SEC loaded with quality teams hoping to bolster NCAA resumes

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Auburn spent a good portion of this season ranked No. 1. Kentucky is an eight-time national champion with expectations of contending for another title, and Tennessee and Arkansas may be capable of making deep runs in the NCAA Tournament, too.

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With those teams perched among the best in the nation, plus three or four others needing a victory or two in the Southeastern Conference Tournament bolster their resumes, the SEC arguably has never been stronger from top to bottom.

No. 4 Auburn (27-4), No. 5 Kentucky (25-6) and No. 9 Tennessee (23-7) are ranked in the top 10 after beating up on each other during the regular season. No. 15 Arkansas (24-7) has been as hot as anyone lately, winning 16 of its past 18 entering this week’s tournament that tips off Wednesday at Amalie Arena.

"Our league is at an all-time high. It’s just incredible the level of competitiveness, the home-court advantages, the facilities, the exposure," said Florida coach Mike White, whose Gators own a last-season upset of Auburn and need a good showing here to strengthen their case for a spot in the NCAA field.

"It’s a big-time league, arguably the best league in the country. There’s a bunch of pros in this league, a bunch of really good coaches, a bunch of proud fan bases," White added. "It is incredibly competitive, and I think that will be showcased in this tournament and again in the NCAA Tournament."

The action begins with 12th-seeded Missouri (11-20) facing 13th seed Mississippi (13-18) and No. 11 seed Vanderbilt (15-15) playing 14th seed Georgia (6-25).

The Missouri-Ole Miss winner advances to play fifth-seeded LSU