The 2024-25 season has been great for head coach Dennis Gates and his Missouri Tigers. However, this success isn’t unique to his squad alone, as several teams within the SEC have had equally incredible seasons, if not better.
Only a limited number of teams from the conference will make it to the postseason NCAA Tournament, a goal that every team hopes to achieve. For several teams in the SEC, the upcoming SEC Conference Tournament will be crucial, as it will play a significant role in determining their postseason fate.
Some squads will view the SEC Conference Tournament as an opportunity to improve their seeding, while others recognize that making a deep run is crucial just to have a chance at securing a spot in the 68-team NCAA Tournament next week.
With the SEC performing at such a high level this season, some experts are predicting that as many as 14 teams could earn a spot in March Madness, by far the most of any conference and a historically high number. This, of course, depends on how the tournament unfolds, making it all the more exciting to watch.
Going into the conference tournament, the SEC has nine "locks" for the NCAA Tournament: Auburn, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Missouri, Ole Miss, Kentucky, and Mississippi State.
The Tigers finished the season on a sour note, but they did enough during the regular season to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament, regardless of their performance in the SEC Tournament. They would likely be fighting for a top seed if they hadn't ended the regular season on such an unfortunate note.
So, nine teams are consistently predicted to make an appearance in the NCAA Tournament by experts, as long as their performance doesn’t falter at the last moment.
However, there are bubble teams that actually need these SEC Tournament games to secure a bid. Yes, multiple teams will likely need season-best performances this week in order to extend their season.
Three SEC clubs need to win 1-2 games to feel safe going into Selection Sunday. Of those three, Vanderbilt is probably the safest. The Commodores have spent multiple weeks in the top 25 and have wins over Tennessee, Alabama, Mizzou, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss. Their main issue has been consistency, though they have shown they can string wins together at times.
The other two are true "bubble teams," so one win would help, but a slight run in the tournament would be their best bet. Those teams are Oklahoma and Georgia. Both have had some success against ranked opponents and secured notable wins, but neither finished above .500 in conference play.
Finally, Arkansas and Texas are looking for significant conference tournament runs if they're serious about making an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Finishing 12th and 14th in the conference, respectively, with few notable wins, both teams will need to make a strong push in the tournament to improve their chances.
Arkansas secured victories over Kentucky, Mizzou, and Mississippi State, while Texas defeated Mizzou, Kentucky, and Texas A&M. Both teams are very evenly matched with similar records. The Longhorns will face Vanderbilt in the first round, while the Razorbacks will play Ole Miss—neither matchup will be easy.
In all, fans could potentially see nearly the entire SEC conference in the NCAA Tournament, with the exception of LSU and South Carolina, if all goes right for the remaining teams.
The SEC Tournament is shaping up to be very competitive, with several teams aiming to extend their season by another couple of weeks. Fans and teams alike will be eager to see how it pans out, starting Wednesday night, with some teams in action and others on a bye, awaiting their competition.