Howell started the year strong and finished with 11.5 sacks, good for second in the SEC behind Colin Simmons of Texas (12). Now Howell is preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft, which kicks off on Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh.

Howell is getting some Round 1 buzz as the event approaches, and ESPN’s Matt Miller is among those who think he’ll hear his name called in the first 32 picks.

Miller explained in a draft preview piece on ESPN on Wednesday that Howell would be the perfect fit at No. 26 for the Buffalo Bills:

The Bills lost AJ Epenesa and Joey Bosa in free agency and Bradley Chubb, 30, has questions surrounding his health. Buffalo needs another rusher, and Howell was consistently productive off the edge at Texas A&M and is a viable speed rusher who produced 11 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last season. A stand-up rusher in college, Howell’s first-step quickness would be welcomed in Buffalo, where the two existing starters off the edge are larger, longer and more powerful rushers.

The Bills need to figure out their defense in order to supplement what dynamic QB Josh Allen and the offense provide. Adding a guy like Howell to the pash-rush unit would be a step in the right direction.

Will Howell go in Round 1? Here’s what the latest Kalshi market says about some big-name SEC guys:

Prediction Markets

Who will be drafted in Round 1?

Learn more about Prediction Markets

Kalshi

Kadyn Proctor

94%

Jermod McCoy

88%

KC Concepcion

82%

Keldric Faulk

75%

Colton Hood

66%

Ty Simpson

62%

Cashius Howell

23%

Caleb Banks

17%

Christen Miller

16%

R Mason Thomas

15%

Predict

The post ESPN’s Matt Miller predicts which team will take Cashius Howell in Round 1 of 2026 NFL Draft appeared first on Saturday Down South.

However, one player who could help the conference show out in Round 1 is Georgia Bulldogs OL Monroe Freeling. Some analysts have him sneaking into the top 10 of their mock drafts, but most at least agree he’s a first-round talent.

Why has the Georgia lineman risen so high up draft boards in recent weeks and months? ESPN analyst Jeff Legwold explains:

Why he rose: Some of it is physics. He has rare fluidity in his lower body for a player his size and should be able to add more strength since he won’t turn 22 until July. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.93 seconds, has 34¾-inch arms and moves like a tight end in space. Freeling also showed quality ability to react to inside counters from rushers, recover, get his feet right and win the play.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. actually had Freeling as the first SEC player off the board in his mock draft last month. In that mock, Kiper had the Cleveland Browns picking Freeling at No. 6 overall.

Will Freeling end up going in the top 10 later this month? Here’s what the latest Kalshi market has to say:

Prediction Markets

Players Drafted Top 10 in 2026?

Learn more about Prediction Markets

Kalshi

Fernando Mendoza

99%

Arvell Reese

98%

David Bailey

97%

Jeremiyah Love

96%

Sonny Styles

92%

Carnell Tate

80%

Caleb Downs

80%

Rueben Bain Jr.

63%

Francis Mauigoa

62%

Mansoor Delane

53%

Predict

The post ESPN analyst explains why Georgia OL Monroe Freeling is rising up 2026 NFL Draft boards appeared first on Saturday Down South.

This year figures to be a bit of a down year for the SEC in terms of players going in Round 1, but there should still be plenty of SEC talent hearing their names called over the 7-round event.

On Wednesday, NFL.com analyst Eric Edholm updated his big board, which ranks the top 100 prospects in the draft. He included 37 former SEC standouts in this updated list.

LSU’s Mansoor Delane leads the way as the only SEC player in the top 10. Here’s a look at all 37 SEC guys and where they stand:

• No. 8 — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
• No. 13 — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
• No. 15 — Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
• No. 16 — Monroe Freeling, OL, Georgia
• No. 19 — Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
• No. 21 — KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 25 — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
• No. 29 — Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
• No. 35 — CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
• No. 38 — Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
• No. 39 — Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
• No. 40 — Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
• No. 41 — Zion Young, DL, Mizzou
• No. 42 — Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
• No. 46 — Chase Bisontis, OL, Texas A&M
• No. 48 — Christen Miller, DL, Georgia
• No. 49 — R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma
• No. 53 — Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee
• No. 54 — Josiah Trotter, LB, Mizzou
• No. 55 — Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
• No. 56 — AJ Haulcy, DB, LSU
• No. 58 — Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt
• No. 60 — Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
• No. 71 — Devin Moore, CB, Florida
• No. 74 — Keyron Crawford, Edge, Auburn
• No. 75 — Austin Barber, OL, Florida
• No. 77 — LT Overton, Edge, Alabama
• No. 85 — Brenen Thompson, WR, Mississippi State
• No. 87 — Chris McClellan, DL, Mizzou
• No. 88 — Malik Muhammad, CB, Texas
• No. 89 — Jalen Farmer, OL, Kentucky
• No. 91 — Gracen Halten, DL, Oklahoma
• No. 93 — Joshua Josephs, Edge, Tennessee
• No. 95 — Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
• No. 97 — Mike Washington Jr., RB, Arkansas
• No. 98 — Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
• No. 100 — Connor Lew, OL, Auburn

Interestingly, Ole Miss is the only SEC team that doesn’t have a top-100 draft prospect, even though the Rebels made a deep run in the College Football Playoff this past year.

Of course, if Trinidad Chambliss hadn’t been granted an extra year of eligibility by a court, perhaps he’d be in the top 100. Either way, we’ll see how things play out for the SEC later this month.

Who will be taken in the first 10 picks on April 23? Here’s the latest Kalshi market involving the NFL Draft:

Prediction Markets

Players Drafted Top 10 in 2026?

Learn more about Prediction Markets

Kalshi

Fernando Mendoza

99%

Arvell Reese

98%

David Bailey

97%

Jeremiyah Love

96%

Sonny Styles

92%

Carnell Tate

80%

Caleb Downs

80%

Rueben Bain Jr.

63%

Francis Mauigoa

62%

Mansoor Delane

53%

Predict

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The post NFL.com analyst includes 37 SEC standouts in top 100 prospects for 2026 NFL Draft appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Nowhere is that more clear than in ESPN insider Peter Schrager’s latest Round 1 mock draft, which only features 6 SEC standouts going in the first 32 picks.

Most mocks have between 8 and 12 SEC stars going in Round 1, but from what Schrager is hearing, that number could be a bit lower. Here are the half-dozen players from the SEC he has in his mock:

• No. 10 — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU — Cincinnati Bengals
• No. 15 — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• No. 19 — Monroe Freeling, OL, Georgia — Carolina Panthers
• No. 24 — KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M — Cleveland Browns
• No. 25 — Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama — Chicago Bears
• No. 29 — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee — Kansas City Chiefs

Time is running out for players to make a last push to improve their draft stocks. We’ll see what happens as Thursday, April 23, quickly approaches.

Who will go in the top 10 of this year’s NFL Draft? Will we see at least 1 SEC player? Will 2 be drafted in the first 10? Here’s a look at the latest Kalshi market:

Prediction Markets

Players Drafted Top 10 in 2026?

Learn more about Prediction Markets

Kalshi

Fernando Mendoza

99%

Arvell Reese

98%

David Bailey

97%

Jeremiyah Love

96%

Sonny Styles

92%

Carnell Tate

80%

Caleb Downs

80%

Rueben Bain Jr.

63%

Francis Mauigoa

62%

Mansoor Delane

53%

Predict

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The post Peter Schrager’s Round 1 2026 NFL Mock Draft only has 6 SEC standouts in first 32 picks appeared first on Saturday Down South.

I say that to say this — forecasting the 2026-27 men’s hoops season at this point is next to impossible. Still, ESPN’s Jeff Borzello gave it his best shot after Michigan beat UConn on Monday night to claim this year’s NCAA Tournament crown.

Borzello has the now-reigning champion Wolverines in the No. 1 spot, but the SEC holds down 6 of the top 25 slots, starting with Todd Golden’s Florida Gators at No. 3. Here’s a look at where each SEC team stands:

• No. 3 — Florida
• No. 7 — Arkansas
• No. 13 — Texas
• No. 20 — Alabama
• No. 23 — Mizzou
• No. 24 — Vanderbilt

One notable team not mentioned? The Tennessee Volunteers, who Borzello has in the “Next in Line” section of his projections. Obviously, all of these teams still have a lot of work to do to construct their rosters ahead of tipoff next fall. The portal period figures to be a flurry of activity over the next few days.

RELATED: It’s never too early to start thinking about next year’s DFS opportunities around college basketball. Use Dabble promo code SDS2 when you sign up today to receive a $10 bonus.

Will the SEC be able to climb its way back to the men’s hoops mountaintop next season? We’ll see what happens, but several teams appear poised to make strong pushes for next year’s championship.

Here’s what the current Kalshi market says about the 2027 men’s NCAA Tournament champion. Use Kalshi promo code SDS to score a $10 bonus when you sign up for a new account:

Prediction Markets

2027 College Basketball Champion

Learn more about Prediction Markets

Kalshi

Michigan

15%

Duke

12%

Illinois

9%

UConn

8%

Florida

6%

Arizona

5%

St. John's

3%

Tennessee

2%

Alabama

2%

Saint Mary's

0%

Predict

The post ESPN’s way-too-early top 25 men’s basketball rankings for 2026-27 include 6 SEC teams appeared first on Saturday Down South.

This matchup features elite talent on both sides of the hardwood. Michigan leans heavily on Yaxel Lendeborg, who is averaging a stellar 19 points and 6.4 rebounds in the postseason. Those numbers are a bit lower than they could be, as Lendeborg only played 14 minutes in the semifinals on Saturday due to an injury.

UConn will attempt to answer with the imposing interior presence of Tarris Reed Jr., who has been an absolute force down low, averaging 20.8 points and 13 rebounds per game during the tournament.

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In this betting preview, we will break down the latest odds, analyze the key statistical advantages, and provide our actionable predictions for this highly anticipated showdown.

Michigan vs. UConn Team Stats and Comparison

When analyzing how these 2 powerhouses match up on paper, their contrasting styles and impressive résumés become glaringly obvious. The table below breaks down the key performance metrics, current AP rankings, and strength of schedule data based on their postseason and overall profiles.

Michigan holds a massive advantage on the offensive end of the floor this postseason, putting up 94.4 points per game compared to UConn’s 73.2. Michigan has been operating at an astronomical level during tournament play, shooting a blistering 54.1% from the floor and 44.5% from beyond the arc. In stark contrast, UConn’s postseason shooting numbers sit at an underwhelming 44.2% from the field and just 31% from 3-point range.

However, UConn undeniably holds the defensive edge. The Huskies are allowing just 65 points per game, keeping opponents trapped in the half-court and forcing slower-paced, grinding matchups. Michigan gives up 72.8 points per contest, meaning the Wolverines will need to rely on their elite scoring volume to maintain that massive +21.6 average point differential.

Looking at their overall résumés, UConn has arguably navigated a tougher path to get here. Michigan’s total seeds faced adds up to 36, while UConn’s adds up to 29. Both have taken down No. 1 seeds — Michigan blowing out Arizona on Saturday and UConn stunning Duke with an unbelievable Braylon Mullins shot in the Elite 8.

Does Danny Hurley have one more win up his sleeve? Or will Michigan’s dominant run lead to Dusty May’s first championship? Tipoff is set for 8:50 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV and HBO Max.

Michigan vs. UConn Prediction

UConn will undoubtedly try to slow the pace, muddy the waters, and use Reed’s massive presence on the glass to limit second-chance points. But here is the reality: keeping pace with Michigan requires consistent offensive execution, and that is exactly where UConn is going to hit a wall.

While UConn has been stout defensively, its postseason shooting leaves a lot to be desired. Connecting on a dismal 31% of its 3-point attempts is a massive red flag. If the Huskies fall behind early — which is certainly possible against a team scoring over 94 points a night — they simply lack the outside shooting rhythm needed to mount a comeback. On the other side of the court, Michigan is operating at an elite, unguardable level, hitting 54.1% of its shots overall and spacing the floor perfectly.

Michigan is obliterating teams right now, evidenced by that +21.6 average point differential in postseason play. Kalshi allows you to play the spread as well as make picks on who will win outright.

Michigan has a 74% chance to win the game, per Kalshi. UConn checks in at 28%. Take Michigan to win, and then also play Michigan -7.5.

Prediction: Michigan -7.5 (46% chance on Kalshi)

The post Michigan vs. UConn: Prediction and preview for national title game appeared first on Saturday Down South.

If you subscribe to the 3points2 newsletter, you’ve already seen the following writeup (plus a trivia question) in your inbox. Click here to sign up today.

What will happen tonight? We provide all the info you need before tipoff:

No. 2 UConn vs. No. 1 Michigan (in Indianapolis) 

•  Time/TV info: 8:50 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV/HBO Max
•  Matchup to watch: Yaxel Lendeborg vs. Solo Ball — No, I don’t expect these 2 players to be guarding each other a ton tonight. Instead, this is about who will be healthier. Lendeborg was very limited after suffering a leg injury against Arizona, only playing a few minutes in the second half. Ball sprained his foot against Illinois and was seen in a walking boot. Neither are listed on the official injury report ahead of tonight’s game, which isn’t surprising. This is the last game of the year, after all — can’t hold anything back now! Expect both to play plenty of minutes for their teams. But if Lendeborg is limited, that hurts Michigan more than Ball being limited hurts UConn. Ball does a lot for UConn, but Lendeborg is an all-everything player for a reason. If he can’t handle his normal scoring/play-making load, it’ll affect everyone else on the Wolverines.
• Key note: Alex Karaban is no stranger to this moment. He’s won 2 national titles with UConn already. He posted 5 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks in the 2024 title game against Purdue. He had 5 points, 5 boards and 3 blocks against San Diego State in 2023. However, this time around, UConn will likely need more from the veteran wing. The problem? Karaban has been in a slump the last 2 games. Since scoring 22, 27 and 17 points in UConn’s first 3 tournament games, Karaban has scored 5 and 9 points against Duke and Illinois, respectively. He’s also mired in a 3-for-18 shooting slump that includes a 2-for-13 mark from beyond the arc. Michigan has the No. 1-rated defense, per KenPom. If the Wolverines can keep Karaban’s slump going for one more night, they’ll likely be the ones cutting down the nets when all is said and done.
•  Stat to know: Keep an eye on who controls the pace for the first 4-8 minutes of the game. That’ll give you a good idea of who will win when all is said and done. Michigan wants to get out and run in transition. The Wolverines rank No. 22 in the nation in adjusted tempo, per KenPom. UConn checks in at No. 319 out of 365 Division I programs. If UConn can make shots early and set up its half-court defense, it’ll be able to keep this thing close. If Michigan grabs rebounds and pushes the ball up the court, the Wolverines could turn in another blowout.
•  The market says: Per Kalshi, Michigan has a 73% chance to win, while UConn has a 27% chance to cut down the nets.
•  My pick: Give me the Wolverines. Dusty May’s squad has been on an all-time heater throughout this tournament run. Dan Hurley and the Huskies keep it close and make the Wolverines sweat more than any of these other teams have, but Michigan wins its first title since 1989 and snaps the Big Ten’s title-less streak that’s gone on since 2000.​

Check out the latest national title market via Kalshi:

The post What to know about Michigan vs. UConn appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The men’s bracket has 4 heavyweights remaining — No. 1 seeds Arizona and Michigan, No. 2 seed UConn and No. 3 seed Illinois. These top-tier squads will meet at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday night.

Below is a deep dive into each game. If you subscribe to the 3points² newsletter, you’ve already received this information in your inboxes this morning. Click here to sign up for our newsletter now.

Here’s everything you need to know about the games.

No. 2 UConn vs. No. 3 Illinois (in Indianapolis) 

•  Time/TV info: 6:09 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV/HBO Max
•  Matchup to watch: Illinois’ pick-and-pop vs. UConn’s defense — The Huskies are elite at stopping catch-and-shoot 3s. Illinois is elite at creating open looks for its bigs via pick-and-pop offense. The great Jordan Sperber of Hoop Vision did an excellent breakdown of how Illinois has shattered records for pick-and-pop 3-point shooting this year by using empty-side ball screens and across middle action to lead to open 3s. Per Sperber, Illinois averages an unheard of 5.1 pick-and-pop 3-point attempts per game. Loyola (MD) was second, taking 3.6 per contest. If Illinois gets open looks from beyond the arc, the Illini will likely advance. If UConn continues to play stifling perimeter defense, the Huskies will likely move on to face the winner of the game we’ll preview below.
• Key note: I’ve mentioned this before, but Illinois barely forces turnovers defensively. The Illini rank No. 365 out of 365 Division I teams in turnover rate defensively, per BartTorvik. That could hurt Brad Underwood’s squad against a steady, veteran UConn team. The Huskies rank a modest 174th in offensive turnover rate, but as @BuriedTreys notes on X, the teams that have beaten UConn or at least made the Huskies sweat have pressured the ball. Seton Hall (No. 5 nationally in defensive turnover rate) gave the Huskies a scare. UConn lost to Marquette (No. 38) and twice to St. John’s (No. 42). UConn committed 15 turnovers in the Big East Tournament loss to St. John’s and 14 in the regular-season finale loss to Marquette. Illinois has only forced 14+ turnovers once this year, and that was when the Illini forced 16 turnovers in a 40-point win over LIU. Not a great sign for Saturday.
•  The market says: Per Kalshi, Illinois has a 55% chance to win, while UConn has a 46% chance to advance.

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Trivia

Dan Hurley is 53 years old and will be coaching in his 3rd Final Four this week. What men’s basketball coach is the all-time leader in Final Four appearances before their 55th birthday and how many do they have?

No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 1 Michigan (in Indianapolis) 

•  Time/TV info: 8:49 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV/HBO Max
•  Matchup to watch: Arizona’s starting 5 vs. Michigan’s No. 1 defense — They say defense wins championships. That certainly applies to this year’s Final Four. Per KenPom, Michigan has the No. 1 defensive rating in the nation. Arizona’s is No. 2. (UConn’s defense ranks No. 9 and Illinois checks in at No. 20.) But Arizona’s starting 5 of Jaden Bradley, Brayden Burries, Ivan Kharchenkov, Koa Peat and Montiejus Krivas has been absolutely outstanding this year. That group has outscored opponents by 292 points this season so far. Broken down into an efficiency rating, Arizona’s starting 5 is outscoring opponents by 40.1 points per 100 possessions (via EvanMiya). That’s insane. Michigan’s starting 5 of Nimari Burnett, Elliot Cadeau, Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara outscored foes by a respectable 109 points on the year (24.2 points per 100 possessions). However, it’ll be interesting to see what happens when Roddy Gayle Jr. replaces Johnson. That 5-man lineup outscored other teams by 43.1 points per 100 possessions this year. The problem? They were only on the court together for 86 total offensive possessions. Coach Dusty May will have some lineup decisions to make as the game goes on.
•  Key note: This game will likely come down to how close Michigan can keep the free-throw margin. Arizona is almost certainly going to attempt more shots from the line in this game, as the Wildcats led Division I with 750 free-throw makes on 1,020 attempts. Michigan allowed 467 makes from the stripe (157th in the nation) on 629 total attempts (131st). In 4 NCAA Tournament games thus far, Arizona has attempted 133 free throws, while opponents have only gone to the line 60 times. That’s better than a 2-to-1 advantage from the charity stripe. Michigan, for comparison, has attempted 100 free throws this tourney, compared to 63 for opponents. If the Wolverines can keep the free-throw margin to 1.5-1 or less in favor of the Wildcats, we’ll have ourselves a ballgame. 
•  The market says: Per Kalshi, Michigan has a 52% chance to win, while Arizona has a 48% chance to advance.

Answer

Mike Krzyzewski led Duke to a whopping 9 Final Fours before his 55th birthday, guiding the Blue Devils to the national semifinals in 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1999 and 2001. He turned 55 in 2002.

The post What to know about Saturday’s Final Four games appeared first on Saturday Down South.

