Sidney might not even play, and that John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins are the real deal, I'd say this prediction is pretty silly. Let's not forget, its not like Mississippi State was a top ten team last year. Yes, they were decent, and they'll be decent this year, but they'll need Sidney to play (and play really well) in order for them to achieve this kind of success. Meanwhile, Kentucky returns Patrick Patterson and has brought in a new coaching staff and the best recruiting class in the country.
We'll see who the best team in the SEC is when the teams begin to play each other in January. Until then, everyone can make whatever
Jarvis Varnado's block party will not be the only one in the SEC this year!! Cousins will do his fare share of tossing opponents shots into the 3rd row, and don't forget PP has a nose for getting his hand on a few shots as well. I not only think UK will win the SEC, but will lead in block shots as well. Nothing hurts a bulldogs feelings worse than getting put back on the porch by a bunch of CATS.
ReplyDeleteI would come closer to betting that Miss St finishes third or worse than I would them winning the league outright. They should be a 4-5 seed come tourny time which is nothing to sneeze at, but Vandy, Tennessee, and Ole Miss could all challenge State for their spot in league play.
ReplyDeleteLet's break down Mr Hutchins' statement:
ReplyDelete"Forget about the John Wall Show at Kentucky"
"Maintaining the quietly above-average guard play of last season could be their key."
Now, let's say that Sidney gets to play, and compare the two teams' front court players. For the sake of argument, we'll call it a wash, and that's being nice in my opinion.
It looks to me that the difference in a game might come down to GUARD play.
So Andy, can we really forget about THE JOHN WALL SHOW? You can try, but then there's the ERIC BLEDSOE SHOW... Or are we supposed to forget about him too, and place our thoughts on that quietly above-average guard play you spaek so highly of.
Ok..... I'm done.
Here's what i think... He acts like the Bulldogs were amazing last year, but here is the truth. They were not even anywhere close to bubble talk and would not have even made the NCAA tourney had they not gotten hot and stole the show against a down league in the SEC tourney last year. Even with winning the tourney they were a 13 SEED! And got beat by 13 points against Washington. So i think it would be a more likely prediction that they are an inconsistent, streaky team again this year. I do think they will be around a 5 seed in the tourney but this best in the SEC prediction seems like crazy talk to me.
ReplyDeleteI think your prediction is about right Matt. They'll be a decent team in the conference and have times where they are a good team. I think they'll be hit or miss most of the season. If they get a couple of their guys eligible they'll be a tough out in the SEC, but no where near the best team in the conference. If they make they tournament I cannot see them being better than 8 or 9 seed.
ReplyDelete