By Aidan Joly
The 2024-25 version of the SEC was not only the best conference in the country, but one of the best top to bottom performances from an entire conference in recent history.
The league sent a record 14 of its 16 teams to the NCAA tournament, an unheard of number. Florida won the national championship. Auburn went to the Final Four. Two more went to the Elite Eight. Nearly half (seven) of the Sweet 16 was made up of teams from the league.
How can the league follow up this unbelievable performance? Let’s take a look at each of the 16 teams.
Auburn Tigers
2024-25: 32-6 (15-3 SEC), lost in national semifinals
After getting to the Final Four, former coach Bruce Pearl surprisingly handed over the reigns to his son Steven in September.
Thankfully, the younger Pearl has a very good roster to work with. That group will be led up by Tahaad Pettiford, who had 11.6 PPG as a freshman and will be in the conversation for SEC player of the year.
As for additions the big ones are Keyshawn Hall, who had 18.8 PPG at UCF, and KeShawn Murphy, who had 11.7 PPG at Mississippi State. Kevin Overton also arrives after he averaged 7.8 PPG at Texas Tech. Three top-100 freshmen in Kaden Magwood, Sebastian Williams-Adams and Simon Walker should all have roles.
Overall, the Tigers remain a top-five team in college hoops coming into the season.
Florida Gators
2024-25: 36-4 (14-4 SEC), won national championship
Florida won its first national championship since 2007 under coach Todd Golden and now they return as the team to beat.
They did lose key pieces from the national title winning team in Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard, but they have a nice core returning. The leader of that is Alex Condon, who had 10.6 PPG, and Thomas Haugh, who had 9.8 PPG. Role guys Rueben Chinyelu and Urban Klavzar are also back, as is Micah Handlogten, who played limited minutes towards the end after missing nearly the entire year due to a broken leg suffered at the league tournament in 2024.
The key adds here are Xaivian Lee, who had 16.9 PPG at Princeton and was one of the top players in the portal, along with Boogie Fland, who had 13.5 PPG at Arkansas. AJ Brown had over 13 PPG at Ohio and figures to see some minutes.
The Gators add top-40 freshmen Cornelius Ingram Jr. and Alexander Lloyd.
Florida is the team to beat. The defending national champions usually are, and this is no different.
Alabama Crimson Tide
2024-25: 28-9 (13-5 SEC), lost in Elite Eight
Alabama has had a clear identity of playing fast and shooting a lot of threes and that will be no different in 2025-26.
The Tide return three double digit scorers in Latrell Whitesell Jr., Aden Holloway and Labaron Philon, along with Aiden Sherrill and Houston Mallette.
The best transfers here are Jalil Bethea, who had 7.1 PPG at Miami, and Taylor Bol Bowen, who had 8 PPG at Florida State. Noah Williamson had 17.6 PPG at Bucknell and Keitann Bristow had 11.3 PPG at Tarleton State. Two top-50 freshmen, London Jemison and Davion Hannah, come into the fold.
Alabama will have a shot to finish top three in this league, as well as make a deep run in March.
Tennessee Volunteers
2024-25: 30-8 (12-6 SEC), lost in Elite Eight
This roster features a lot of turnover with nine new players, but there is plenty of talent here on paper.
The high profile newcomer is Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who had 14.7 PPG at Maryland. Jaylen Carry had 8.0 PPG at Vanderbilt, and Amaree Abram had 12.3 PPG at Louisiana Tech. All should see playing time.
Felix Okpara is back in Knoxville after he averaged 7.1 PPG, JP Estrella is back after injuries knocked him out for most of the year, and role guy Cade Phillips is also back.
There are six freshmen, the most notable is five-star prospect Nate Ament. DeWayne Brown and Amari Evans are both top-80 type guys.
The roster may take a while to gel, but once it does, being a top 15 team in the country is certainly a possibility.
Texas A&M Aggies
2024-25: 23-11 (11-7 SEC), lost in NCAA second round
It will be a near entirely new roster for new Texas A&M coach Bucky McMillan after Buzz Williams left for Maryland. McMillan had seen much success at Samford.
Pop Isaacs will take shots in bunches, and he did that at Creighton on the way to averaging 16.3 PPG. Mackenzie Mgbako also arrives after he averaged 12.2 PPG at Indiana. Marcus Hill had 11.5 PPG at NC State. Rylan Griffen (Kansas) and Federiko Federiko (Texas Tech) also have plenty of high major experience. As for mid-major players, Jacari Lane had 17.3 PPG at North Alabama.
Josh Holloway follows McMillan after he averaged 7.9 PPG at Samford.