But there are still plenty of familiar names on NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s big board. Sure, only 1 guy lands in the top 10, but a total of 16 SEC players are included in Jeremiah’s top 50.

Here’s a look at the SEC players who made the cut for Jeremiah’s latest pre-draft rankings:

• No. 8 — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
• No. 15 — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee
• No. 20 — Monroe Freeling, OL, Georgia
• No. 22 — Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama
• No. 25 — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
• No. 28 — Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M
• No. 29 — KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
• No. 30 — CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
• No. 31 — Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
• No. 32 — Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas
• No. 38 — Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
• No. 42 — Caleb Banks, DL, Florida
• No. 43 — Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
• No. 45 — Zion Young, DL, Mizzou
• No. 49 — R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma
• No. 50 — Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama

Round 1 is set for Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh. Most of these guys will likely be off the board by the end of Round 3 on Friday night.

Who will be taken in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft? Here’s a look at the latest market from Kalshi:

Prediction Markets

Players Drafted Top 10 in 2026?

Learn more about Prediction Markets

Kalshi

Fernando Mendoza

99%

Arvell Reese

98%

David Bailey

97%

Jeremiyah Love

96%

Sonny Styles

92%

Carnell Tate

80%

Caleb Downs

80%

Rueben Bain Jr.

63%

Francis Mauigoa

62%

Mansoor Delane

53%

Predict

The post Daniel Jeremiah’s latest NFL Draft big board includes 16 SEC stars in top 50 prospects appeared first on Saturday Down South.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein is not among that group. Zierlein released his updated Round 1 mock draft this week, and he only had 8 former SEC stars going in the first 32 picks.

As you can see below, he has 2 SEC standouts going in the top 10. Tennessee leads the way with 2 first-round picks in this mock:

• No. 6 — Monroe Freeling, OL, Georgia — Cleveland Browns
• No. 7 — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU — Washington Commanders
• No. 17 — Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama — Detroit Lions
• No. 18 — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee — Minnesota Vikings
• No. 20 — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee — Dallas Cowboys
• No. 22 — Caleb Banks, DL, Florida — Los Angeles Chargers
• No. 27 — KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M — San Francisco 49ers
• No. 28 — Anthony Hill Jr., LB, Texas — Houston Texans

Will Zierlein be proven right about the SEC not having as many Round 1 picks as normal? We’ll find out on Thursday, April 23, when Pittsburgh hosts the annual extravaganza.

Who will be taken in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft? Here’s the latest from Kalshi:

Prediction Markets

Players Drafted Top 10 in 2026?

Learn more about Prediction Markets

Kalshi

Fernando Mendoza

99%

Arvell Reese

98%

David Bailey

97%

Jeremiyah Love

96%

Sonny Styles

92%

Carnell Tate

80%

Caleb Downs

80%

Rueben Bain Jr.

63%

Francis Mauigoa

62%

Mansoor Delane

53%

Predict

The post NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein includes 8 SEC players in Round 1 of 2026 NFL Mock Draft appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Instead, the SEC’s journey ended in the Elite Eight, leaving a trail of what-ifs and early flights home. Evaluating these exits requires looking beyond the final score. No, for this piece, we’ll look at how each SEC team fared relative to expectations. Who should be proudest of their run? Who should be ashamed?

From gritty overachievers to the major collapses, here is the ranking of this year’s SEC losses, starting with the most respectable and working up to the most catastrophic.

10. Texas Longhorns (No. 11 Seed)

Result: Lost 79-77 to No. 2 Purdue (Sweet 16)

There is no shame in a 2-point loss to a national title contender, especially when your journey began in the First Four in Dayton. The Texas Longhorns were the ultimate dangerous out of this tournament, playing with a level of cohesion and defensive intensity that eluded them for much of the regular season. After grinding through the opening rounds and knocking off a powerhouse in Gonzaga, the Longhorns found themselves in a heavyweight prize fight with Purdue.

Texas came a tip-in at the buzzer away from taking down the Boilermakers. For an 11-seed to navigate the path the Longhorns did — including winning 3 games in 8 days — is an absolute triumph. They exceeded their expectations by miles, making this the most “respectable” exit of the conference.

9. Vanderbilt Commodores (No. 5 Seed)

Result: Lost 74-72 to No. 4 Nebraska (Round of 32)

Vanderbilt’s return to national relevance has been one of the feel-good stories of the 2025-26 season. Entering as a No. 5 seed, the Commodores carried the weight of a fan base that hadn’t seen this kind of postseason pedigree in nearly 2 decades. Their game against Nebraska was perhaps the most technically sound 40 minutes of the entire first weekend.

The loss felt more like a coin flip than a failure. Both teams shot over 45% from the field, and the lead changed hands 14 times. Vanderbilt executed its sets, hit their free throws, and forced Nebraska into difficult looks. In the end, a contested baseline jumper at the buzzer didn’t fall. (Poor Tyler Tanner. He missed a similar shot in similarly painful fashion earlier in the year against Mizzou.) While it was a heartbreaking end, the Commodores played like a team that belonged in the second weekend, falling just a fraction of an inch short.

8. Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 4 Seed)

Result: Lost 90-77 to No. 1 Michigan (Sweet 16)

Alabama lives and dies by the 3, and in the Sweet 16, the rim simply stopped being friendly. Facing a Michigan team that looked like a defensive juggernaut, the Tide stayed within striking distance for 32 minutes. The 13-point margin is somewhat deceptive; this was a 5-point game with 14 minutes remaining before Michigan iced it at the stripe.

Expectations were high for Nate Oats’ squad — many projected them as a Final Four sleeper — but losing to a No. 1 seed in the Sweet 16 is a standard, acceptable postseason outcome. The Tide played their brand of basketball, pushed the pace, and forced 15 turnovers. They were simply out-executed by a team that features 3 future NBA first-rounders in the frontcourt.

7. Arkansas Razorbacks (No. 4 Seed)

Result: Lost 109-88 to No. 1 Arizona (Sweet 16)

The Arkansas loss was a spectacular collision of expectations and reality. After capturing the SEC Tournament title and riding the scoring brilliance of Darius Acuff Jr., the Razorbacks looked like they could outscore anyone in the country. They did their part on the offensive end, putting up 88 points against a top-10 defense.

However, the “bad” part of this loss is the total defensive surrender. Allowing 109 points in a Sweet 16 game is nearly impossible to justify. Arizona’s transition game turned the contest into an layup line. While reaching the Sweet 16 is a success for most programs, the lack of defensive adjustment made this loss feel far more lopsided than it should have been for a team with higher aspirations.

6. Missouri Tigers (No. 10 Seed)

Result: Lost 80-66 to No. 7 Miami (Round of 64)

Mizzou finds itself in the middle of the pack because its loss was neither a heartbreaker nor a blowout — it was just… mediocre. The Tigers trailed by 1 at halftime and slowly watched that gap widen to 14 by the final horn. What was most disappointing about the Tigers’ loss was that Mizzou got perhaps the most-favorable draw a 10-seed has ever gotten, ending up in the St. Louis portion of the bracket. The Mizzou-heavy crowd was waiting for a reason to erupt. They never got it.

There was no signature performance to hang their hats on, and no specific late-game collapse to point to. They were just systematically dismantled by Miami’s backcourt. For a program looking to take the next step into the conference’s elite tier, this felt like a missed opportunity to build momentum.

5. Kentucky Wildcats (No. 7 Seed)

Result: Lost 82-63 to No. 2 Iowa State (Round of 32)

At Kentucky, expectations are always “championship or bust,” which makes a 19-point loss in the first weekend particularly stinging. The Wildcats struggled with Iowa State’s ball-pressure defense, turning it over 20 times and looking uncharacteristically rattled in the second half.

Losing to a 2-seed is expected on paper, but the margin and the manner in which they lost are what move this toward the catastrophic end of the scale. The offense completely stalled for an 8-minute stretch in the second half, turning a competitive game into a runaway. For a fan base that has grown weary of early exits, this felt like another chapter in a frustrating trend rather than an isolated incident.

4. Texas A&M Aggies (No. 10 Seed)

Result: Lost 88-57 to No. 2 Houston (Round of 32)

There is a difference between being beaten and being bullied. Texas A&M was bullied. After an impressive first-round showing, the Aggies looked completely physically overmatched by Houston. A 31-point loss in the Round of 32 is a less-than-ideal result, even in Year 1 under coach Bucky McMillan. And losing to an in-state program only adds to the misery.

The Aggies were out-rebounded by 17 and shot just 35% from the floor. While they were the lower seed, the total absence of a counter-punch in the second half was alarming. It was a non-competitive exit, to say the least.

3. Georgia Bulldogs (No. 8 Seed)

Result: Lost 102-77 to No. 9 Saint Louis (Round of 64)

Georgia’s regular season was one of the biggest surprises in the conference, which only served to make its tournament exit more jarring. Giving up 102 points to a Saint Louis team that was seeded right next to them is a catastrophic defensive failure.

The Bulldogs entered the game as slight favorites in some circles, but they played with zero urgency on the perimeter. They allowed 15 3-pointers and were trailing by 19 points by the 4:33 mark in the first half. It was a no-show of the highest order, erasing much of the goodwill built up during a strong regular season.

2. Tennessee Volunteers (No. 6 Seed)

Result: Lost 95-62 to No. 1 Michigan (Elite Eight)

Context is everything here. Tennessee was the only SEC team to reach the Elite Eight, which is a massive achievement. However, the loss itself was a historical anomaly in all the wrong ways. A 33-point blowout in a regional final is almost unheard of.

The Vols endured a horrific 21-0 run in the first half that essentially ended the game before the popcorn was cold. Tennessee looked completely shell-shocked by Michigan’s size. To be one step away from your first Final Four and lose by 33 is a traumatic way to end a season, especially for a program that has been knocking on that door for years.

1. Florida Gators (No. 1 Seed)

Result: Lost 73-72 to No. 9 Iowa (Round of 32)

The ultimate nightmare scenario. Florida entered the 2026 tournament as a No. 1 seed, the reigning national champion. To lose before the second weekend — at home in the state of Florida, no less — is the definition of a catastrophic failure.

The Gators held a late lead, but a series of unforced errors and a failure to protect the perimeter led to Alvaro Folgueiras’ game-winning 3 for Iowa. Florida fell the shortest of its expectations, earning the Gators the top spot on this list.

The post How painful was each SEC team’s loss in the 2026 NCAA Tournament? appeared first on Saturday Down South.

That’s an obvious thing to say, as the Tigers parted ways with head coach Brian Kelly and made a massive splash by hiring Lane Kiffin away from Ole Miss during the Rebels’ Playoff run.

QB Garrett Nussmeier also had a bad year, battling through injuries and ineffectiveness that hurt his NFL Draft stock. Once looked at as a potential first-round pick, Nussmeier is now looking more like a Day 2 pick.

ESPN’s Matt Miller released his full 7-round mock draft on Monday, and he has the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are hosting the 2026 draft, taking Nussmeier in Round 2 (No. 53 overall). Here’s what he had to say about the LSU QB’s fit:

Aaron Rodgers hasn’t announced his 2026 plans, but the Steelers’ lack of urgency in free agency likely points to his return. But Rodgers is 42 years old, and there’s no clear-cut successor on the roster. Nussmeier is ideal for Mike McCarthy’s West Coast offense, with good arm talent and accuracy on the move that would allow him to thrive in a short-to-intermediate passing scheme.

Where will Nussmeier end up? Will he sit behind Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh for a year? We’ll know by the end of next month.

Nussmeier’s LSU teammate, CB Mansoor Delane, is projected to go in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Here’s the latest Kalshi market involving the top-10 picks:

Prediction Markets

Players Drafted Top 10 in 2026?

Learn more about Prediction Markets

Kalshi

Fernando Mendoza

99%

Arvell Reese

98%

David Bailey

97%

Jeremiyah Love

96%

Sonny Styles

92%

Carnell Tate

80%

Caleb Downs

80%

Rueben Bain Jr.

63%

Francis Mauigoa

62%

Mansoor Delane

53%

Predict

The post ESPN’s Matt Miller names NFL team he thinks will take LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier in Round 2 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

On Monday, ESPN’s Matt Miller released his massive 7-round mock draft. In Round 1, he has 10 SEC guys coming off the board.

Here’s a look at the 10 SEC standouts he has going in Round 1, starting with LSU’s Mansoor Delane at No. 7 overall:

• No. 7 — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU — Washington Commanders
• No. 12 — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee — Dallas Cowboys
• No. 15 — CJ Allen, LB, Georgia — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• No. 17 — Monroe Freeling, OL, Georgia — Detroit Lions
• No. 21 — Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama — Pittsburgh Steelers
• No. 22 — Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M — Los Angeles Chargers
• No. 24 — Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina — Cleveland Browns
• No. 30 — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee — Miami Dolphins
• No. 31 — Caleb Banks, DL, Florida — New England Patriots
• No. 32 — Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn — Seattle Seahawks

Round 2 is where things really get interesting for the SEC, as Miller has 16 players from the SEC going from picks 33-64. Check out his full 7-round mock draft here.

Who will be taken in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft? Here’s the latest NFL Draft market via Kalshi:

Prediction Markets

Players Drafted Top 10 in 2026?

Learn more about Prediction Markets

Kalshi

Fernando Mendoza

99%

Arvell Reese

98%

David Bailey

97%

Jeremiyah Love

96%

Sonny Styles

92%

Carnell Tate

80%

Caleb Downs

80%

Rueben Bain Jr.

63%

Francis Mauigoa

62%

Mansoor Delane

53%

Predict

The post ESPN’s Matt Miller includes 10 SEC standouts in latest Round 1 NFL Mock Draft projections appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Winning 2 games in 48 hours in Indianapolis requires more than just a superstar performance from your leading scorer. It requires the glue players and the high-ceiling enigmas to play the best basketball of their lives.

Following our standard protocol, we are breaking down the field in ascending order, starting with the team facing the steepest uphill climb and ending with the betting favorite.

Here is the one player who must step up for each Final Four team to cut down the nets in Indianapolis.

No. 4: Illinois Fighting Illini

The Player: Tomislav Ivišić, Center

Brad Underwood’s 2025-26 squad is a masterclass in modern roster construction. While freshman sensation Keaton Wagler (17.9 PPG) has grabbed the headlines, the Illini’s ceiling in Indy is tethered directly to the broad shoulders of Tomislav Ivišić.

Throughout the regular season, Illinois thrived on high-scoring offense, averaging nearly 84 points per game. However, the Illini have a recurring struggle in their losses: defensive consistency against elite interior size. In their losses to Purdue and Michigan earlier this year, Ivišić was often played off the floor due to foul trouble or defensive lapses in the pick-and-roll.

To beat a team like UConn or Arizona, Ivišić needs to be a force in the paint. In the Round 2 win over VCU, we saw flashes of the “Dream Tomi” — a 7-footer who can stretch the floor (31.4% from deep) while protecting the rim. If he can provide something like 15 points and 8 rebounds while staying out of foul trouble, he allows Illinois to play its preferred 5-out offense without sacrificing the interior. If he falters, the Illini become a one-dimensional jump-shooting team that will struggle to survive a cold shooting night in a cavernous football stadium.

No. 3: UConn Huskies

The Player: Silas Demary Jr., Guard

Dan Hurley is aiming for a level of historical dominance we haven’t seen since the UCLA days. While Alex Karaban provides the veteran “been there, done that” leadership, and Malachi Smith has been a steady hand at point guard, dishing out 22 assists over 4 tournament games, the Huskies’ defensive identity starts with Georgia transfer Silas Demary Jr.

In the Final Four, he needs to be more than just a defensive specialist. UConn’s offense has a tendency to stagnate when Karaban is double-teamed. We’ve seen Demary hesitate on open looks throughout the tournament, opting to reset the offense rather than attacking the rim. Part of that could be due to the fact that he’s playing through an ankle sprain suffered in the Big East Tournament. He doesn’t quite look 100% yet.

For UConn to win it all, Demary needs to exploit the gaps created by the attention paid to Karaban and freshman Braylon Mullins. He doesn’t need to score 25, but he needs to be a secondary playmaker who forces the defense to respect his drive. If Demary can contribute 12-14 points and lock down the opponent’s primary perimeter threat (like Michigan’s Roddy Gayle Jr. or Arizona’s Brayden Burries), the Huskies will be nearly impossible to outpace.

Who will win it all in Indy? Here’s the latest Kalshi market on the NCAA Tournament champion:

No. 2: Michigan Wolverines

The Player: Elliot Cadeau, Guard

While graduate forward Yaxel Lendeborg (the Big Ten Player of the Year) is the undisputed heartbeat of this team, the Wolverines’ offensive efficiency is dependent on the vision of Elliot Cadeau.

Cadeau, the high-profile transfer who found his footing in Ann Arbor, is arguably the best pure passer remaining in the field (33 assists in 4 tournament games). When he is under control, Michigan’s offense is a symphony of backdoor cuts and open corner 3s. But when Cadeau gets loose with the ball, the Wolverines can fall into turnover ruts that fuel opponent transition runs.

He needs to manage the tempo, feed Lendeborg in his spots, and most importantly, hit enough mid-range jumpers to keep defenses from sagging off him. If Cadeau finishes the weekend with a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, the Wolverines have a chance to snap the Big Ten’s title drought.

No. 1: Arizona Wildcats

The Player: Tobe Awaka, Forward

Arizona enters Indianapolis as the statistical darling of the 2026 season. Tommy Lloyd has built a 36-2 juggernaut that plays faster and more efficiently than almost anyone in the country. Freshman stars Brayden Burries and Koa Peat get the NBA scouts in the building, but Tobe Awaka is the player who determines if this team has the grit to make it to Monday night and win.

Awaka is a throwback. In an era of stretch-4s and finesse-5s, he is a physical nightmare who treats every missed shot like a personal insult. He leads the team in rebounding (9.1 RPG) despite playing fewer minutes than the primary starters.

In the Final Four, games often get a bit more physical, and frequently slow down into half-court grinds. That suits Awaka just fine. For Arizona to get to the title game on Monday, Awaka needs to win the battle of the boards against Michigan’s stable of big men on Saturday. If he can provide 10 points on put-backs and limit the opposition to one shot per possession, Arizona’s superior talent on the perimeter will do the rest. He is the insurance policy that ensures a poor shooting night doesn’t result in an early flight back to Tucson.

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As we enter the Sweet 16, Sean Miller’s squad is the only double-digit seed remaining in the bracket. Of course, playing in the SEC, the Longhorns are far from a scrappy mid-major. There’s elite talent all over this roster, starting with do-it-all wing Dailyn Swain.

However, the Longhorns face their toughest test yet on Thursday night to get the Sweet 16 started. On the other side of the court in San Jose will be the 2-seed Purdue Boilermakers, led by NCAA all-time assists leader Braden Smith.

ESPN’s Jay Bilas shared his major area of concern for the Longhorns in this matchup:

Area of concern: Texas is playing terrific basketball, and I loved its draw from the moment the bracket came out. But the Longhorns beat an erratic NC State team, a short-handed BYU team and a short-handed Gonzaga team. The key against Purdue will be the defense. Can Texas get stops versus a precise Purdue team with experience? It will not outscore Purdue on offense. The Longhorns have to get stops and defensive rebounds to win.

The Texas defense has been a source of concern for most of the season. If it doesn’t improve tonight, the Longhorns will likely see their season come to an end. But anything can happen in March Madness!

Thursday night’s game tips off at 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS.

Can the Longhorns pull off the big-time upset? Here’s what the latest Kalshi market has to say. Texas currently has a 25% chance to win:

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The post Jay Bilas names area of concern for Texas ahead of Sweet 16 matchup with Purdue appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Both squads are staring at fresh 0-0 records, giving us a complete blank slate. But while the Mets are handing the ball to Freddy Peralta to defend their home turf, the real storyline is Pirates ace Paul Skenes.

As Skenes, a former LSU Tigers star, prepares to take the mound, the entire betting landscape revolves around one massive question: what can we expect from the phenom in this matchup?

We’re looking at a generational arm stepping into the spotlight once again. Let’s dive into his granular performance data, break down how he matches up against Peralta and the New York lineup, and pinpoint exactly where the value lies in his strikeout props as he looks to dismantle the Mets and secure Pittsburgh’s first win.

The Matchup: Paul Skenes vs. Mets Lineup

Skenes enters this matchup as an absolute force of nature, carrying a microscopic 1.96 career ERA and a 0.948 career WHIP over his 2 professional seasons. Hitters are essentially guessing at the plate, managing an anemic .199 opponent batting average against him. Point being: Skenes completely stifles traffic and misses bats at an elite level, racking up 10.36 strikeouts per 9 innings (K/9). Against a Mets lineup with some new faces in key places trying to establish some early rhythm, Skenes’ suffocating base-runner prevention makes him a monumental roadblock.

Finding the Edge: Paul Skenes Pitcher Props

When you have a pitcher with this kind of raw talent, the prop market is where we want to operate. Let’s look at the current board for Skenes’ highly anticipated start across the major sportsbooks:

Total Pitcher Strikeouts:

• FanDuel: Over 6.5 (+102) / Under 6.5 (-136)
• DraftKings: Over 6.5 (-109) / Under 6.5 (-117)
• BetMGM: Over 6.5 (-110) / Under 6.5 (-118)

Other Paul Skenes Pitcher Props (BetMGM Odds):

• Total Earned Runs: Over 1.5 (-110) / Under 1.5 (-125)
• Total Pitcher Outs: Over 15.5 (-105) / Under 15.5 (-135)
• Total Hits Allowed: Over 3.5 (-145) / Under 3.5 (+105)

The Pick: Paul Skenes over 6.5 strikeouts

Dude, what are you doing if you aren’t taking the over here? It’s early in the season, yes. That means the Pirates might have a shorter leash than normal for their ace. But it also means that the New York hitters aren’t quite in midseason form, either.

Look for Skenes to really get going in the 2nd and 3rd innings. If he pitches into the 6th inning of this matchup, I really like the over. Seven or more strikeouts is very doable for the Pittsburgh ace, and with FanDuel posting +102 odds on that prop, I’ll be taking that with a smile on my face.

Kalshi Win Probabilities

The Pirates are very slight underdogs on Kalshi. Pittsburgh is given a 49% chance to pull off the upset in the Big Apple. Check out the Kalshi market for this marquee Opening Day matchup below:

The post Paul Skenes Props & Predictions: Pirates vs. Mets Preview appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Wildcats have barreled their way through the Big 12 Tournament and NCAA Tournament so far and look unstoppable with their 11-game winning streak, but the Razorbacks are on a 7-game winning streak of their own and won the SEC Tournament.

This figures to be a high-level matchup featuring a pair of lottery picks — Arkansas’s Darius Acuff Jr. and Arizona’s Brayden Burries.

So, what should Arkansas fans be worried about heading into Thursday night’s matchup (9:45 p.m. ET on CBS)?

ESPN’s Jay Bilas worries about the depth of John Calipari’s squad. He detailed his concern in this piece:

Area of concern: Depth. Acuff has been playing hobbled with an ankle injury, and Karter Knox is out for the season. If Arkansas gets in foul trouble or has another injury, things could get dicey.

Acuff’s ankle hasn’t slowed him down thus far in the tournament. In fact, he just scored 36 points against High Point in Round 2. He has 60 points through 2 tournament games.

But Arizona is one of the deepest teams in the nation. We’ll see how the Hogs respond on Thursday night in San Jose.

Can the Razorbacks pull off the upset? Kalshi gives Arkansas a 24% chance to win on Thursday night:

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The post Jay Bilas names area of concern for Arkansas ahead of Sweet 16 showdown with Arizona appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Seven of the top 8 seeds are still standing, leaving us with a Sweet 16 that looks more like a high-end country club guest list featuring all the rich folks in town.

But don’t let the lack of double-digit Cinderella stories fool you. What we lose in Cinderella magic, we gain in pure, unadulterated high-level basketball. We have the NCAA’s new assist king, a freshman phenom following in his father’s footsteps, and a legendary coach looking for redemption 34 years in the making.

Here is every Sweet 16 matchup in the 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament, ranked from “Go ahead and fold the laundry during this one” to “Do not blink or you’ll miss history.”

8. (2) Purdue vs. (11) Texas

Region: West (San Jose) TV Info: Thursday at 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS

Texas is the lone double-digit seed remaining, having scrapped its way from the First Four all the way to San Jose. It’s not exactly a classic “nobody believed in us” story, as the Longhorns feature some elite talent, but they’re running headfirst into a Purdue offensive buzzsaw that feels more disciplined than ever.

The Boilermakers are led by Braden Smith, who became the NCAA’s all-time career assists leader this past weekend, passing Duke legend Bobby Hurley. Watching Smith play is like watching a grandmaster play speed chess; he knows where the ball is going before his teammates do.

It’s a must-watch for fans of high-IQ backcourt play, but for those seeking a wire-to-wire thriller, this is perhaps the safest bet for a comfortable favorite win.

Here’s a look at the Kalshi market for Thursday’s Sweet 16 opener:

7. (2) Iowa State vs. (6) Tennessee

Region: Midwest (Chicago) TV Info: Friday at 10:10 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV

If you enjoy 24-second shot-clock violations and contested mid-range jumpers, this is your Super Bowl. Iowa State and Tennessee are 2 of the most physically imposing defensive units in the country. The Cyclones are a balanced machine, though they’re sweating the health of star forward Joshua Jefferson, who missed the Round of 32 with an ankle injury. He wants to play, but if he does suit up, he likely won’t be anywhere close to 100%

The Vols, led by Ja’Kobi Gillespie, thrive on turning games into a mud-fight. This matchup is low on the list only because the “excitement” might be measured in defensive rotations rather than fast-break dunks. It’s going to be a 40-minute war of attrition in Chicago, and while the stakes are high, it might not be the most re-watchable game of the weekend when all is said and done.

6. (4) Nebraska vs. (9) Iowa

Region: South (Houston) TV Info: Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV

This is not for fans of fast-paced offense or high-scoring affairs. Iowa plays with the fifth-slowest pace in all of Division I. Nebraska is also in no hurry to get its shots off. Possessions will be at a premium in the opener in Houston.

The atmosphere in Houston will be electric, mostly because the fanbases probably drove down together and spent the whole trip arguing about irrigation rights. Alvaro Folgueiras is a folk hero in Iowa City after his game-winner against the Florida Gators, while Nebraska is playing with nothing to lose after winning its first 2 NCAA Tournament games ever. Rivalry games in the Sweet 16 are rare; rivalry games where both teams are unexpected guests are even rarer. This is going to be fun, even if it does move at a snail’s pace.

5. (1) Michigan vs. (4) Alabama

Region: Midwest (Chicago) TV Info: Friday at 7:35 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV

This would be top-3 if Alabama wasn’t missing Aden Holloway. Without their second-leading scorer, the Tide have to find a way to maintain their frantic, high-volume offensive pace against a Michigan team that has the most second-best defense in the nation, per KenPom.

The Wolverines rarely give up easy transition looks. Watching Alabama try to sprint into a wall of Michigan defenders will be fascinating, but there’s a real fear that Michigan’s depth and discipline will eventually pull the plug on the Tide’s tournament run. Expect a lot of points, but Michigan’s efficiency might turn this into a one-sided track meet late in the second half.

Alabama’s only hope is to have Labaron Philon Jr. score 20+ points while Latrell Wrightsell Jr. knocks down a handful of 3s. Crazier things have happened, though…

4. (2) Houston vs. (3) Illinois

Region: South (Houston) TV Info: Thursday at 10:10 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV

I’m a little higher on this game than most, perhaps, but I can’t wait to see the matchup between Illinois’ big guys who can shoot the 3 and Houston’s undersized defense.

The Cougars are stronger and more experienced than almost anyone in the field. But they face an Illinois squad that is arguably the most explosive offensive team in the South region.

The Illini want to spread you out and score 85; the Cougars want to grab you by the jersey and keep you in the 60s. Plus, as an added bonus, we get to see potential lottery picks in Illinois’ Keaton Wagler and Houston’s Kingston Flemings go head-to-head.

3. (1) Arizona vs. (4) Arkansas

Region: West (San Jose) TV Info: Thursday at 9:45 p.m. ET on CBS

If you haven’t watched Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. yet, drop everything. He is the most electric individual player in this tournament. He dropped 49 points on Alabama earlier this year and is coming off a 36-point masterpiece in the Round of 32 against High Point.

Arizona is the heavy favorite and has played like a No. 1 seed should — efficient, deep, and relentless. But Acuff is the kind of X-factor that can wreck a game plan.

The problem? Acuff could potentially score 40 points and Arkansas could still lose, as the Razorbacks are atrocious at interior defense. Unfortunately for John Calipari’s squad, that’s exactly where Arizona is elite.

2. (2) UConn vs. (3) Michigan State

Region: East (Washington D.C.) TV Info: Friday at 9:45 p.m. ET on CBS

Dan Hurley vs. Tom Izzo. In March. In D.C.

UConn is trying to re-establish its dynasty after a slightly “down” (by the Huskies’ absurd standards) 2025, while Izzo is making his 16th Sweet 16 appearance. The Huskies are the more talented team on paper — they led the Big East in blocks and 3-point defense — but betting against Izzo in the second weekend is a dangerous game.

This matchup is ranked No. 2 because it feels like a Final Four game that happened a week early. Both have coaches who will likely spend 40 minutes screaming at officials. It’s high-stakes, blue-blood basketball at its finest.

1. (1) Duke vs. (5) St. John’s

Region: East (Washington D.C.) TV Info: Friday at 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS

The excitement factor here is off the charts. You have Duke, the No. 1 overall seed, led by freshman sensation Cameron Boozer (son of Carlos Boozer), who is averaging a double-double in his first NCAA Tournament. Then you have St. John’s, led by the ageless (and still fiery) coach Rick Pitino. He’s been a walking soundbite this tournament already.

The narrative writes itself. Pitino has been vocal about wanting a piece of Duke to avenge the Christian Laettner shot from 1992 when he was coaching Kentucky. He even joked after their buzzer-beater win over Kansas that he wants to beat Duke “at the buzzer” to even the scales of the universe.

You have Duke, who everyone else in the country hates. You the legend in Pitino. You have the prodigal son (Boozer). And you have the fact that St. John’s is in its first Sweet 16 since 1999. It is the most anticipated game of the weekend by a landslide. If you only watch one game this Thursday or Friday, make it this one.

The post Ranking Sweet 16 matchups by excitement factor appeared first on Saturday Down South.

That sort of early exit in the NCAA Tournament has fans in the Bluegrass State frustrated with coach Mark Pope, as the expectation every year is to hang banners in the Rupp Arena rafters.

Signs are pointing toward Pope returning for the 2026-27 season, but he’ll be on the hot seat. Adding to the difficulties facing Pope is the fact that he doesn’t have a single high-school commitment in the class of 2026 thus far.

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It looks like he’ll build through the portal once again, and he’ll have some key spots to fill, especially in the back court, as Denzel Aberdeen and Otega Oweh are out of eligibility. Big man Jayden Quaintance is also expected to leave for the NBA Draft.

So what should Pope target in the portal to build around potential returning players like Malachi Moreno, Mo Dioubate, Brandon Garrison, Jaland Lowe and Collin Chandler? ESPN’s Myron Medcalf weighed in as part of this piece:

The backcourt has to be his top priority. Aberdeen and Oweh are out of eligibility, which means that not only will Pope need elite guards who are capable playmakers and scorers, but he’ll also need depth — especially at point guard. The latter has been a problem throughout his tenure. Even if Lowe returns, Pope will need multiple players at both guard positions to anchor next season’s roster.

The next priority: a big man. Though Moreno could take the next step as a sophomore, and Dioubate has been solid for stretches, the Wildcats didn’t have a dominant big with Quaintance contending with knee injuries. The teams still competing for this year’s national championship — Michigan, UConn, St. John’s and Duke — have imposing big men. Kentucky can’t enter another season without a strong inside presence.

Finally, with Chandler the only reliable 3-point shooter on this season’s squad, Kentucky also needs more support on the perimeter.

Yes, this year’s Kentucky team dealt with pivotal injuries to Quaintance and Lowe, but even if the team suffers more injuries next year, Pope likely needs to make it out of the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament to save his job. We’ll see who Kentucky manages to sign out of the portal.

Though the Wildcats are out, the NCAA Tournament rolls along this weekend. Who will advance to the Final Four? Check out the Kalshi odds below:

The post ESPN insider names portal priorities for Kentucky next season appeared first on Saturday Down South.

North Carolina has already reportedly been turned down by Boston Celtics executive Brad Stevens, and maybe others. But there are still plenty of candidates out there for one of the bluest of all blue bloods.

On ESPN’s “Get Up!” on Wednesday morning, analyst Seth Greenberg said former Florida national champion Billy Donovan, the current head coach of the Chicago Bulls, would be at the top of his list:

“Billy Donovan makes sense,” Greenberg said. “They’d better hire someone who understands the business of college basketball. It’s very different than the business of the NBA. Although the NBA background is worthwhile with the salaries.”

In a later segment on the show, Greenberg continued:

“I would go all-in on Billy Donovan,” Greenberg said. “I would not go all-in on an NBA head coach, but I’d go all-in on an NBA head coach that had college experience. Billy Donovan, 2-time national champion, he understands the business of college basketball, but he also understands the balancing of a budget, because right now you have a budget in college basketball. …

“Billy Donovan, by far, home-run hire. He would be my No. 1 choice and I would go full-court press on him.”

Then Greenberg shared a few other interesting names should Donovan say no:

“Other names to consider: T.J. Otzelberger at Iowa State, how hard they play, how competitive they are,” he said. “Mark Byington I think would be a great answer to the question. Also Tommy Lloyd.”

Who will ultimately replace Hubert Davis in Chapel Hill? Here’s what Kalshi has to say:

The post ESPN’s Seth Greenberg names former SEC coach North Carolina should go ‘all-in’ on appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The league advanced 4 teams to the Sweet 16 (good). All 4 of those teams are underdogs (bad).

Meanwhile, the Big Ten has 6 teams in the Sweet 16, including 2 that will take on SEC squads as heavy favorites on Thursday and Friday. So, which of the 4 SEC underdogs has the best chance to make it to the weekend?

Here is a breakdown of the matchups and a ranking of the 4 SEC survivors based on their likelihood of advancing to the Elite Eight.

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4. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-Seed)

Matchup: vs. (1) Michigan Wolverines Location: Chicago, IL (United Center) The Market: Alabama 18% chance to win (Kalshi)

It is rare to see a 4-seed as a double-digit underdog in the Sweet 16, but that speaks to the juggernaut Nate Oats and his Alabama Crimson Tide squad are facing in Chicago. Michigan is basically a co-favorite (along with Arizona) to win the national championship. The Wolverines boast a front court that looks like an NBA scouting report, featuring 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara, Illinois transfer Morez Johnson Jr. and Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg.

The Breakdown: Alabama’s offense — bombing 3s and pushing the tempo — is usually the great equalizer. However, this could be the game where the indefinite suspension of Aden Holloway (the team’s No. 2 scorer and premier perimeter threat) finally catches up to the Tide. While Labaron Philon Jr. and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. were outstanding in the Round of 32 blowout of Texas Tech, asking them to replicate that efficiency against Michigan’s 9th-ranked defense is a tall order.

For Alabama to win, it must turn this into a track meet and hope Michigan’s giants can’t keep up. But with Michigan’s ability to dominate the glass and protect the rim, the Tide’s margin for error is razor-thin.

Likelihood of Advancing: Low. Facing one of the best teams in the country without your best long-range shooter is a recipe for a Sweet 16 exit.

3. Texas Longhorns (11-Seed)

Matchup: vs. (2) Purdue Boilermakers Location: San Jose, CA (SAP Center) The Market: Texas 26% chance to win (Kalshi)

Don’t let the 11-seed fool you. Under first-year coach Sean Miller, the Texas Longhorns have been playing like a top-15 team since the NCAA Tournament tipped off. After surviving the First Four in Dayton, Texas has dispatched NC State, BYU, and Gonzaga in impressive fashion. This isn’t a Cinderella roster in the traditional sense. This is a team with SEC resources and a roster full of high-major talent like Dailyn Swain and Jordan Pope.

The Breakdown: The challenge for Texas is two-fold: fatigue and Braden Smith. By the time it tips off on Thursday, Texas will be playing its fifth game in 10 days across 3 different time zones. Purdue, meanwhile, is a well-oiled machine led by Smith, one of the best floor generals in the nation.

Purdue ranks 6th nationally in 3-point percentage (38.8%), while Texas has struggled to defend the perimeter, allowing Q1 opponents to shoot nearly 40% from deep. To pull the upset, Matas Vokietaitis must win the battle in the paint to keep Purdue from collapsing the defense and kicking out to open shooters.

Likelihood of Advancing: Moderate-Low. Going from the First Four to the Elite Eight is not easy. Only 2 teams have done it — 2011 VCU and 2021 UCLA. Interestingly, both of those teams went on to the Final Four before losing. Still, this will be a monumental task for Texas.

2. Arkansas Razorbacks (4-Seed)

Matchup: vs. (1) Arizona Wildcats Location: San Jose, CA (SAP Center) The Market: Arkansas 24% chance to win (Kalshi)

The John Calipari era in Fayetteville is officially ahead of schedule. The Hogs caught fire in the SEC Tournament and haven’t looked back. They possess the one thing every championship team needs: a superstar who can take over a game. Darius Acuff Jr., the SEC Player of the Year, is averaging over 23 points per game and is arguably the most dangerous individual player left in the bracket.

The Breakdown: Arizona wants to run, and Arkansas is more than happy to oblige. This will be the “Warp Speed” game of the weekend. The Wildcats are heavy favorites according to the analytics, but they looked vulnerable in a physical Round of 32 battle with Utah State.

Arkansas is dealing with injury concerns — Karter Knox is out and Nick Pringle is a game-time decision — but the emergence of Malique Ewin (double-doubles in both tournament games) has shored up the interior. If Acuff goes for 30 and Calipari can coax one more elite defensive performance out of this group, another 1-seed could fall before the Elite Eight.

Likelihood of Advancing: Moderate-High. In a shootout, the team with the best player on the floor always has a puncher’s chance. Acuff is that player.

1. Tennessee Volunteers (6-Seed)

Matchup: vs. (2) Iowa State Cyclones Location: Chicago, IL (United Center) The Market: Tennessee 38% chance to win (Kalshi)

Rick Barnes has the Tennessee Volunteers in the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive year, and this might be his best opportunity yet to return to the Elite Eight. Tennessee is the second-lowest seed on this list but faces the smallest point spread. And there’s a big injury on the Iowa State side of this matchup, as Cyclones’ star Joshua Jefferson will reportedly try to play against the Vols, but likely won’t be at 100% after suffering an ankle injury in Round 1.

The Breakdown: This matchup is a mirror image. Both teams rank in the top 15 in defensive efficiency and both prefer a physical, half-court game. The difference maker? Ja’Kobi Gillespie. The senior point guard was the best player on the floor in the win over Virginia, and his ability to create his own shot late in the shot clock is exactly what you need against Iowa State’s “No-Middle” defense.

Tennessee has the experience advantage and a defense that can match the Cyclones blow-for-blow. The Vols have an X-factor in superb freshman Nate Ament. If he can get going, watch out.

Likelihood of Advancing: High. This is nearly a 50/50 game on paper, but Tennessee’s veteran backcourt gives the Vols a potential edge to survive a defensive slugfest.

The post SEC Sweet 16 Survival Guide: Ranking the 4 remaining teams by Elite Eight probability appeared first on Saturday Down South.