The questions here will be about cohesion and if McMillan’s “Bucky Ball,” one of the quickest styles in the country, will work in the SEC. We will see.
Kentucky Wildcats
2024-25: 24-12 (10-8 SEC), lost in Sweet 16
Things went well in Mark Pope’s first season at Kentucky after replacing John Calipari, and now the Wildcats will look to be national title contenders in year two.
Otega Oweh is the big returner here, the Wildcats’ leading scorer from last season. Brandon Garrison is also back after being an important role player for Pope’s Cats.
Jaland Lowe is the important portal add after he averaged 16.9 PPG for Pitt. Jayden Quaintance (Arizona State), Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), Kam Williams (Tulane) and Mouhamed Diabite (Alabama) each averaged at least 7 PPG last season.
Blue-chip prospects Jasper Johnson and Malachi Moreno will have big roles for Kentucky as freshmen.
There is a lot to like about this roster. If it works, Kentucky will be a very dangerous team.
Missouri Tigers
2024-25: 22-12 (10-8 SEC), lost in NCAA first round
After a dismal 2023-24 campaign two seasons ago the Tigers made it back to the NCAA tournament in 2024-25, positive signs that coach Dennis Gates is building a winning program.
The Tigers lose a lot in this year’s roster, but do bring back Mark Mitchell, who had 13.9 PPG, as well as Anthony Robinson II, who had 9 PPG. Important role guys Trent Pierce and Jacob Crews also return.
As for portal adds, Sebastian Mack averaged 9.6 PPG at UCLA, and Shawn Phillips Jr. had 5.4 PPG at Arizona State. Jayden Stone (Detroit) and Jevon Porter (Loyola Marymount) both had a lot of success at the mid-major level.
If all of these pieces can fall into place, Missouri can certainly have a good season.
Ole Miss Rebels
2024-25: 24-12 (10-8 SEC), lost in Sweet 16
Chris Beard’s second season at the helm in Oxford was one of the best in program history, winning its most games since the 2009-10 season and getting to the second weekend for just the second time ever and first time since 2001.
It’s an interesting group of players coming to Ole Miss this season. AJ Storr should be the one to lead the way, a former Wisconsin star who had a disappointing year at Kansas and only averaged 6.1 PPG. James Scott had a solid campaign for Louisville, and Corey Chest was a nice role player at LSU. Augusto Cassia (Butler) and Travis Perry (Kentucky) had small roles last season but should be in the rotation.
Malik Dia returns after he averaged in double figures last season and was one of the better players in the league.
Top prospect Niko Bundalo should see a big role from the start, joining another pair of top 100 guys in Tylis Jordan and Patton Pinkins.
There is some depth to this team and guys who have played meaningful minutes at the high major level. We will see how it all comes together.
Arkansas Razorbacks
2024-25: 22-14 (8-10 SEC), lost in Sweet 16
There was a ton of hype coming into the Razorbacks’ season last year with John Calipari coming in to be the new coach. The regular season was something of a disappointment, but the squad turned it on in March and went to the Sweet 16 as a 10-seed.
Now, Calipari is back for more in year two, He returns a solid amount of talent headlined by DJ Wagner, Karter Knox and Trevon Brazile, along with Billy Richmond II.
A pair of solid transfer adds enter in the form of Malique Ewen, who had 14.2 PPG at Florida State, and Nick Pringle, who had 9.5 PPG at South Carolina.
In typical Calipari fashion he brought in two five-star prospects in Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas, both of whom will have big roles immediately. Paulo Semedo and Isaiah Sealy are both talented first year guys too.
There is talent here. If things go well, don’t be surprised to see Arkansas finish in the top four or five of the league.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
2024-25: 21-13 (8-10 SEC), lost in NCAA first round
After going to the NCAA tournament, coach Chris Jans and co. return with a strong identity of toughness.
Leading that charge is Josh Hubbard, last season’s leading scorer who is back for another year.
Joining him is a group of transfers who were all productive last season. Jayden Epps averaged 12.8 PPG at Georgetown, Achor Achor had a decent season at Kansas State but dominated at some lower levels. Quincy Ballard (Wichita State) and Ja’Borri McGhee were both productive in the American Conference.
Three top-100 prospects, King Grace, Tee Bartlett and Jamarion Davis-Fleming, have a shot at playing time.
This will be a good team, especially on the defensive end of the floor. That should keep it on the right side of the tournament bubble.
Georgia Bulldogs
2024-25: 20-13 (8-10 SEC), lost in NCAA first round
Georgia had its best season in several years, getting back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2015 and appearing in the AP poll for the first time since 2011.