However, this article will focus on just 1 of those guys — Alabama QB Ty Simpson.

While fellow ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky thinks Simpson is the best QB in the class, having him rated higher than Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Yates isn’t quite there.

But Yates does think the Arizona Cardinals will see enough in Simpson to trade back into the first round on Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh to draft the Alabama signal caller. Here’s what Yates said in his mock draft analysis:

With a hat tip to my pal Jordan Reid — the thought leader behind the Cardinals trading up for Simpson — Arizona can execute its own version of what the Giants accomplished in 2025. New York landed edge rusher Abdul Carter at No. 3 overall before trading up to take quarterback Jaxson Dart at No. 25. After taking Arvell Reese up top, the Cardinals can land the clear-cut second-best quarterback in this class here.

Through the early part of the 2025 season, Simpson stood out with his ability to navigate the pocket and throw with accuracy and power when he can set his feet. With Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew on Arizona’s depth chart, the team can bring Simpson along methodically. All 15 of his collegiate starts came this past season.

The Cardinals have started Kyler Murray at quarterback for the last few years, but Murray is now with the Minnesota Vikings.

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Will the Cardinals end up making a trade for the Alabama QB? Or will they invest their draft resources elsewhere? We’ll find out in less than a month when Round 1 kicks off in Pittsburgh!

Who will pick Simpson? Here’s what popular prediction market Kalshi thinks:

Prediction Markets

Team to pick Ty Simpson in 2026 NFL Draft?

Learn more about Prediction Markets

Kalshi

Arizona

53%

New York J

15%

Los Angeles R

13%

Miami

12%

Pittsburgh

6%

Cleveland

5%

Philadelphia

3%

Minnesota

2%

Indianapolis

1%

Las Vegas

1%

Predict

The post ESPN’s Field Yates projects NFL team to trade up to draft Ty Simpson in Round 1 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

While the SEC likely won’t dominate the top of Round 1 like it has in years past, the latter half of the first 32 picks are potentially going to be chock full of former SEC standouts.

On Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Field Yates released his latest NFL Mock Draft, including picks from Round 1 and Round 2. He had 10 SEC stars going in Round 1, led by LSU’s Mansoor Delane. Check out the SEC players Yates expects to go in the first round below:

• No. 10 — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU — Cincinnati Bengals
• No. 12 — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee — Dallas Cowboys
• No. 13 — Monroe Freeling, OL, Georgia — LA Rams
• No. 17 — Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama — Detroit Lions
• No. 20 — R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma — Dallas Cowboys
• No. 25 — Zion Young, DL, Mizzou — Chicago Bears
• No. 26 — Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama — Arizona Cardinals
• No. 27 — Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn — San Francisco 49ers
• No. 29 — Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M — Kansas City Chiefs
• No. 30 — KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M — Miami Dolphins

Yates also has 12 SEC guys going in Round 2 of the draft. Check out his full 2-round projections here.

Who will be taken in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft? Here’s what Kalshi has to say:

Prediction Markets

Players Drafted Top 10 in 2026?

Learn more about Prediction Markets

Kalshi

Fernando Mendoza

99%

Arvell Reese

98%

David Bailey

97%

Jeremiyah Love

96%

Sonny Styles

92%

Carnell Tate

80%

Caleb Downs

80%

Rueben Bain Jr.

63%

Francis Mauigoa

62%

Mansoor Delane

53%

Predict

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The post ESPN’s Field Yates includes 10 SEC stars going in Round 1 of 2026 NFL Draft appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Arkansas Razorbacks star is focused on 1-seed Arizona as he prepares to lead his 4-seed Hogs into San Jose on Thursday night for a Sweet 16 showdown.

But the NBA Draft is approaching in 3 short months. While college hoopers chase a national title, NBA scouts are doing their due diligence on all the top prospects.

The Sacramento Kings are fully tanking away their remaining games in the hopes of getting a top-4 pick in a draft that many expect will feature BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Kansas’s Darryn Peterson, Duke’s Cam Boozer and North Carolina’s Caleb Wilson as the top 4 draftees, in some order.

But if the Kings were to fall outside of that top 4? Sacramento radio host Matt George says the Kings really like what they’ve seen from the Arkansas guard:

“I have no idea where he sits on the Sacramento Kings’ board. I have no idea where he sits on any team’s board,” George says in the above clip. “But I did some digging, asked some questions, and got a pretty definitive response. The Sacramento Kings are really big fans of Darius Acuff.”

George added that the Kings are also very big fans of Dybantsa.

“But if the Sacramento Kings were to end up outside of that top-4 window — as of right now, they have the best odds at the 4th overall pick, sitting in that 4th spot, 12.5% chance at the No. 1 pick overall, 48% chance at top 4 overall, could fall as low as 8 — if they were to fall to that 5, 6, 7 range, I’m told they’re very, very keen on the idea of Darius Acuff here in Sacramento. He’s got a lot of supporters within the Kings’ front office. … What I can’t tell you is, well, do they prefer him over Kingston Flemings? …

“I can tell you what I’ve been told, and that’s that Darius Acuff has some fans in the Kings’ organization and is, from what I understand, pretty darn high on their draft board.”

Will Acuff win a national title at Arkansas before he leaves for the pro ranks? Will his Hogs even get past Arizona this week? Kalshi gives Arkansas a 24% chance of winning, as things stand now:

The post Darius Acuff Jr. ‘pretty darn high’ on tanking NBA team’s draft board, per report appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Complaints run the gamut from the NIL situation, the lack of transfer portal structure, coaching buyouts and more. The NCAA itself seemingly wants to ruin the best sporting event in the world, what with all this talk of expanding the tournament field from 68.

But when the ball hits the floor, the NCAA Tournament always delivers. The competition is elite. The players leave everything on the court. The fans make each and every arena a wonderful experience.

Now that we have the first 2 rounds in the books for the 2026 March Madness extravaganza, here are the 5 moments I enjoyed the most:

1. The most unbelievable final 10 seconds in NCAA Tournament history

I was fortunate enough to be in the building on Friday afternoon for the Kentucky Wildcats‘ matchup with Santa Clara in St. Louis.

What a finish.

There are simply no words to describe this final 10 seconds:

Otega Oweh tied the score at 70 with 9.9 seconds left. Santa Clara made its way down the court and got the ball to Allen Graves, who knocked down an open 3, leading to pandemonium from the Broncos’ faithful sitting behind me.

Joy turned to devastation in 2.4 seconds, however, as Oweh got the ball back and drilled a banked-in 3-pointer from right in front of Kentucky coach Mark Pope. The Enterprise Center was shaking after that.

Sequences like that are what make the NCAA Tournament the best sporting event in the world. This is a game that will be remembered for a long time.

2. An incredible March Madness moment

Folks, this is what March Madness is all about:

Yeah, Long Island was getting smoked by Arizona in Round 1. But kudos to LIU coach Rod Strickland for emptying his bench with plenty of time left for the backups to actually play some basketball.

Eddie Munyak did just that, appearing in his second game of the season and scoring his first collegiate points. If you don’t get goosebumps watching something like that, you might need to check your pulse.

3. St. John’s to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999

Dylan Darling hadn’t made a shot for 59 minutes and 59 seconds in St. John’s Round 2 matchup against Kansas. He was 0-for-4 from 3-point range when he got the ball with 3.9 seconds left and the score tied at 65.

Didn’t matter.

You’d have thought Darling had scored 30 points already with the way he raced into the paint and hit the game-winning layup as time expired:

Rick Pitino has now led St. John’s to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999. The Red Storm will head to Washington DC to take on another college basketball blue-blood, 1-seed Duke.

You’re not going to want to miss that matchup, y’all.

4. Texas puts on the Cinderella slipper

In a tournament that has been mostly devoid of major upsets, there’s only 1 double-digit seed standing — No. 11 Texas. The Longhorns beat NC State in the First Four, took down AJ Dybantsa and No. 6 BYU in Round 1 and then got this clutch shot from Cam Heide to upset No. 3 Gonzaga on Saturday night:

The regular season was a roller coaster for Sean Miller in Year 1 in Austin, but the NCAA Tournament has been dynamic. The Longhorns are still dancing, and that’s impressive for an 11-seed.

What is it about orange teams making runs as double-digit power conference seeds? Syracuse made the Final Four as a 10-seed in 2016, then followed it up with Sweet 16 runs in 2018 and 2021 as 11-seeds.

Now the Longhorns are, by default, this year’s Cinderella. No. 2 seed Purdue awaits.

Can the Longhorns keep dancing? Here’s what Kalshi has to say about the Texas-Purdue matchup:

5. The champs are done

This one is painful to write as the editor of an SEC website, but what a weekend for the Big Ten. The conference that hasn’t won a national title since Michigan State cut down the nets in 2000 has put 6 teams in the Sweet 16.

And the story of the weekend were the Iowa Hawkeyes, who used this clutch 3-pointer to knock the reigning-champion Florida Gators out of the Big Dance:

Florida fought hard to overcome a double-digit deficit in the second half, but Alvaro Folgueiras didn’t blink. The NCAA Tournament consistently produces big-time shots from players who aren’t necessarily the focal point of their teams’ offenses, and Folgueiras is now the latest to become a March legend.

The Gators had their chance to take another step toward immortality.

Instead, it will be Iowa partying like it’s 1999 alongside St. John’s.

We get 2 more weekends of NCAA Tournament action. Lucky us. Enjoy it, y’all.

The post My 5 favorite moments from the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament appeared first on Saturday Down South.

To score points, you need to have the ball in your hands. Having the ball in your hands allows you to take a shot, which leads to 1, 2 or 3 points (depending on where you shoot it from).

The Kentucky Wildcats did not have the basketball in their hands very much on Sunday afternoon in St. Louis against 2-seed Iowa State. And when the Wildcats did have possession, they were quickly relieved of it by an aggressive, stifling Cyclones defense.

None of the current Kentucky players were alive the last time the Wildcats committed 20 turnovers in an NCAA Tournament game. For that, you have to go back to 1993. (Interestingly, Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek was an assistant on that team under Rick Pitino.)

Kentucky beat Florida State in that game back in the 1993 Elite Eight, committing 20 turnovers while winning 106-81.

When the Wildcats actually did manage to take shots, they did pretty well. Kentucky shot 21-of-45 from the floor (46.7%), and 9-of-25 from 3-point range (36%). They actually were more efficient offensively than the Cyclones, who took 61 shots, making 28 of them (45.9%), and going 9-of-28 (32.1%) from deep.

But this game will be remembered for the turnover discrepancy, which saw Kentucky commit 20 while Iowa State only gave the ball away 7 times. The Cyclones had 25 points off turnovers. The Wildcats only managed 12.

What makes the Iowa State defense so tough to play? Both coaches had some thoughts.

“They exert a ton of pressure, they’re very disruptive and certainly they were disruptive with us,” Kentucky coach Mark Pope said. “They played hard and they played well.”

“These guys are relentless competitors,” Iowa State coach TJ Otzelberger said after the game. “They work for it every day. They’re connected defensively and offensively. … They’re an unbelievable group.”

Kentucky jumped out to a hot start and led 18-6 with 12:48 left in the first half. That’s when the wheels fell off for the Wildcats, who were outscored 76-45 the rest of the way.

Denzel Aberdeen set the tone for Kentucky offensively, scoring 20 points. Otega Oweh had another great all-around effort, posting 18 points and 8 rebounds. But the 2 seniors were the only 2 Kentucky players to score in double-figures.

Tamin Lipsey had the game of his life, scoring a game-high (and career-high) 26 points to go with 10 assists, posting his first double-double of the season.

Iowa State advances to the Sweet 16 to face the winner of Tennessee vs. Virginia. Kentucky ends the season with a record of 22-14.

Cynical Kentucky fans and fans of rival teams will be quick to note the irony of a team with a reported $22 million roster winning 22 games.

“Twenty-two million for that?” an Iowa State band member chirped in the tunnel after the Cyclones’ win.

Many Kentucky fans are thinking the same thing. So were some media members after the loss. Pope was asked about the roster he and his staff assembled this year.

“We’ve heard so many numbers go around that it’s just… we live in a really interesting world,” Pope said. “I think we were disappointed that we never got to run with the roster that we thought we had. These guys did an amazing job adjusting. You think about how (Aberdeen) came here with one responsibility in mind and one framework for a team, and had to transition through the whole course of the year to be a player that he did not come here to be, and that goes with a lot of guys on our team.

“We didn’t get to play the way we planned to. We didn’t get to play with the personnel we planned to. All of that changed, and I think our guys raised up and they made the very, very best of a complicated situation roster-wise and health-wise, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

What does the future hold for Mark Pope and the Wildcats? As Pope’s seat continues to get hotter, he’s confident he can find the right guys to wear “Kentucky” across their chests in 2026-27 and beyond.

“I think our focus is finding guys that want to be at Kentucky because of what Kentucky is,” he said. “This is the greatest place in the world to play basketball. It comes with all the tuff. It comes with all the pressure and the scrutiny.

“These guys won games in back-to-back NCAA Tournaments. At any other school, that would be good. At Kentucky, the uniqueness of Kentucky, that’s. not the answer. …

“We’ll find the guys. There’s no place like this. But it’s got to be the right fit for guys and they’ve got to want it. At the end of the day, it’ll be all those things that are important.”

Everyone on the current roster other than Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen, who are out of eligibility, are able to return to Kentucky next year. How many will go? How many will stay? Will Mark Pope be around to oversee the operation?

This offseason has some major question marks hanging over it for Big Blue Nation.

Can the Cyclones keep this strong postseason run going all the way to Indianapolis for the Final Four? Here’s what the Kalshi market thinks of Iowa State’s Final Four chances:

The post Historic turnover struggles doom Kentucky in loss to Iowa State appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Wildcats are slated to face Iowa State, who just dismantled Tennessee State 108-74. Tipoff is slated for Sunday, March 22, at approximately 2:45 p.m. ET on CBS, broadcasting live from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

Kentucky survived thanks to Otega Oweh’s jaw-dropping, near half-court buzzer-beater — a 35-point, 8-rebound, 7-assist masterclass that instantly etched his name into tournament lore. Brandon Garrison looked more like Victor Wembanyama in the overtime period, swatting away 3 Santa Clara shots and grabbing 3 boards in the final 5 minutes.

However, Iowa State is dealing with its own pivotal storyline. The Cyclones lost All-American forward Joshua Jefferson to an ankle injury early in their opening game, forcing players like Killyan Toure (25 points, 11 rebounds) and Nate Heise (22 points) into larger roles.

Let’s take a look at this intriguing Round 2 matchup:

Kentucky vs. Iowa State Odds

Odds provided by BetMGM as of March 22.

Prediction for Kentucky vs. Iowa State

Kentucky is playing with house money after Oweh’s heroics, and Brandon Garrison’s elite rim protection (6 blocks in Round 1) gives the Wildcats a massive interior presence.

Meanwhile, the Cyclones have to deal with the loss of their leader. They have to replace 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Yes, Iowa State has plenty of other talent, but losing a guy like Jefferson and only having 48 hours to prepare for another game isn’t ideal.

Of course, no one is going to feel too sorry for Iowa State, especially not a Kentucky team that has dealt with injuries all year. Potential NBA Draft lottery pick Jayden Quaintance is out. Jaland Lowe is out. The Wildcats have had to make due with the other talent on their expensive roster.

In a tournament that has been (mostly) devoid of major upsets and Cinderella stories, Kentucky has all the pieces necessary to be a 7-seed that punches its ticket to the Sweet 16.

Back the Wildcats to get the job done in St. Louis.

The Pick: Kentucky to win (34 cents per contract at Kalshi)

The post Kentucky Wildcats vs. Iowa State Cyclones: Preview and prediction appeared first on Saturday Down South.

To hear Jacob Crews tell it, though, maybe the Missouri Tigers didn’t.

Crews raised some eyebrows with comments he made in the postgame locker room, saying Miami simply wanted to win more.

Yes, Miami wanted to win more. A Mizzou player said that. After an NCAA Tournament game.

(The NCAA Tournament remains a single-elimination affair, for those who need a reminder. If you’re ever going to want something in the game of college basketball, it should be to win every NCAA Tournament game you’re lucky enough to play in.)

While Crews was putting his foot in his mouth with a quote that might not have drawn as much attention if a battered Mizzou fan base wasn’t looking for a scapegoat to its lifelong woes, coach Dennis Gates was saying all the right things in his own postgame press conference when asked how he’ll remember this team and this season.

“How I will remember this season? I’m pretty difficult on myself,” Gates said. “I’m hard on myself when it comes down to coaching. I don’t think any coach could have brought the team to this place based off of where we were, dealing with the injuries that we dealt with. So I pat myself on the back at the same time.

“But there was still sort of a goal in mind. I want to win a national championship, and I didn’t. So for me that’s a failure. It’s just that simple.”

As a passionate fan base once again grows restless, there has been some social media grumbling about whether or not Gates is the man for the job moving forward.

So let’s dive into that topic. Does Gates deserve Year 5 in Columbia? What is Mizzou’s ceiling with him as the head coach?

First, we need to take a trip through time.

A lifetime of Missouri (I mean, misery)

Being a Mizzou fan is a study in pain tolerance dating back generations.

My buddy Brendon Steenbergen wrote a book called “Respectable Roughnecks” about the 1960 Mizzou football team, which was robbed of a potential national title when rival Kansas played an ineligible player in the Tigers’ lone loss of the season.

I was 6 months old when the infamous “Fifth Down” game took place against Colorado in 1990. Naturally, the Buffaloes rode the waves of an unearned win against the Tigers all the way to a share of the national title.

The NCAA has hammered Mizzou for self-reporting violations, where other schools avoid punishment altogether with a strategy of “deny, deny, deny.”

There have been plenty of ridiculous things to happen to the Mizzou football team over my lifetime (even as current coach Eli Drinkwitz has brought the program back to relevancy, and then some), and I’ll leave it to Tiger fans to decide how many they want to relive on social media, but the one that stands out to me most took place against Kentucky back in 2022.

The Wildcats’ punter chased down an errant snap and was tackled dozens of yards behind the line of scrimmage. However, apparently the punter’s tackle box extended all the way to the moon and back. (The NCAA swiftly changed the rule before the 2023 season.)

The football team has had some truly terrible timing with when it decides to have its best seasons, too. In 2013, the Tigers went 11-1 in the regular season before losing to Auburn in the SEC title game. The Playoff was born the very next year.

In 2023, the Tigers finished the regular season ranked No. 9 in the country after a 10-2 regular season. The Playoff, of course, expanded to 12 teams the following season.

In men’s basketball, things have largely been just as difficult to stomach. Every time the Tigers lose a big-time game, of which there haven’t been too many over the years, it seems to be followed with a stat like this:

Since joining the SEC for the 2012-13 season, the Tigers have only played on Semifinal Saturday at the SEC Tournament once (losing, of course). Thus, you can expand from there to say they’ve never made the SEC Tournament final, let alone win the damn thing.

The only time the Tigers have won an NCAA Tournament game since Mike Anderson left for Arkansas (another bitter pill to swallow), a first-round win over Utah State as a 7-seed back in 2023, it was promptly followed by a loss to 15-seed Princeton. That plucky group of Ivy League Tigers upset 2-seed Arizona in Round 1, giving Mizzou a much easier (on paper, anyway) path to the Sweet 16. Didn’t matter.

The Tigers have an unenviable history against 15-seeds, as Frank Haith and company lost to Norfolk State as a 2-seed back in 2012.

So while some nationally complained that the 10-seed Tigers got a favorable draw by only having to head to St. Louis for Round 1 of this year’s NCAA Tournament, many Mizzou faithful sensed the impending letdown.

And yet… the fans showed up. The fans wanted it. The atmosphere in the Enterprise Center was electric. Urging their beloved Tigers to come back from significant deficits time and time again.