This year’s edition of the Bulldogs has a chance at being successful. Coach Mike White was active in the portal, getting Jeremiah Wilkinson, who averaged more than 15 PPG at California, Marcus Millender, who did nearly the same at UTSA, Jordan Ross, who had 8.3 PPG at Saint Mary’s, and Kanon Catchings, who had a very good freshman year at BYU.
Blue Cain is the main returner here and will have a larger role. Expect him to average in double figures.
Georgia will likely be in the bottom half of the SEC, but some talent on paper should make them somewhat competitive.
Vanderbilt Commodores
2024-25: 20-13 (8-10 SEC), lost in NCAA second round
The first year under Mark Byington produced Vandy’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 2017. The Commodores will have a chance to take a next step this year.
Byington returns a pair of double digit scorers in Tyler Nickel and Devin McGlockton. Role guy Tyler Tanner is also back.
As for newcomers the most interesting ones are Frankie Collins, who had 11.2 PPG at TCU, and Tyler Harris, who had 11.8 PPG at Washington. Mike James sat out last season but had 12+ PPG for Louisville two seasons ago. Duke Miles nearly averaged double figures for Oklahoma last year, and Jalen Washington carved out a nice role at North Carolina. George Kimble III was a star at Eastern Kentucky, we will see if he can get some consistent playing time in the SEC.
Vandy did suffer some losses. No doubt. But if this group can come together and click early in the season, noise can be made.
Texas Longhorns
2024-25: 19-16 (6-12 SEC), lost in NCAA First Four
After sneaking into the NCAA tournament Texas is making a change, hiring former Arizona and Xavier coach Sean Miller to take over the program from Rodney Terry.
Miller did get a pair of double digit scorers, Jordan Pope and Tramon Mark, to stick around.
As for new names in the portal Dailyn Swain follows Miller from Xavier after averaging 11 PPG for the Musketeers. Simeon Wilcher is a big add after he averaged 8 PPG at St. John’s. Seven-footer Matas Vokietaitis was in double figures in Florida Atlantic. Camden Heide was a great role guy at Purdue and should take on a similar role in Austin.
Miller will be tasked with getting the pieces together. He has a chance to do so.
Oklahoma Sooners
2024-25: 20-14 (6-12 SEC), lost in NCAA first round
It is an interesting mix of players for the Sooners this season.
Nothing of note returns. Saint Joseph’s transfer Xzavier Brown is a true lead guard and should have that role this year. Tae Davis (15.1 PPG at Notre Dame) will play alongside him. Nijel Pack, a college hoops vet who comes in from Miami, and Derrion Reid (Alabama) join them.
International freshman, seven-footer Andreas Holst, should see impact minutes from the start. Top-100 guys Alec Blair and Kai Rogers also come in.
The youth will have to develop quickly. If it doesn’t, there is a chance it will be a long season in Norman.
LSU Tigers
2024-25: 14-18 (3-15 SEC), no postseason
LSU had a bad season last year, but has a shot at having a better one this year.
Much of that is thanks to the arrival of Dedan Thomas, a proven talent who averaged more than 15 PPG at UNLV. He should be the go-to guy. Michael Nwoko has experience in the league, transferring in from Mississippi State. Marquel Sutton (Omaha), Rashad King (Northeastern), Max Mackinnon (Portland) and Pablo Tamba (UC Davis) were all in double figures at the mid-major level.
Jalen Reed, who averaged 11.1 PPG, returns. Freshmen Jalen Reece and Mazi Mosley should both have roles to start.
The youth on this team and the fits need time to develop and play together. Expect steps to be made throughout the year.
South Carolina Gamecocks
2024-25: 12-20 (2-16 SEC), no postseason
After a great 2023-24 season that resulted in a 6-seed in the NCAA tournament and a SEC coach of the year award for Lamont Paris, things came crashing down in 2024-25 with a last place finish.
It’s a true rebuilding year for the Gamecocks. They don’t have a single player who averaged in double figures at the high major level last season. However, they do bring back Meechie Johnson, who was perhaps South Carolina’s best player two seasons ago before playing at Ohio State last year. Chris Essandoko is a nice add after he spent last year at Providence.
As for other guys, Kobe Knox had 10.8 PPG at South Florida, Mike Sharavjamts had 7.2 PPG at Utah and Elijah Strong had 9.6 PPG at Boston College. Nordin Kapic was in double figures on a UC San Diego team that played in the tournament.
The Gamecocks return Myles Stute, who had 5.4 PPG.
South Carolina has a shot to beat some teams at home, but it will be a tough hill to climb for real upward mobility.
AJ Hoops 