What the Tigers provided on the court, unfortunately, was this:

Is this all there is in the world for Mizzou? Are Tiger fans Sisyphus pushing his rock up the hill time and time again, only for it to roll back down in humiliating fashion before he ever gets to the top?

That brings us back to Gates.

Does Dennis Gates deserve another year?

Dennis Gates is beloved by his players. You can sense their loyalty to him every time they speak in public.

Gates is a leader of men. A guy who doesn’t back down from any questions. When the Tigers disappoint, he takes every ounce of criticism. When the Tigers thrive, he’s the first to pass the credit to his players.

But at the end of the day, college basketball coaches at this level — men’s and women’s — need to win NCAA Tournament games. Anything less than the second round should be seen as an abject failure for the Tigers.

I know Gates said anything short of the national championship fails to live up to his expectations, and he’s certainly right to say that. But let’s be real — most reasonable Mizzou fans would settle for a Sweet 16 berth next year as a show of progress.

To make sure I wasn’t looking at this through black-and-gold-tinted glasses, I reached out to my colleague (and certified ball knower) Neil Blackmon for his perspective.

Back during the offseason in which Mizzou hired Dennis Gates, I really wanted my alma mater to hire Todd Golden. He was at the top of my early wish list and stayed there throughout the process.

Of course, once Florida was on the table, he was always going to take that instead of the Missouri job, and I accept that. But where would Mizzou be now with Golden? We agreed that Mizzou would probably be a second-weekend tourney team under Golden.

“Golden is a top 5 coach,” Neil told me. “And Missouri has the potential to be a top-5 SEC job. Fan base is awesome. Tradition is good. NIL is solid.”

I wholeheartedly agreed with him. Mizzou is a potential sleeping giant that, much like the crowd in St. Louis on Friday night, is waiting to erupt.

I’m of the mindset that Gates should (and likely will) get a fifth year at the helm of the Tigers, but there’s going to be a lot of pressure this coming season. And it simply can’t go the same way his second year in CoMo went.

When Gates was hired away from Cleveland State, he did a great job assembling the roster for the 2022-23 Mizzou squad. He convinced star Kobe Brown to stay. He supplemented that star power with D’Moi Hodge and Tre Gomillion, who followed him from Cleveland State. Sean East II blossomed into a star out of the JUCO ranks. DeAndre Gholston, Noah Carter and Nick Honor were all key transfers who contributed in big ways. Aidan Shaw showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman.

That team made the NCAA Tournament, winning the aforementioned game against Utah State before dropping the stunner to Princeton.

That offseason, Brown left for the NBA, while Hodge and Gholston ran out of eligibility. Gates and his staff went from the 8th-ranked transfer class in 2022 to the 40th-ranked class in 2023, per 247Sports.

Caleb Grill would go on to become a key player for future Tiger squads, but he suffered an injury early in the year. John Tonje, who went on to stardom at Wisconsin, suffered a season-ending foot injury early on.

East and Tamar Bates stepped up and did their best, but the roster simply lacked depth and didn’t have enough firepower to replace the Brown/Hodge/Gholston trio’s production. The result was a disastrous 8-24 season in 2023-24, and an embarrassing 0-18 mark in SEC play.

I say that to say this — Gates needs to find his Mark Mitchell replacement ASAP. Ditto Jayden Stone. The plan can’t be to hope Anthony Robinson II stays and plan for T.O. Barrett, Trent Pierce and Trent Burns to replace all of the things Mitchell and Stone brought to the Tigers.

Gates needs to hit the portal hard and effectively. Robinson and Barrett are solid pieces in the back court. Pierce and Burns are strong players. But the Tigers need a new wing scorer to replace Mitchell. They need a guy who can drain 3s like Stone did when healthy. They need another post presence to pair with Burns.

Mizzou has 5-star guard Jason Crowe Jr. signed to a letter of intent, along with a pair of 4-star players, but that group needs to be supplemented by at least 2 impactful transfer additions who can step into the starting lineup immediately, along with a bit more depth built through the portal.

I’m fine with Mizzou giving Gates another year, but the pressure is on. Build a roster that makes sense. Forget a national championship… just win an NCAA Tournament game (or preferably 2).

Make it to the Sweet 16 and a potential trip to Kansas City awaits. Tiger fans would make that atmosphere incredible once again.

Some day, a Mizzou team will take advantage of that energy.

Some day, this sleeping giant will wake up.

The post What’s the ceiling for Mizzou under Dennis Gates? appeared first on Saturday Down South.

It was an offensive foul at the top of the 3-point arc — the kind of silly foul that takes years off of a coach’s life.

He went straight to the bench to sit for a couple of minutes, and managed to make it the rest of the second half without picking up his fifth.

Thank goodness for Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats.

In overtime, Garrison was a machine on the defensive end.

Before fouling out with 2 seconds left in a Kentucky victory, Garrison totaled 2 points, 3 rebounds and 3 massive blocks in the overtime period.

The 6-foot-10 junior from Oklahoma City was everywhere defensively, swatting away 3 attempts from Santa Clara shooters to keep their team in the game. This sequence was the dagger in the back of Santa Clara’s upset bid:

Offensively, Otega Oweh was the hero for the Wildcats. You can go ahead and mark this wild sequence at the end of the second half down as something that will show up in “One Shining Moment”:

Oweh finished with a game-high 35 points. It was far from a scoring-only effort from Oweh, the preseason SEC Player of the Year, as he grabbed 8 rebounds and dished out 7 assists in his near-triple-double.

Friday’s Round 1 NCAA Tournament matchup between No. 7-seed Kentucky and No. 10-seed Santa Clara was an early wakeup call for the Broncos.

Tipping off at 9:15 a.m. Santa Clara time, it was fair to think Herb Sendek’s players might need some time to adjust their body clocks.

Instead, the Broncos charged ahead to a narrow 31-29 halftime lead over the Wildcats, as the Kentucky fans in attendance started to get restless.

The 3-point shooting was as cold as the ice beneath the court at the Enterprise Center in the first half (home of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues), with both teams posting 4-for-15 marks from deep in the first 20 minutes. Collin Chandler was particularly off his game, going 0-for-5 on his first-half 3s.

Let’s just say things heated up in the second half.

The Wildcats went 6-for-13 from deep after the intermission, while the Broncos countered with an 8-for-18 effort from beyond the arc in the second half and overtime.

Elijah Mahi had 20 points for the Broncos. Allen Graves added 17 points and 7 rebounds. But it wasn’t enough to stop Garrison, Oweh and the Wildcats.

After the game, Pope praised his team for not giving up on the game when Graves hit a 3 to put the Broncos up 73-70 with just under 3 seconds left.

“There was no pause, throw your hands up, feel sorry for yourself reaction to that shot,” Pope said.

As for Oweh’s shot? Pope had a front row seat.

“As (Oweh) raised up right in front of me, he said ‘That’s a bucket,'” Pope said. “I was nervous with the trajectory, but when it hit the glass at exactly the right spot, I was like ‘Oh this is beautiful.'”

“It’s Otega. He’s proven he can make game-winners,” Garrison added.

But overtime belonged to Garrison. Pope said it’s no surprise the Wildcats took over when Garrison became a 1-man wrecking ball on defense.

“When BG plays good, we win. It’s just how it is,” Pope said. “BG keeps showing up every single day and fighting and fighting and fighting. He was brilliant today.”

Kentucky advances to Round 2 on Sunday. The Wildcats will face the winner of No. 2 Iowa State and No. 15 Tennessee State at a time to be announced.

Will the Wildcats advance to the Sweet 16? Here’s the latest Kalshi market:

The post Otega Oweh’s shot, Brandon Garrison’s blocks help Kentucky avoid upset scare from Santa Clara appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The First Four in Dayton provided plenty of excitement, especially with the Texas Longhorns winning in thrilling fashion against Will Wade’s NC State squad.

We had a heroic shot from Tramon Mark. We had Charles Barkley and Dick Vitale talking about God knows what throughout the broadcast. We had Sean Miller losing his mind on an assistant coach (and rightfully so).

March never disappoints.

Now the real madness begins, though. The next 4 days are the best 4 days in sports, in this humble writer’s opinion.

So let’s dive into how I filled out my bracket this year.

NOTE: There’s a lot of debate about whether it’s OK to fill out multiple brackets or if you have to enter the same bracket into every pool/contest. My take is you can enter as many brackets as you want, but you can only pick 1 to talk about. I don’t want to hear about the 30 brackets you filled out. Pick 1 bracket and that’s the bracket you can discuss with me.

Alright, let’s start with the East.

East Region

I didn’t pick a single upset in Round 1 in the East. There’s too much star power for the top seeds. I mean, how do you bet against Tom Izzo in Round 1? Bill Self and Darryn Peterson should be good to avoid an upset from a dangerous Cal Baptist squad. I don’t think Northern Iowa, with the third-slowest pace in Division I (per KenPom) can stop Rick Pitino and the Red Storm.

Round 2 provides more chalk. I really wanted to have Louisville going all the way to the Elite Eight, but with news breaking on Wednesday that Mikel Brown Jr. won’t play in Round 1, I think the Cardinals barely avoid an upset in Round 1 against USF. Brown is a dynamic player and his looming absence forced me to readjust my picks at the last minute.

Nothing’s going to stop me from picking Duke to make it to the Final Four out of this bracket, though. Cam Boozer is dominant, and the Blue Devils have the depth to advance to Indianapolis.

Will Duke advance to the Final Four? Here’s what Kalshi says about the Blue Devils:

South Region

Now we head to the South Region, where the reigning-champion Florida Gators lurk as the No. 1 seed. This is far from an easy path for Todd Golden and company, however.

No. 2-seed Houston looms large in this portion of the bracket, as the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight will be played in… Houston. That would be a tough draw for the Gators. But I don’t think we’ll see a rematch of last year’s title game at all.

That’s because I like Illinois to spoil the party. Yes, the Illini have been frustratingly inconsistent down the stretch, but I think they have too much size for the Cougars to handle.

Florida wins a rematch against Vanderbilt to advance to the Elite Eight before taking down the Illini to head back to the Final Four.

Also of note, I have Texas A&M pulling off a minor upset in Round 1. Saint Mary’s wants to slow teams down to a grinding, methodical pace. The Aggies won’t let them. If A&M makes a few 3s early, I’m not sure the Gaels have the firepower to make a comeback.

Will Florida repeat as the national champion? Kalshi gives the Gators a 10% chance as things stand now:

West Region

Alright, now it’s time for some proper madness. The West is my chaos region.

The first round is pretty chalky, outside of my homer pick of my alma mater, Mizzou, to take down Miami in St. Louis. What a fortunate location draw that was for Dennis Gates and company! Almost makes up for the NCAA consistently screwing Mizzou on literally everything else.

Elsewhere, I have BYU and Arkansas making the Elite Eight as 6- and 4-seeds, respectively. BYU has arguably the best player in the tournament in AJ Dybantsa, who I would take No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft. That matters in March.

I also don’t trust Purdue and Matt Painter the further into the tournament we get. I think the Boilermakers used up their March Madness magic in their run to the Big Ten Tournament title.

Arizona-Arkansas is probably the game I spent the most time thinking about in the entire tournament. I just can’t pick against Darius Acuff Jr. at this stage. Add in the way Meleek Thomas, Billy Richmond III and Trevon Brazile have played down the stretch and I like John Calipari to lead the Hogs to Indy for the Final Four.

Midwest Region

I have my biggest upset of Round 1 in this bracket, picking 12-seed Akron to win against 5-seed Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are without JT Toppin, which is a huge loss. Christian Anderson also hurt himself in the Big 12 Tournament as the league decided it was a good idea to have elite athletes playing basketball on a glass court (so dumb).

Anderson should be back, but if he’s not at 100%, Akron is dangerous. I toyed with putting the Zips into the Sweet 16, especially since Alabama will almost certainly be without Aden Holloway after his recent arrest (he’s not with the team currently). But I think Labaron Philon Jr. can carry the Tide kicking and screaming into the Sweet 16 before the magic runs out.

In the bottom half of the region, I like Tennessee to make a bit of a run with Nate Ament healthy. No, that didn’t help against Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament, but I think the combo of Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Ament will be too much for an 11-seed and then probably Virginia to handle.

However, Rick Barnes and company will be denied of their first-ever trip to the Final Four by a gritty Iowa State team. The Cyclones are an incredibly dangerous team entering this tournament. So dangerous, in fact, that I have Iowa State shutting down 1-seed Michigan to advance to Indianapolis.

Final Four

Florida-Duke might end up being the game of the tournament. Florida came up just short during nonconference play at Cameron Indoor, losing to the Blue Devils 67-66 in a true road game.

Both of these teams are better since then, but the Gators’ guards have improved substantially since that early season tilt. The difference maker this time around, though, will be Rueben Chinyelu, who has the size and physicality necessary to limit Cam Boozer (as no one on the planet outside of maybe Victor Wembanyama has the ability to fully shut down Boozer).

It’ll be a brutal, physical, back-and-forth game, but I like Xaivian Lee to knock down a clutch 3 to win it for the Gators.

On the other side of the bracket, Arkansas’s dream run comes to an end at the hands of Iowa State. That game will be a true “unstoppable force vs. immovable object” matchup. Arkansas has the 5th-best offensive rating, per KenPom, while Iowa State checks in at No. 4 defensively.

Cyclones veteran guard Tamin Lipsey manages to force a couple of uncharacteristic Acuff turnovers late and Iowa State sneaks into the title game.

In that title game, Florida simply plays with too much pace and has too much size in the interior for the Cyclones to handle. Alex Condon and Tommy Haugh lead the way and the Gators cut down the nets once again, becoming just the second team to repeat as champions multiple times (UCLA under John Wooden being the other).

Let the Madness begin!

The post How I filled out my 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket appeared first on Saturday Down South.

They did, but with a catch — they had to go to Dayton to play in the First Four. Their opponent? Will Wade’s NC State squad.

After squandering a sizable lead late in the second half while looking like they’d never faced full-court pressure, Sean Miller’s Longhorns faced a 66-66 score with only seconds remaining.

The ball found its way to veteran guard Tramon Mark, who knew exactly what to do. Mark calmly and coolly drained this mid-range jumper from just inside the 3-point arc:

Mark finished with 17 points to lead the Longhorns on the night. NC State’s Darrion Williams was the high scorer for the game, pouring in 21 points.

Texas star Dailyn Swain had a somewhat-quiet night by his lofty standards, finishing with 13 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. He did have 1 block, though, and oh boy did he ever choose a great time to do it:

Texas will now enter the Round of 64 as an 11-seed. Waiting for Sean Miller and company will be the No. 6-seed BYU Cougars. AJ Dybantsa leads the way for BYU and might just end up being the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Get your popcorn ready, y’all. This NCAA Tournament is already shaping up to be epic.

Will Texas advance to the Sweet 16? Here’s what Kalshi has to say about it:

The post Tramon Mark sends Texas to Round of 64 with last-second shot vs. NC State appeared first on Saturday Down South.

There are only 4 schools that have had teams qualify for the College Football Playoff and the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments. Those schools are Alabama, Texas Tech, Georgia and Ohio State.

ESPN’s Sam Block was the first to note this and share it on X:

Here’s a look at the seeds each school earned, starting with Ohio State, as the Buckeyes earned the highest seed in the College Football Playoff this year among the 4 programs:

At the other end of the spectrum in the SEC this year, you have Auburn and Mississippi State, which didn’t have either their men’s or women’s basketball teams qualify for the NCAA Tournament (and didn’t send their football programs to the Playoff, either).

How far will the teams above advance in the NCAA Men’s Tournament? Here are the latest Kalshi odds to reach the Sweet 16 as March Madness tips off tonight with the First Four:

The post 2 SEC programs among 4 schools to qualify for CFP, men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments appeared first on Saturday Down South.

On Tuesday morning, ESPN expert Mel Kiper Jr. released his latest Round 1 mock draft, and he had 12 SEC standouts going in the first 32 picks.

Interestingly, Kiper only has 2 SEC guys going in the top 10, but the back of the round is absolutely loaded with SEC talent.

Georgia leads the way with 3 players going in Round 1, starting with the No. 6 overall pick. Here are all the SEC guys mentioned in Mel Kiper Jr.’s draft:

• No. 6 — Monroe Freeling, OL, Georgia — Cleveland Browns
• No. 10 — Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU — Cincinnati Bengals
• No. 12 — Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee — Dallas Cowboys
• No. 16 — Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama — New York Jets
• No. 17 — Kadyn Proctor, OL, Alabama — Detroit Lions
• No. 20 — CJ Allen, LB, Georgia — Dallas Cowboys
• No. 25 — Zion Young, DL, Mizzou — Chicago Bears
• No. 28 — Christen Miller, DL, Georgia — Houston Texans
• No. 29 — Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina — Kansas City Chiefs
• No. 30 — Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn — Miami Dolphins
• No. 31 — KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M — New England Patriots
• No. 32 — Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee — Seattle Seahawks

Who will be chosen in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft? Here’s what the latest Kalshi market predicts:

Prediction Markets

Players Drafted Top 10 in 2026 NBA

Learn more about Prediction Markets

Kalshi

Darryn Peterson

99%

AJ Dybantsa

99%

Caleb Wilson

99%

Cameron Boozer

96%

Darius Acuff Jr.

95%

Keaton Wagler

93%

Mikel Brown Jr.

69%

Nate Ament

40%

Labaron Philon Jr.

25%

Jayden Quaintance

19%

Predict

The post Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft features 12 SEC standouts in Round 1 appeared first on Saturday Down South.

At their best, the Wildcats look like a team with the talent to make a run to the Final Four. At their worst, they could get blown out by Santa Clara on Friday afternoon in St. Louis in Round 1 of the NCAA Tournament.

So which Kentucky team will show up on Friday? ESPN analyst Jay Bilas broke down every game of the 2026 tourney. He thinks preseason SEC Player of the Year Otega Oweh will help the Wildcats survive and advance to Round 2, where 2-seed Iowa State should be waiting:

Kentucky is banged up and inconsistent, and Santa Clara is big, skilled and has positional size at almost every position. To be clear: Kentucky could very well get upset here. I’m picking the Wildcats, though, assuming Otega Oweh has another big game.

Winner: Kentucky

Otega Oweh led the Wildcats with 18.2 points per game this season, 5 points more than second-leading scorer Denzel Aberdeen’s 13.2 points per contest. No one else on the team averaged 10+ points (though Collin Chandler is just a tick below at 9.9 ppg).

If Santa Clara can contain Oweh, an upset is possible. But, as he’s proven time and time again, limiting him is easier said than done.

The prediction market Kalshi gives Kentucky a 60% chance to defeat Santa Clara. Check out the market below:

The post Jay Bilas picks winner for Kentucky-Santa Clara Round 1 NCAA Tournament bout appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The popular ESPN analyst shared his thoughts on every game in the bracket, working his way up to a national championship pick. That means he also weighed in on the Round 1 matchup between the No. 10-seed Texas A&M Aggies and the No. 7-seed Saint Mary’s Gaels.

That game will be played in Oklahoma City as part of the South Region. It is perhaps one of the biggest contrasts in styles possible at the Division I level. Saint Mary’s takes the air out of the ball with a slow, grind-it-out pace. Meanwhile, Texas A&M wants to run and gun under first-year head coach Bucky McMillan.

So who does Bilas think will win? He expects the Gaels to survive and advance to Round 2:

Talk about a contrast in styles. Texas A&M under Bucky McMillan wants to get up and down the floor; the Aggies want to press, they want to be annoying. But Saint Mary’s is going to be a problem to play against. It seems different to take Saint Mary’s here and call it chalk, but the Gaels will slow the game down.

Winner: Saint Mary’s

The Aggies enter the tournament having lost 3 of their last 5 games. On the good side, 1 of their 2 wins was against a tough Kentucky squad. On the bad side, they were blown out 83-63 in Round 2 of the SEC Tournament by Oklahoma.

Which Texas A&M squad will show up in OKC? We’ll find out at 7:35 p.m. ET on Thursday. The game can be seen on truTV.

Kalshi currently gives the Aggies a 41% chance to win their Round 1 game:

The post Jay Bilas predicts winner for Texas A&M-Saint Mary’s Round 1 matchup appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Dennis Gates and company lost 5 of their last 8 games, including their last 3 contests. They went 0-fer in the SEC Tournament, too, losing in Round 2 to the Kentucky Wildcats.

Still, the Tigers made the field of 68 teams by the skin of their teeth. That’s all you can ask for — just punch your ticket and work from there. So with that said, let’s make some predictions.

Here’s how far Saturday Down South predicts Mizzou will advance in the 2026 NCAA Tournament:

Round 1: No. 7 Miami Hurricanes (in St. Louis)

RECORD: 25-8 (13-5 ACC); KENPOM: 31; NET RANK: 32

BEST WIN: vs. No. 11 North Carolina; WORST LOSS: vs. Florida State

Miami is probably a bit under-seeded in this tournament. But at least Mizzou has an advantage only having to make a short trip over to St. Louis. That evens things out a bit. The Hurricanes and Tigers actually have pretty similar profiles. Neither team shoots a ton of 3-pointers. Miami is 319th in the nation with 18.9 attempted 3s per game. Mizzou is 280th with 20.5 triples attempted per contest.

Neither team is good at free throws, either. Miami is 312th, making only 68.5% of its tries from the charity stripe. Mizzou 307th in the country, sitting just a hair above Miami at 68.6% from the line.

And finally, neither team plays at an elite pace, per KenPom.

The difference in this one? Mizzou has the size defensively to give Miami star Malik Reneau problems. I predict a sloppy game, with plenty of missed free throws at the end, but give me the Tigers to squeak out 1 victory in this tournament.

PREDICTION: Mizzou 72, Miami 70

Round 2: No. 2 Purdue (in St. Louis)

RECORD: 27-8 (13-7 B1G); KENPOM: 8; NET RANK: 9

BEST WIN: vs. Michigan (B1G Tournament title game); WORST LOSS: at Indiana

All due respect to No. 15 Queens, who made the tournament the first year it was eligible, I think the Big Ten-champion Boilermakers take care of business easily in that one. Oscar Cluff has been playing his best ball lately. The big man led the Boilermakers in scoring in 3 of their 4 B1G Tournament games.

But the problem for Mizzou in this one will be veteran guard Braden Smith. He won’t turn the ball over a ton, which is how Mizzou’s guards feast. The Boilermakers also lead the nation in assists. They’ll advance to the Sweet 16 with a comfortable win over the Tigers.

PREDICTION: Purdue 83, Mizzou 75

Who will make it to the Sweet 16? Here’s what the Kalshi markets have to say:

The post How far will Mizzou advance in the 2026 NCAA Tournament? appeared first on Saturday Down South.

On paper, it would be foolish to pick against the red-hot Florida Gators. Todd Golden’s squad overcame a slow (ish) start and spent the winter looking like a juggernaut, the reigning national champions who seem intent on a repeat. Then you have the challengers, the 3 teams that also earned double-byes — John Calipari has his Arkansas Razorbacks playing like they’re ready for another March run, Alabama remains an offensive machine and Vanderbilt has made its home city proud by earning a coveted double-bye.

But if you’ve watched a single Saturday of SEC basketball this season, you know that “on paper” is usually where logic goes to die. This league is a wood-chipper. It’s a conference where a team can drop 100 points on Tuesday and go cold from the perimeter on Saturday. While the top 4 seeds have the luxury of resting until Friday, history tells us that a hungry team with momentum is often more dangerous than a rested team with rust.

The Kalshi market favors the Gators to win it all in Nashville, but there’s plenty of value on our dark-horse teams. Check out the latest probabilities below:

Here are the 3 dark-horse candidates — teams seeded No. 5 or lower — that have the talent to survive the gauntlet and cut down the nets on Sunday:

3. Kentucky Wildcats (No. 9 Seed)

It feels borderline sacrilegious to call Kentucky a “dark horse” in Nashville. This is a program that has historically treated Bridgestone Arena like a secondary home office. However, the reality of the 2025-26 season has been a rollercoaster for Mark Pope’s squad. Finishing with a 10-8 conference record and landing in the Wednesdaybracket isn’t the standard in Lexington, but ignore the Wildcats at your own peril.

The primary reason Kentucky is a threat is Otega Oweh. The senior guard has finished the year strong after a slow start, averaging 18.2 points per game and proving he can carry an offense for long stretches. When Oweh is aggressive, getting to the rim and drawing fouls, Kentucky is a different animal. He’s topped 20 points in 5 of his last 6 games (and 10 of his last 12), including a 28-point outburst in the regular-season finale against Florida.

For the Wildcats to make a historic run (no team has ever won 5 games in 5 days at the SEC Tournament), they have to solve their defensive consistency. They have the length, but they’ve struggled to close out on shooters in late-game scenarios. If Big Blue Nation fills that arena on Thursday and Friday, the energy shift alone can bridge the gap between a No. 9 seed and a trophy. The biggest problem? There will be plenty of rowdy Gator fans in Nashville, too.

2. Georgia Bulldogs (No. 7 Seed)

If you haven’t been paying attention to what Mike White is building in Athens, this week will be your wake-up call. Georgia just wrapped up the winningest regular season in program history (22-9), yet the Bulldogs find themselves in the middle of the pack due to the sheer depth of the SEC.

This team has an offense that can get hot in a hurry. The Bulldogs are a perfect 8-0 this season when they score 100 points or more. Between Kanon Catchings, who recently hung 31 on Alabama, Jeremiah Wilkinson and the veteran presence of Blue Cain, Georgia has multiple players who can trigger a 15-0 run in the blink of an eye.

The concern for Georgia has always been its rebounding and defensive discipline against physical frontcourts. But the Dawgs enter Nashville with a chip on their shoulder. They’ve proven they can punch up, and they aren’t intimidated by the league’s elite. With Smurf Millender running the point and a bench that outscored Mississippi State’s 41-27 in the finale, they have the depth required to survive a tournament format. If Catchings gets hot early in the week, Georgia is a team nobody wants to see in the quarterfinals.

1. Tennessee Volunteers (No. 5 Seed)

It is almost an insult that Tennessee is technically a “dark horse” in this conversation. The Volunteers finished the regular season at 20-9 and ranked No. 25 in the country, yet a tiebreaker (following a regular-season-ending loss to Vanderbilt) pushed them into the No. 5 seed, stripping them of the double-bye. Rick Barnes’ group is, for all intents and purposes, a top-4 team playing a Thursday-start schedule.

The Volunteers’ calling card remains a suffocating defense. Felix Okpara, an SEC All-Defensive Team selection, is the ultimate eraser in the paint. He changes the geometry of the court for opposing guards, allowing Tennessee’s perimeter defenders to take risks and jump passing lanes. On the other end, Ja’Kobi Gillespie has emerged as the clear leader of the backcourt, a steady hand who rarely wilts under pressure.

What makes Tennessee the most likely dark horse to win the whole thing is its balance. While the Vols rely on their defense, freshman sensation Nate Ament (averaging 17.4 PPG) provides the scoring punch they need. Ament is currently nursing a leg injury, but recent news indicates he’s expected to give it a go this week.

If he’s close to 100%, Tennessee has the most complete roster outside of the top 4 seeds. The Vols are a veteran, physical, and disciplined group that treats every defensive possession like a season-defining moment. In a tournament where legs get tired and jumpers start falling short, a team that can win ugly is the team that occasionally wins it all.

Want to get in on the DFS fun all postseason long? Use Chalkboard promo code SOUTH for a $100 first-time deposit match when you click here to sign up today.

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The former Kentucky star laced up his sneakers in front of the Miami Heat home crowd and did something only 1 man has ever done in NBA history.

What did he do? Well, he just surpassed Kobe Bryant’s second-place record for most points in a single game in NBA history, dropping 83 points against the hapless Washington Wizards.

Kobe, of course, scored 81 points back in 2006. Now, slightly more than 10 years later, Adebayo has moved past the legendary Bryant with an 83-point outing.

Of Adebayo’s 83 points, 36 came from the free-throw line. He went 36-of-43 from the charity stripe.

Adebayo helped the Heat earn a blowout 150-129 win over Washington. The Wizards are clearly tanking to get a better draft pick, while the Heat are fighting to get up to the No. 6 seed in the East so they can avoid the Play-In Tournament. Still, this was an incredible showing from Adebayo.

However, he was still 17 points behind Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time record, once again underscoring just how insane that game was for the NBA legend.

Will the Miami Heat make the Eastern Conference Playoffs? Here’s the latest Kalshi market:

Prediction Markets

Qualify for the NBA Playoffs?

Learn more about Prediction Markets

Kalshi

Atlanta

99%

Orlando

99%

Philadelphia

99%

Phoenix

99%

Portland

99%

Charlotte

1%

Golden State

1%

Los Angeles C

1%

Miami

1%

Predict

The post Bam Adebayo has massive night for Miami Heat, scoring 2nd-most points in a game ever appeared first on Saturday Down South.

We have a reigning national champion in Florida, a John Calipari-led Arkansas team that looks like it’s ready to make another deep March run and several other dangerous squads that will look to move up a couple of seed lines for the NCAA Tournament. The bracket is a minefield, the stars are out, and the bubble is about to burst for a few unfortunate souls.

Here’s a look at the Kalshi market for the SEC Tournament:

And now, here is how I see every single matchup playing out on the road to the Sunday championship.

Wednesday: Round 1

Here are my picks for Round 1 on Wednesday:

Game 1: No. 9 Kentucky vs. No. 16 LSU

• Prediction: Kentucky 84, LSU 68
• Why: Mark Pope’s second season in Lexington hasn’t been a smooth ride, but Otega Oweh and this offense are built for the postseason. LSU has struggled to find an identity all year, and the Wildcats’ spacing will simply be too much for the Tigers to rotate against for 40 minutes.

Game 2: No. 12 Auburn vs. No. 13 Mississippi State

• Prediction: Mississippi State 77, Auburn 74
• Why: This is the “Josh Hubbard Game.” The State guard has been a human flamethrower (22.1 PPG), and while Steven Pearl has done a decent job in his first year on the Auburn bench, the Tigers don’t have a perimeter stopper who can keep Hubbard from getting to his spots in the clutch.

Game 3: No. 10 Texas vs. No. 15 Ole Miss

• Prediction: Texas 81, Ole Miss 70
• Why: Sean Miller and the Longhorns absolutely need to win this game to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive. Fortunately, Dailyn Swain is a matchup nightmare (17.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG), and Chris Beard’s Rebels have been too inconsistent on the glass to keep this one close late.

Game 4: No. 11 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 South Carolina

• Prediction: Oklahoma 72, South Carolina 66
• Why: Porter Moser’s defense is the ultimate equalizer in a tournament setting. South Carolina’s Meechie Johnson is coming off a buzzer-beater high, but the Sooners’ ability to grind the game to a halt will frustrate the Gamecocks into a cold shooting night.

Thursday: Round 2

Here are my picks for Thursday’s quartet of games:

Game 5: No. 8 Mizzou vs. No. 9 Kentucky

• Prediction: Kentucky 89, Mizzou 85
• Why: Mark Mitchell (17.9 PPG) is going to get his, but Kentucky builds some much-needed momentum with a second win in 2 days. Meanwhile, Mizzou should still be a lock for the NCAA Tournament, but going 1-and-done in Nashville will have the Tigers feeling a bit anxious on Selection Sunday.

Game 6: No. 5 Tennessee vs. No. 13 Mississippi State

• Prediction: Tennessee 68, Mississippi State 60
• Why: After a frustrating end to the regular season, Ja’Kobi Gillespie and the Vols’ defense will regroup and put the clamps on Josh Hubbard. Expect a physical, hard-nosed game that sets offense back a decade or more.

Game 7: No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 10 Texas

• Prediction: Georgia 91, Texas 88 (OT)
• Why: This might be the game of the tournament. Mike White has turned Georgia into an offensive juggernaut (90 PPG). Texas will fight, but the Bulldogs’ backcourt is simply too explosive. They’ll find a way to escape in overtime in a Nashville classic.

Game 8: No. 6 Texas A&M vs. No. 11 Oklahoma

• Prediction: Texas A&M 80, Oklahoma 75
• Why: Did I just say Georgia-Texas would be the game of the tournament? Well, this one could give it a run for its money. I’ll give a slight edge to Texas A&M simply because of the rest factor. But Oklahoma has been dangerous down the stretch.

Friday: Quarterfinals

Here are my picks for the 4 quarterfinal games:

Game 9: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 9 Kentucky

• Prediction: Florida 88, Kentucky 76
• Why: The Gators are the gold standard. Todd Golden has the reigning champions playing with a terrifying level of confidence. Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu and Thomas Haugh provide a frontcourt trio that Kentucky can’t match physically. The dream of a magical run to the final ends here for Big Blue Nation.

Game 10: No. 4 Vanderbilt vs. No. 5 Tennessee

• Prediction: Tennessee 79, Vanderbilt 75
• Why: Vanderbilt just beat the Vols a few days ago to steal the double-bye, but revenge is a dish best served in Nashville. If Nate Ament returns for this one, I’ll like the Vols even more.

Game 11: No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 7 Georgia

• Prediction: Alabama 98, Georgia 90
• Why: If you like points, this is your Super Bowl. Alabama leads the league in scoring (92.0 PPG), and Labaron Philon Jr. is a superstar. Getting snubbed from the list of finalists for the Cousy Award should give him some extra motivation. Georgia can score with anyone, but Nate Oats’ squad has an extra gear in transition that the Bulldogs won’t be able to stay with for the full 40 minutes.

Game 12: No. 3 Arkansas vs. No. 6 Texas A&M

• Prediction: Arkansas 94, Texas A&M 83
• Why: Darius Acuff Jr. (22.2 PPG) is the best player in this conference right now. Guards win in March and John Calipari has a great freshman duo in the back court in Acuff and Meleek Thomas. The Hogs’ talent level is just a tier above the Aggies.

Saturday: Semifinals

Now we’re down to the 2 semifinal matchups:

Game 13: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 5 Tennessee

• Prediction: Florida 82, Tennessee 71
• Why: Tennessee’s defense is elite, but Florida’s offense is relentless. The Gators have too many weapons. If you stop Condon, Haugh beats you. If you stop Haugh, Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee light it up from deep. Florida moves on to the final to defend its crown.

Game 14: No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Arkansas

• Prediction: Arkansas 91, Alabama 88
• Why: This is the matchup everyone wanted. It’s Nate Oats vs. John Calipari once again. After playing perhaps the best game of the regular season a few weeks ago, the Hogs and Tide provide more fireworks.

Sunday: The Championship

And the winner is…

Game 15: No. 1 Florida vs. No. 3 Arkansas

• Prediction: Florida 86, Arkansas 80
• Why: Arkansas is incredible and should be a nightmare to face in March, but Florida is a machine. The Gators’ experience in big games — having won it all last year — is the ultimate tiebreaker. The Gators are peaking at exactly the right time. Todd Golden’s squad stays composed, Alex Condon dominates the glass, and Florida cuts down the nets in Nashville for the second-straight year.

Tournament MVP: Alex Condon, Florida

The post Predicting every game of the 2026 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The double-byes are set, the bubbles are either bursting or inflating, and the Florida Gators look like they might just mess around and go back-to-back.

Here are the final SEC power rankings of the regular season as we head into the conference tournament:

16. LSU Tigers (15-16 overall, 3-15 in SEC)

Previous ranking: 15

Heartbreak, thy name is Baton Rouge. Matt McMahon’s LSU Tigers played their tails off in a triple-overtime epic against Texas A&M, but they ultimately ran out of gas. This season has been a slog since Dedan Thomas Jr. went down, and finishing the year on a 4-game skid is a tough pill to swallow. They’ll open the tournament on Wednesday against Kentucky. Don’t expect much.

15. Ole Miss Rebels (12-19, 4-14)

Previous ranking: 14

The Chris Beard honeymoon phase is officially over. A home loss to South Carolina to close the season is the ultimate low point for a team that looked like a tournament contender back in December. The Ole Miss Rebels have lost 11 of their last 12 games. Playing Beard’s former team, Texas, in Round 1 of the SEC Tournament in Nashville on Wednesday won’t be easy.

14. South Carolina Gamecocks (13-18, 4-14)

Previous ranking: 16

Lamont Paris finally got to smile on a Saturday. The South Carolina Gamecocks snapped their 3-game losing streak by gritting out a 64-61 win in Oxford. It doesn’t change their Wednesday start date in Nashville, but it does mean they aren’t the official “worst” team in the power rankings anymore. They still struggle to score consistently, but their defensive effort against Ole Miss showed there’s still some fight in Columbia.

13. Mississippi State Bulldogs (13-18, 5-13)

Previous ranking: 13

The Mississippi State Bulldogs ended their regular season with a thud. Losing 102-96 to Georgia on Saturday was their fifth consecutive loss. They’ve allowed 100+ points twice in the last week. At this point, the Bulldogs are just looking for a win on Wednesday to avoid a completely winless March.

12. Auburn Tigers (16-15, 7-11)

Previous ranking: 11

The “Year From Hell” reached its logical conclusion in Tuscaloosa. Auburn actually kept it competitive for a half, but the second half was a reminder of why the Tigers are on the wrong side of the bubble. Steven Pearl’s team has lost 8 of its last 10 games. Auburn needs to win the SEC Tournament to make the Big Dance. Based on the Tigers’ current road form, that feels about as likely as a snowstorm in Auburn in July.

11. Texas Longhorns (18-13, 9-9)

Previous ranking: 10

Selection Sunday is going to be a very sweaty affair for Sean Miller. Losing at home to Oklahoma with everything on the line is the kind of result that makes bracketologists look at other résumés. The Texas Longhorns are 18-13 and finished .500 in the league, but they lack that signature win to feel safe. They now likely need at least 2 wins in Nashville to keep their season alive.

Will the Longhorns make the NCAA Tournament Round of 64? Here’s the latest Kalshi market:

10. Oklahoma Sooners (17-14, 7-11)

Previous ranking: 12

Is Porter Moser actually a wizard? The Oklahoma Sooners have won 4 straight games to close the season, including a massive 88-85 upset of Texas in Austin on Saturday. They’ve completely reinvented themselves as a team that thrives on chaos and transition buckets. They aren’t in the NCAA Tournament conversation yet, but if they win a couple of games in Nashville, things could get very interesting.

9. Kentucky Wildcats (19-12, 10-8)

Previous ranking: 9

Kentucky stayed close to Florida on Saturday, but the Wildcats couldn’t get the stops they needed when the Gators made their run. Otega Oweh continues to be a bright spot, but this team has lost the defensive identity it had in February. The Wildcats have dropped into a Wednesday game as the No. 9 seed — a sentence that wouldn’t have been believable 3 weeks ago.

8. Missouri Tigers (20-11, 10-8)

Previous ranking: 8

In typical Mizzou fashion, the Tigers took a top-tier team to the brink and then let it slip away. The 88-84 overtime loss to Arkansas was a microcosm of their season: flashes of brilliance from the perimeter followed by scoring droughts at the worst possible times. Dennis Gates’ team is safely in the tournament, but the Tigers have lost 3 of their last 4 and are trending in the wrong direction heading into the postseason. We’ll see if they can regain some confidence in Nashville, but they’ve put themselves into a very difficult portion of the bracket.

7. Georgia Bulldogs (22-9, 10-8)

Previous ranking: 7

Mike White has the Georgia Bulldogs playing their best basketball in a decade. Putting up 102 points in Starkville is no small feat, even against a struggling Mississippi State defense. Georgia has won 3 in a row and finished with a 22-9 record, effectively locking up an at-large bid. Kanon Catchings didn’t need 32 points this time, as the Dawgs showed off their depth with 5 players in double figures.

6. Texas A&M Aggies (21-10, 11-7)

Previous ranking: 6

Whew. The Texas A&M Aggies nearly choked away an NCAA Tournament berth in Baton Rouge on Saturday night. But, after 3 overtimes, the Aggies emerged with a hard-fought win over LSU. The Aggies have won 4 of their last 5 and are playing with the kind of confidence that suggests they could be the team nobody wants to play in the SEC Tournament.

5. Tennessee Volunteers (21-10, 11-7)

Previous ranking: 4

Losing at home to Vanderbilt to cough up the double-bye is a disaster for Rick Barnes. The Tennessee Volunteers‘ offense went ice cold in the final 4 minutes, a recurring nightmare for Rocky Top fans. While their defense remains elite, they are far too reliant on the perimeter shot falling. They’ll be the No. 5 seed in Nashville, meaning they’ll have to play an extra game they really didn’t want to play. We’ll see if Nate Ament returns this week or if the Vols save him for the NCAA Tournament.

4. Vanderbilt Commodores (24-7, 11-7)

Previous ranking: 5

Vanderbilt went into Knoxville, stared down the orange-clad crowd, and pulled off the most-impactful victory of the weekend, walking out with an 86-82 win and the No. 4 seed. The Commodores have now won 24 games — the most for the program in years — and they have the double-bye they so desperately needed. With their impressive offense, they are a legitimate dark horse to win the whole thing next weekend in their home city.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide (23-8, 13-5)

Previous ranking: 3

The Alabama Crimson Tide took care of business in the Iron Bowl of Basketball, dismantling Auburn 96-84. Labaron Philon Jr. looked like the best player on the floor, and Nate Oats’ offense is humming at nearly 100 points per game again. The Tide secured the No. 2 seed and look like the primary threat to stop the Florida juggernaut. If the Tide can find a modicum of consistency on defense, they are Final Four material.

2. Arkansas Razorbacks (23-8, 13-5)

Previous ranking: 2

The Arkansas Razorbacks are dangerous. Going into Columbia and grinding out an overtime win against a desperate Mizzou team is exactly what elite teams do. Doing it without superstar freshman Darius Acuff Jr. is even more impressive. Don’t sleep on Meleek Thomas this postseason, y’all. Arkansas is playing with an edge right now that feels very similar to its deep tournament runs of the past. The Hogs are the No. 3 seed, but I think they’re the second-best team in the league on a neutral floor.

1. Florida Gators (25-6, 16-2)

Previous ranking: 1

The Florida Gators capped off a dominant regular season by walking into Rupp Arena and handling Kentucky with a wire-to-wire 84-77 victory. Thomas Haugh’s 20 points gives him a fighting chance to win the SEC Player of the Year award over Darius Acuff Jr. of Arkansas. Florida has won 11 straight games and looks every bit like the reigning national champion. The Gators enter the SEC Tournament as the No. 1 seed and the overwhelming favorite to lift the trophy again. It’s Florida’s world; the rest of the SEC is just living in it.

Will the Gators repeat as the national champions? Kalshi gives Todd Golden’s squad a 13% chance to win it all this year:

The post SEC Basketball Power Rankings: Final rankings of the 2025-26 season appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The SEC regular season title has been handed out, and the race for those precious double-byes in Nashville is a chaotic mess. We’ve seen big-time upsets, offensive explosions, and a few teams that have essentially packed their bags for the NIT (or worse).

With only 1 game remaining for each team, the standings are settling, but the power rankings are heating up.

Here’s a look at our updated SEC power rankings as of March 5:

16. South Carolina Gamecocks (12-18 overall, 3-14 in SEC)

Previous ranking: 13

The brief spark Lamont Paris’s squad showed in late February has been doused by a 3-game skid. The South Carolina Gamecocks are struggling to find consistent scoring outside of occasional bursts from the perimeter, and their road woes (1-8) are the worst in the league. They are locked into a Wednesday date in the SEC Tournament.

15. LSU Tigers (15-15, 3-14)

Previous ranking: 16

Matt McMahon’s group actually jumped out of the cellar briefly, but an 88-74 loss to Auburn on Tuesday highlighted the defensive lapses that have defined their season. Without Dedan Thomas Jr., the LSU Tigers are just trying to get to the offseason without more injuries.

14. Ole Miss Rebels (12-18, 4-13)

Previous ranking: 15

Chris Beard finally got back in the win column with a surprising victory over Auburn on Saturday, but it’s too little, too late. The Ole Miss defense, which looked promising in November, has been a turnstile in SEC play, allowing opponents to shoot over 40% from deep over the last month.

13. Mississippi State Bulldogs (13-17, 5-12)

Previous ranking: 12

The Mississippi State Bulldogs ran into the Florida buzzsaw on Tuesday night and it wasn’t pretty. A 108-74 shellacking in Gainesville showcased just how far State has fallen. The Bulldogs have lost 4 in a row and are spiraling toward a bottom-4 seed.

12. Oklahoma Sooners (16-14, 6-11)

Previous ranking: 14

Porter Moser has the Oklahoma Sooners playing better ball lately, with 3 straight wins to climb out of the absolute basement. They’ve shored up the interior defense slightly, but they face a massive test against rival Texas to close the season. Will this win streak be enough to save Moser’s job?

11. Auburn Tigers (16-14, 7-10)

Previous ranking: 10

Auburn is the ultimate “Year From Hell” team of 2026. The Tigers looked great in an 88-74 win over LSU, but the consistency just isn’t there. Steven Pearl’s squad needs a deep run in Nashville to get back to the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble.

10. Texas Longhorns (18-12, 9-8)

Previous ranking: 9

Sean Miller’s first year in Austin has been a roller coaster. The 105-85 loss at Arkansas on Wednesday was a reality check. Texas allowed the Razorbacks to shoot 58% from the field and couldn’t contain the transition game. The Horns will need to beat Oklahoma on Saturday to make life easier on themselves on Selection Sunday.

Will Texas make the NCAA Tournament? Kalshi gives the Longhorns an 87% chance of making the Round of 64:

9. Kentucky Wildcats (19-11, 10-7)

Previous ranking: 7

A 96-85 loss at Texas A&M on Tuesday that featured Kentucky blowing a lead exposed a defense that simply couldn’t stop the Aggies’ bench. Otega Oweh’s 24 points weren’t enough. Kentucky is still in the tournament field, but it has lost the momentum it had in early February.

8. Mizzou Tigers (20-10, 10-7)

Previous ranking: 6

Dennis Gates has a dangerous team, but the Missouri Tigers are also one of the most frustratingly inconsistent teams in the entire country. Mizzou has wins over Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M this year. The Tigers also have losses against Oklahoma, LSU and Ole Miss. Make it make sense.

7. Georgia Bulldogs (21-9, 9-8)

Previous ranking: 11

Welcome back to the top half, Mike White. The Georgia Bulldogs just pulled off the upset of the week, taking down No. 16 Alabama 98-88 in Athens. Kanon Catchings was a superstar, dropping a career-high 32 points with 7 triples. Georgia is almost certainly a lock for the NCAA Tournament now and is playing with a ton of confidence.

6. Texas A&M Aggies (20-10, 10-7)

Previous ranking: 5

The Texas A&M Aggies look like a different team at Reed Arena. Their 96-85 win over Kentucky was a masterclass in depth, with 57 bench points. Rylan Griffen’s 21 points off the pine showed that Bucky McMillan has plenty of weapons. If they win their finale at LSU, an NCAA Tournament berth is all but a guarantee.

5. Vanderbilt Commodores (23-7, 10-7)

Previous ranking: 8

The Vanderbilt Commodores are back. After a brief stumble, Mark Byington has Vandy surging again. They have a massive game against Tennessee this Saturday that will likely decide the fourth and final double-bye for the SEC Tournament. With their top-notch offense and 23 wins already, the Commodores are one of the best stories in college basketball.

4. Tennessee Volunteers (21-9, 11-6)

Previous ranking: 3

Rick Barnes has the best defense in the league not named Florida, but the Tennessee offense can still go cold at inopportune times. That, sadly, has been a common theme for Barnes’ Tennessee teams. A win over Vanderbilt on Saturday is mandatory if the Vols want to hold onto a top-4 seed.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide (22-8, 12-5)

Previous ranking: 2

The 8-game win streak is over. The 98-88 loss at Georgia was a letdown where the defense simply didn’t travel. Labaron Philon Jr. (26 points) continues to look like an All-SEC guard, but Nate Oats needs his Alabama defense to tighten up before the trip to Nashville.

2. Arkansas Razorbacks (22-8, 12-5)

Previous ranking: 4

The Hogs are peaking at the perfect time. They absolutely dismantled Texas 105-85 on Wednesday night, fueled by 28-point performances from both freshman star Darius Acuff Jr. and veteran Trevon Brazile. When Arkansas plays with this much pace and shoots 58% from 3, it looks like one of the only teams that can actually challenge Florida in Nashville.

1. Florida Gators (24-6, 15-2)

Previous ranking: 1

Champions. Todd Golden officially accepted the SEC regular-season championship trophy from Greg Sankey on Tuesday night before his Florida Gators began a 108-74 shellacking of Mississippi State. The Gators have won 10 straight games and are the defending national champs for a reason. They are a legitimate threat to repeat this postseason.

Will Florida repeat as the national champion? Here’s what the current Kalshi market says:

The post SEC Basketball Power Rankings, March 5: Where things stand entering final regular-season games appeared first on Saturday Down South.

There’s 1 game left in the regular season for each team and the SEC men’s basketball landscape is looking like a typical morning at Dunder Mifflin: some are crushing it, some are just trying to survive until 5 p.m., and at least one is probably eating a questionable sandwich in the break room.

Here is how every SEC team compares to a character from The Office based on their 2025-26 seasons.

The Executive Suite (Top Teams)

• Florida: Jim Halpert — The reigning national champs are back at the top of the SEC, and they’re doing it with that annoying “I’m not even trying that hard” smirk. The Florida Gators have locked up the No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament and look like the smartest guys in the room, even when they’re just pulling pranks on the rest of the league.
• Alabama: Andy Bernard — High energy, incredibly loud, and always on. The Alabama offense is like a multi-part a cappella harmony, but when the defense fails, it’s just a guy punching a hole in the drywall.
• Arkansas: Dwight Schrute — Arkansas will run through a literal wall to beat you in transition. The Hogs are intense, disciplined, and slightly terrifying (especially when Darius Acuff Jr. is at his best). However, when you take away their Michael Scott (Acuff), they don’t quite know what to do.
• Tennessee: Angela Martin — Strict, judgmental, and will absolutely not allow you to have any fun. The Tennessee defense is the most rigid in the conference. If you take a bad shot, Rick Barnes will look at you with the exact same cold stare Angela gives Kevin.

Will any of these top-tier teams win the national title? Here’s what Kalshi has to say:

The Accounting Department (Middle of the Pack)

• Mizzou: Pam Beesly — Maybe the biggest surprise of the year. Mizzou spent years being the “receptionist” of the conference, constantly overlooked, but the Tigers finally found their voice. They’re winning games they shouldn’t (even though they also frequently lose games they should win) and are officially a threat to the big dogs.
• Vanderbilt: Oscar Martinez — Efficient, rational, and quietly more successful than anyone expected. While the flashy teams are arguing, Vanderbilt is just sitting there with a spreadsheet and a high BPI ranking, wondering why everyone else is so chaotic.
• Kentucky: Stanley Hudson — They have the talent, they have the tenure, but honestly? They look like they’re just doing a crossword puzzle until the season ends. It’s been a disappointing year in Lexington, and expecting Kentucky to put forth the effort to make a deep run in the postseason is a fool’s errand.
• Texas A&M: Ryan Howard — The “Wunderkind” who started the season at the top of the standings in January and then suffered a spectacular corporate collapse. They’re currently hanging out at the bowling alley (the bubble), hoping for a second chance. A win over Kentucky this week certainly helps with that.

The Annex (The Wildcards)

• Texas: Kelly Kapoor — “I have a lot of questions. Number one: how dare you?” The Texas Longhorns had a dramatic late-season rise, and they will make sure you hear about it. They are high-energy, high-drama, and desperately want to be the center of the NCAA Tournament conversation. A 20-point loss to Arkansas on Wednesday has the Longhorns reeling again, though, much like Kelly is prone to doing.
• Georgia: Phyllis Vance — You think the Georgia Bulldogs are harmless until they pull a huge upset (like the one over Alabama this week) and remind you that they have a lot of subtle power. They’re quiet, but they’ve got a mean streak.
• Auburn: Toby Flenderson — “Why are you the way that you are?” A total free-fall in the standings has turned this season into one long, sad HR meeting for the Auburn Tigers. Every time they try to do something fun, the schedule says “No.”

The Break Room (The Bottom Tier)

• Oklahoma: Kevin Malone — The Oklahoma Sooners are trying their best. They really are. But occasionally, they just drop the giant pot of chili right in the middle of the SEC floor and have to try to scoop it back up with clipboards.
• Mississippi State: Creed Bratton — Nobody is entirely sure what’s going on in Starkville. They have some weird wins, some inexplicable losses, and at this point, we’re all just waiting to see what they’ll do next.
• Ole Miss: Gabe Lewis — Just an awkward presence. They’re on the schedule, they’re in the room, but everyone is a little bit uncomfortable and mostly just waiting for the game to be over so they can move on.
• LSU: Meredith Palmer — Absolute chaos. LSU will score 106 points in a win over Ole Miss and then, next time out, finish with 67 points in a blowout loss to Oklahoma. It’s messy, it’s loud, and while it isn’t “good” basketball, sometimes you can’t look away.
• South Carolina: Todd Packer — The South Carolina Gamecocks came into the season, caused a lot of headaches for themselves, and now everyone is just waiting for them to leave the building so the real tournament can start.

The post Comparing every SEC men’s basketball team to a character from ‘The Office’ appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Sumrall brings in a new coaching staff and an impressive transfer portal haul. A spring QB battle seemingly favors Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo, who worked with new OC Buster Faulkner during their time with the Yellow Jackets.

But ESPN’s Harry Lyles Jr. is targeting a different player as the main player to watch this spring in Gainesville. In this article, Lyles explains why WR Eric Singleton Jr. is the key to the offense after landing at Florida following stops at Georgia Tech and Auburn:

Player to watch: WR Eric Singleton Jr. Singleton transfers from Auburn, but has some crossover with Philo and Faulkner from Georgia Tech. He’s a talented receiver who had a bit of a down year last season after a monster freshman season in 2023 that carried over into 2024 before his transfer to Auburn. He should be a main target for the Gators heading into 2026.

Singleton saw his numbers decrease across the board in 2025 in a stagnant Auburn offense. Now that he’s reuniting with Faulkner, we’ll see if he can get back to the player he was during his time in Atlanta.

How will Florida fare in the SEC this season? Kalshi gives the Gators a 9% chance to win the conference championship:

Prediction Markets

College Football SEC Championship Winner (2026)

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Kalshi

Texas

24%

Georgia

23%

LSU

15%

Texas A&M

12%

Alabama

11%

Florida

11%

Missouri

10%

Oklahoma

10%

Arkansas

6%

Vanderbilt

3%

Predict

The post ESPN analyst names player to watch for Florida this spring appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Yes, the Tide overcame a shocking loss to Florida State in Week 1 of the 2025 season to make it to the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. But, despite beating Oklahoma in Round 1 of the Playoff, the season left many Alabama fans wanting more.

With DeBoer facing pressure to do even better this fall, ESPN’s Mark Schlabach named a storyline to keep an eye on in Tuscaloosa this spring:

After back-to-back so-so seasons to start his Alabama tenure, Kalen DeBoer might need to win big this year. The Tide suffered ugly defeats in two of their last three games in 2025, falling 28-7 to Georgia in the SEC championship game and 38-3 to Indiana in a CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl. The Tide ranked 125th in rushing (104.1 yards) and 111th in sacks allowed (2.13 per game), which led to DeBoer firing offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic. Former NFL offensive line coach Adrian Klemm was hired to replace him, and Bryan Ellis moved from tight ends to quarterbacks coach. Longtime SEC assistant Derrick Nix was hired to coach receivers; former Louisville offensive line coach Richard Owens is now working with the tight ends.

Getting better up front will indeed be a big key for the Tide. If the offensive line can’t move bodies better than it did in 2025, it won’t matter who wins the QB battle between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack.

Alabama kicks off the 2026 season on Saturday, Sept. 5, against East Carolina. The A-Day spring game is set for Saturday, April 11.

Will Alabama get back to the Playoff this year? Here’s what the latest Kalshi markets have to say about the Tide, who currently have a 43% chance to make the field:

Prediction Markets

College Football Playoff Qualifiers 2026

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Kalshi

Notre Dame

88%

Ohio St.

79%

Oregon

76%

Georgia

70%

Texas Tech

70%

Texas

69%

Indiana

67%

Miami (FL)

65%

LSU

45%

Ole Miss

40%

Predict

The post ESPN names spring storyline to monitor for Alabama appeared first on Saturday Down South.

But the Tigers have their man heading into the 2026 season and expectations are sky high. Anything less than 10 wins and a College Football Playoff berth will likely be seen as an utter failure down in Baton Rouge.

So, which games should LSU fans circle on the calendar for this fall? ESPN’s college football experts picked season-defining games for each Power 4 team. For LSU, Andrea Adelson made a bit of a surprising choice.

In her opinion, the September matchup against Ole Miss won’t be it. Neither will games against Alabama or Tennessee, both of which also have connections to Kiffin. Here’s what Adelson had to say about a Nov. 14 visit from the Texas Longhorns:

It would have been easy to pick the Ole Miss matchup, but it is hard to pick games in September as season-defining. Alabama or Tennessee would fit the bill here, too. But given where this game falls in the schedule — and the preseason CFP expectations for both teams — this could be the one that ultimately defines the season for the Tigers.

What will the Tigers’ record be by the time the Longhorns come to town? Will Texas be pushing for a Playoff berth of its own? We’ll find out starting this fall.

Will LSU make it to the 12-team Playoff in Year 1 under Kiffin? Here’s what Kalshi has to say. LSU has a 48% chance right now:

Prediction Markets

College Football Playoff Qualifiers 2026

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Kalshi

Notre Dame

88%

Ohio St.

79%

Oregon

76%

Georgia

70%

Texas Tech

70%

Texas

69%

Indiana

67%

Miami (FL)

65%

LSU

45%

Ole Miss

40%

Predict

The post ESPN names LSU’s season-defining game for Year 1 under Lane Kiffin appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Despite feasting on lackluster nonconference foes in recent years, McMahon’s LSU squads have faltered during SEC play. With a 2-12 mark through 14 league games this season so far, McMahon’s overall record in 3+ seasons in Baton Rouge is 59-66, with an abysmal 16-52 mark in SEC action.

Will LSU make a coaching change this offseason? ESPN insider Jeff Borzello put together a very interesting piece discussing hot-seat situations around the men’s college basketball world. Here’s what he had to say about the current vibe at LSU:

Athletic director Verge Ausberry raised the temperature on Matt McMahon last month, telling the Baton Rouge Advocate he’d made it clear to McMahon that the Tigers needed to make the NCAA tournament, or he would be forced to “reevaluate.” After a 12-1 start to the season, the Tigers are just 2-12 in SEC play, struggling mightily with star point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. sitting out most of conference play because of a foot injury. McMahon hasn’t been to the NCAA tournament in four years since arriving at LSU, and he’s just 16-52 in the SEC during that time. He would be owed about $8 million if fired — which, along with the injury issues, could ultimately play a role in McMahon trending toward returning for another season.

Sure, an $8 million buyout may pale in comparison to some big-name college football coaches’ buyouts, but with how much LSU has invested in its football program with Lane Kiffin and company, would boosters have the desire to write another hefty check? We’ll see what happens as the 2025-26 regular season comes to an end.

Kalshi has LSU as a slight underdog for Wednesday night’s road trip to Ole Miss. The Tigers currently have a 44% chance to win, per the popular prediction market:

The post ESPN insider weighs in on Matt McMahon’s hot seat at LSU appeared first on Saturday Down South.

But don’t sleep on the desperation factor here. Standing in the Gators’ way are Sean Miller’s Texas Longhorns, a team that can score with anybody but — by Miller’s own admission — plays defense like a turnstile.

Texas (17-10, 8-6 SEC) is fighting for its tournament life at the Moody Center. Miller knows a win here essentially locks up a March Madness bid, but his squad is fresh off a defensive collapse against Georgia that he called the “worst defensive performance” of the season. It’s a clash of styles: Florida’s balanced, surging attack versus a Texas team that lives and dies by its elite offense. Read on for the tipoff time, broadcast details, streaming options, and the cold, hard data on who is projected to take this one.

When is Texas vs. Florida? Start Time and Date

Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, (that’s 6 p.m. CT for the locals in Austin).

Where is Texas Longhorns vs. Florida Gators?

The action takes place at the Moody Center in Austin.

The Texas Longhorns will defend their home court against the visiting Florida Gators. While the Moody Center has been a fortress for Texas (12-3 at home), Florida has been a road warrior lately, dismantling teams with efficient scoring.

How can I watch Texas Longhorns vs. Florida Gators?

You can catch the Longhorns trying to upset the Gators live on ESPN2.

How can I stream Texas Longhorns vs. Florida Gators?

If you’ve cut the cord, you aren’t out of luck. Since the game is on ESPN2, anyone with a valid TV subscription can stream it live via the ESPN App or directly on the ESPN website. Also, be sure to check out Sling TV, which has all of the ESPN networks available. You can sign up for a 1-day pass for only $4.99.

Who will win Texas vs. Florida?

Based on the current Kalshi market, the Florida Gators are heavy road favorites, carrying a win probability of 71%. The sharps are clearly looking at Texas’s defensive efficiency — ranked 116th per KenPom — and deciding that Florida’s offense is going to feast.

The Texas Longhorns sit at a 29% probability. While the home-court advantage at Moody usually matters, the data suggests a mismatch. Todd Golden’s Gators have had some turnover issues lately (a 24% turnover rate vs. Ole Miss is ugly), but Texas might not have the defensive teeth to punish those mistakes. Unless Sean Miller’s squad fixes its “worst defense ever” overnight, the smart money is leaning toward Florida keeping its streak alive.

The post How to Watch Texas vs. Florida: TV channel and streaming info for major SEC clash appeared first on Saturday Down South.

I realize the brackets have yet to come out, so this will be an exercise I revisit after Selection Sunday. But for now, this will serve to look around the country and recognize some fun teams that don’t get a ton of attention.

Will all of these squads make deep runs in the tournament? Probably not, but they’ll all be teams no one wants to face.

I gave preference to schools that play at a fast pace. It’s not a lot of fun to watch mid-major programs try to grind pace to a halt against bigger foes. I want up-tempo, fast-paced, high-scoring action, and 3 of the 4 teams listed below provide exactly that.

So, without further ado, here is the most random, most exciting potential Final Four combination I could come up with that actually at least has a non-zero chance of happening:

1. Nebraska (23-4 overall, 12-4 in Big Ten)

This is the one exception I made to my rule of favoring teams that play at a fast pace. Nebraska ranks No. 201 in the nation in adjusted tempo, per KenPom. Still, what a story the Cornhuskers would be. Nebraska has never won a single game in the NCAA Tournament. Yes, you read that correctly. The Cornhuskers are 0-8 all-time in March Madness. They’re the only power conference team that has never won a tourney game.

It would be an incredible disappointment if Fred Hoiberg’s squad didn’t end that dubious distinction this year. But how crazy would it be if Nebraska not only won its first NCAA Tournament game ever, but won 4 of them to make it to Indianapolis?

Yeah, that’s the kind of thing we’re looking for in this piece.

Nebraska has the talent. Rienk Mast, Pryce Sandfort and Sam Hoiberg lead the way for perhaps the best Huskers squad ever. Will March success finally come this year? We’ll find out in a couple of weeks.

Will Nebraska or Santa Clara make a run to the Final Four this year? Here’s what Kalshi has to say about 2 of my 4 longshot Final Four squads:

2. Saint Louis (25-3 overall, 13-2 in A10)

Robbie Avila became a semi-famous name around the country when he led Indiana State to a second-place finish in the 2024 NIT. Now at Saint Louis, Avila’s scoring numbers are down (12.4 points per game this year compared to 17.3 at SLU last season and 17.4 PPG for Indiana State during the 2023-24 campaign), but that says more about the talent around him.

Coach Josh Schertz has put together an A10 juggernaut that boasts perhaps the most well-balanced offense in the nation. A whopping 5 players average 10+ points and a grand total of 7 players average 9.5 points pre game or more (prior to Tuesday night’s loss at Dayton). Anyone can beat you on any given night, which takes a lot of pressure off of Avila.

He still runs the offense, leading the team with 4.2 assists per game from the center spot. but Trey Green, Dion Brown, Amari McCottry, Quentin Jones, Ishan Sharma and Kellen Thames are all quality players who can score.

If Saint Louis makes the tournament and goes on a run, expect searches for “what is a Billiken?” to skyrocket.

3. Miami (OH) (28-0 overall, 15-0 in MAC)

The RedHawks are perhaps the most polarizing team in the country this year. On one hand, they’re a perfect 28-0. On the other, their nonconference slate was softer than Charmin and the MAC isn’t going to be mistaken for the Big Ten any time soon.

Our Saturday Down South bracketology expert, Sonny Giuliano, had Miami (OH) as an 11-seed prior to Tuesday night’s win at Eastern Michigan. My opinion is this — lots of teams play soft nonconference schedules and don’t play in the strongest leagues, and no one other than Miami (OH) is currently undefeated.

There’s a lot to like about this Miami squad. The RedHawks play with the No. 43 pace in the country and have the No. 58 overall offensive rating, per KenPom. Elite numbers? No. But we see surprises every March.

It would certainly prove a lot of doubters wrong if the RedHawks became the first team from the MAC ever to advance to the Final Four. The furthest a MAC team has ever advanced is the Elite Eight, which has been done twice (Kent State in 2002 and Ohio in 1964).

4. Santa Clara (23-6 overall, 14-2 WCC)

Those 2 losses in WCC play? Those both came against Gonzaga, which is hardly a knock on the Broncos. Santa Clara is 1-0 against Saint Mary’s in WCC play, with a trip to Moraga on the schedule for Wednesday night.

Santa Clara is No. 35 overall in the KenPom rankings — 1 spot behind Auburn and 1 spot ahead of Ohio State. The Broncos have the No. 25 offense in the nation, the No. 55 defense and play at the No. 47 overall adjusted pace.

The school that produced Steve Nash, Jalen Williams and Brandin Podziemski has another strong guard in Christian Hammond, who doesn’t receive much national attention, but averages 16.4 points per game as a sophomore:

Don’t sleep on Elijah Mahi (14.4 PPG) and Allen Graves (11.1 PPG) in the front court, either. This is a solid squad, worth staying up late to watch. Tipoff at Saint Mary’s is set for 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday night.

The post What would be the most random, most fun Final Four combination possible in 2026? appeared first on Saturday Down South.

In a year where the SEC has arguably been the deepest conference in the nation, the Player of the Year (POTY) race is tighter than it perhaps has been in recent seasons.

With the Florida Gators holding a 2-game lead with 4 games to play, it looks like the regular-season title will end up in Gainesville. Two games behind the Gators are the Alabama Crimson Tide, the feisty Arkansas Razorbacks and the steady Tennessee Volunteers.

With apologies to honorable mentions in Auburn‘s Keyshawn Hall and Tennessee’s Nate Ament, here are my top 5 contenders for the SEC Player of the Year award:

5. Thomas Haugh, Forward, Florida

Season Stats: 17.3 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game

In the modern era of position-less basketball, Thomas Haugh has become the gold standard for the versatile forward. For the defending national champion Florida Gators, Haugh is the heartbeat of a system that prioritizes efficiency and defensive rotation. After a breakout sophomore campaign, Haugh has transitioned into a primary scoring role as a junior, anchoring a Florida team that currently holds a 2-game lead in the SEC standings.

Haugh’s case for POTY is rooted in his impact on winning. He isn’t the league’s most explosive athlete, but he is its most reliable. He is shooting nearly 47% from the field and has developed a steady three-point shot. One of his signature performances came in a late-season road win at Texas A&M, where he tallied 22 points and 7 rebounds, effectively silencing one of the rowdiest crowds in the country. While he lacks the flash of the guards further up this list, Haugh’s status as the best player on the league’s best team keeps him firmly in the conversation.

Florida is currently the heavy favorite to win the SEC regular-season title over at Kalshi. Check out the market below:

4. Josh Hubbard, Guard, Mississippi State

Season Stats: 22.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.6 APG

If this award were based purely on the fear factor for opposing coaches, Josh Hubbard might be the winner. The Mississippi State junior has spent the last 3 years proving that his 6-foot frame is irrelevant when he can pull up from 30 feet with total confidence. Hubbard is an elite bucket getter, a player who can turn a double-digit deficit into a lead in the span of a few possessions.

Hubbard’s season has been defined by historic scoring bursts, most notably a 46-point masterpiece against Auburn that set a new program record for a single SEC game. He is currently third in the conference in 3-pointers made (with 80) and ranks in the top 10 nationally in scoring. The primary hurdle for Hubbard is the Bulldogs’ overall record; Mississippi State has struggled to find consistency in conference play, hovering around the middle of the pack.

3. Tyler Tanner, Guard, Vanderbilt

Season Stats: 18.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 5.2 APG, 2.4 steals per game

Perhaps the most improved player in the country, Tyler Tanner has led a Vanderbilt resurgence that has the Commodores eyeing a top-4 seed in the SEC Tournament if things break their way down the stretch. As a sophomore, Tanner has evolved from a defensive specialist into a complete floor general. He currently leads the SEC in steals by a mile (66 to Boogie Fland’s 54) and ranks near the top in assist-to-turnover ratio, a testament to his elite basketball IQ.

Tanner is the engine that makes Vanderbilt go. What makes Tanner a legitimate POTY contender is his 2-way impact; he is the rare star who will dive for a loose ball or take a charge with the same intensity he uses to drive to the rim. In a conference dominated by high-usage scorers, Tanner’s efficiency and defensive tenacity provide a different type of winning profile.

2. Labaron Philon Jr., Guard, Alabama

Season Stats: 21.3 PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.3 RPG

The leader of the Crimson Tide offense, Labaron Philon Jr., has been the most efficient high-volume guard in the conference this season. As a sophomore, Philon has taken the keys to Nate Oats’ system and accelerated. He is currently shooting an impressive 38.7% from beyond the arc, making him the ultimate weapon in Alabama’s pace-and-space attack.

Philon’s case for the top spot was bolstered just last week in a legendary double-overtime victory over Arkansas. In a head-to-head battle with the next man on our list, Philon dropped a career-high 35 points, including several clutch free throws to seal the win. Philon is the reason Alabama is capable of another deep NCAA Tournament run in 2026.

Here’s a look at the Kalshi market for Final Four qualifiers. If you think Labaron Philon Jr. can lead Alabama to Indianapolis, you can find contracts at 8 cents currently. That’s a lot of value if you’re an Alabama backer:

1. Darius Acuff Jr., Guard, Arkansas

Season Stats: 22.2 PPG, 6.2 APG, 3.0 RPG

At the top of the mountain is one of many freshmen who have set the basketball world on fire this season. Darius Acuff Jr. is having arguably the greatest freshman season in the history of the Arkansas program. Entering Fayetteville with massive expectations under John Calipari, Acuff has exceeded them by becoming the league’s most unstoppable individual force.

Acuff leads the SEC in scoring and assists — a rare double that highlights his role as the primary (and often only) offensive engine for the Razorbacks. His signature performance — a 49-point explosion earlier this month — was a clinic in shot-making that drew comparisons to NBA superstars.

While Arkansas sits slightly behind Florida in the standings, the Player of the Year award often goes to the individual whose absence would most catastrophically affect their team. Without Acuff, the Razorbacks aren’t in the NCAA Tournament conversation; with him, they are a team no one wants to see in March. For his historic production, his ability to carry a massive offensive burden, and his sheer dominance as a 3-level scorer, Darius Acuff Jr. is my (current) pick for the 2025-26 SEC Player of the Year.

The post SEC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year: Top 5 Contenders appeared first on Saturday Down South.

With 4 games left in the regular season, Florida sits on top by 2 games over Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee. Behind the Tide, Hogs and Vols, though, are 5 other teams within 2 games of a top 4 spot — Texas A&M, Texas, Mizzou, Vanderbilt and Kentucky are all either 3 or 4 games behind the Gators in the SEC standings.

Where do things stand as Selection Sunday approaches? Here is a look at our updated SEC power rankings as of February 23:

16. LSU Tigers (14-13 overall, 2-12 in SEC)

Previous ranking: 15

The LSU Tigers find themselves at the bottom once again after another winless week. They hung tough with Alabama on Saturday, but eventually, the Tide’s pace wore them down in a 90-83 loss. Matt McMahon’s squad has suffered some bad injury luck (notably with Dedan Thomas Jr. out for the year) but the Tigers simply don’t have the depth or the defensive chops to close out games in this league right now.

15. Ole Miss Rebels (11-16, 3-11)

Previous ranking: 14

The Ole Miss Rebels ran into the Florida buzzsaw this weekend and the results weren’t pretty. A 94-75 loss at home highlighted the defensive regression Chris Beard has struggled to stop. Ole Miss has now lost 9 straight games.

14. Oklahoma Sooners (13-14, 3-11)

Previous ranking: 13

Porter Moser’s group is playing hard, but the SEC is a cruel mistress. After a narrow 75-71 loss to Texas A&M this weekend, the Oklahoma Sooners are staring at a sub-.500 record overall. Their interior defense has become a major concern, as they are currently allowing conference opponents to shoot 57.4% inside the arc, the worst mark in the SEC.

13. South Carolina Gamecocks (12-15, 3-11)

Previous ranking: 16

Welcome back to the win column, Lamont Paris. The South Carolina Gamecocks looked like a completely different team on Saturday, exploding for 97 points in a win over Mississippi State. Meechie Johnson found his stroke again with 16 points, but it was the overall team efficiency (and the fact they didn’t let the Bulldogs’ pressure rattle them) that earns them a climb out of the cellar.

12. Mississippi State Bulldogs (13-14, 5-9)

Previous ranking: 12

A disappointing week in Starkville. After a fantastic win over Auburn, the Bulldogs couldn’t capitalize. Giving up 97 points to a South Carolina team that has struggled to score all year is a massive red flag. Josh Hubbard (22 PPG) remains one of the most exciting scorers in the country, but the Mississippi State Bulldogs’ defense — usually Chris Jans’ calling card — has completely evaporated over the last 7 days.

11. Auburn Tigers (15-12, 6-8)

Previous ranking: 11

The Auburn Tigers stopped the bleeding with a gritty win over Kentucky, but it remains in the bottom half of the league due to its inconsistent defense. The Tigers are currently dead last in the SEC in 3-point percentage defense. Until they can stop teams from lighting them up from beyond the arc (39.1%), it’s hard to see them making a deep run in Nashville.

Will Auburn make the NCAA Tournament? Here’s a look at the Kalshi market for some of the SEC’s bubble teams as things currently stand:

10. Texas Longhorns (17-10, 8-6)

Previous ranking: 7

A slight dip for the Texas Longhorns after a week where they looked a bit sluggish. The loss at Georgia was a big missed opportunity for a team that had a chance to make a push. They are firmly in the double-bye hunt for the SEC Tournament, but they’ll need to sharpen the edges before playing Florida, Texas A&M and Arkansas in their next 3 games.

9. Georgia Bulldogs (19-8, 7-7)

Previous ranking: 10

The Georgia Bulldogs remain the ultimate “middle of the road” team. They play everyone tough at Stegeman Coliseum (and even on the road, as Kentucky found out this week) but still struggle to secure the defensive glass at times. Jeremiah Wilkinson is a star in the making, and getting him back from injury was huge for the Dawgs.

8. Vanderbilt Commodores (21-6, 8-6)

Previous ranking: 3

Ouch. The Vanderbilt Commodores had been the darlings of the SEC for a month, but Tennessee handed them a tough home loss on Saturday in a 69-65 final. Mark Byington has done a phenomenal job, and this is still a tournament team, but this past week was a step back with losses at Mizzou and at home against Tennessee.

7. Kentucky Wildcats (17-10, 8-6)

Previous ranking: 4

Which Kentucky team are we getting? I almost need to rank Kentucky twice in these columns every week. When Kentucky is locked in, it’s a top-3 team in the SEC. This past week, the Wildcats were not locked in, so dropping them down to No. 7 after losses to Georgia and Auburn seems fair. Mark Pope’s squad is still struggling with mid-range efficiency, and the defensive lapses are becoming a recurring theme. They have the talent, but the consistency isn’t there yet.

6. Missouri Tigers (18-9, 8-6)

Previous ranking: 8

The Missouri Tigers had a chance for a statement win against Arkansas but couldn’t quite close the door in Fayetteville. Dennis Gates has a team that can score with anyone, but its turnover rate (18.3%) continues to haunt it in high-leverage possessions. The Tigers remain a dangerous out, but one that is consistently beating itself. Still, to be in this position at this point of the season isn’t where many thought Mizzou would be.

5. Texas A&M Aggies (19-8, 9-5)

Previous ranking: 9

Texas A&M did what it needed to do this week. It took advantage of games against Ole Miss and Oklahoma, 2 bottom-tier SEC teams this year, to climb back up the ladder and position itself for a double-bye in the SEC Tournament. It wasn’t pretty, but the Aggies continue to beat up on lower-tier SEC squads. Their final 4 regular season games are against Arkansas, Texas, Kentucky and LSU. Going 2-2 likely locks up an NCAA Tournament spot. Would it be enough for a double-bye, though?

4. Arkansas Razorbacks (20-7, 10-4)

Previous ranking: 2

The Hogs drop a couple of spots, but not through much fault of their own. They played in the game of the year on Wednesday, a 117-115 double-OT heartbreaker against Alabama. Darius Acuff Jr. is playing like an All-American, and John Calipari has this team locked in. Arkansas bounced back to beat Mizzou on Saturday and remains firmly in the title hunt.

Can Arkansas overcome its deficit in the standings and win the SEC regular-season title? The Hogs have a game at Florida this weekend that will be huge. Here’s what Kalshi has to say about the SEC champion probabilities:

3. Tennessee Volunteers (20-7, 10-4)

Previous ranking: 5

The Tennessee Volunteers are peaking. The 69-65 win against Vanderbilt on the road was a big one for Rick Barnes and company. With a 10-4 conference record and 2 ranked matchups left, they control their own fate for a double-bye.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (20-7, 10-4)

Previous ranking: 6

What a week for Nate Oats. After winning an absolute track meet against Arkansas (117-115), the Alabama Crimson Tide went on the road and handled LSU. Labaron Philon Jr. only scored 8 points against the Tigers, but I’m not really concerned about a guy averaging over 21 points per game this year. Their defense still gives up too many points, but when you’re scoring 90+ every night, you can afford a few leaks. Their 6-game winning streak is second only to the…

1. Florida Gators (21-6, 12-2)

Previous ranking: 1

The kings stay kings. The Florida Gators extended their winning streak to 7 games with a dominant 94-75 win over Ole Miss. Thomas Haugh and Rueben Chinyelu are dominating the glass, and Todd Golden’s squad looks like the most complete team in the conference. The Gators have a 2-game lead in the standings with 4 to play. The regular-season title is officially theirs to lose.

The post SEC Basketball Power Rankings, Feb. 23: Florida stays on top, race for double-byes heats up appeared first on Saturday Down South.