Apparently I missed the plot somewhere. I knew the SEC always had some exceptional programs (Kentucky and Florida) with a few always pretty good ones, but this year they are dominating the rankings. Big picture what has happened? Did they get on the big money to players bus earlier than everyone else?
Why Is The SEC So Dominant This Year?
- Thread starter techtim72
- Start date
I think it has been building for several years. There has been lots of coaching turnover. Recruiting has improved, and the transfer market has really helped a few schools. Missouri went from worst to very good with the help of several transfers (they have also recruited a few guys from high school who can really play). Now there is a lot of talent in the SEC.
The thing is, Texas was a top team in the B12, and now they are an also-ran. Same for Oklahoma. The top teams--Auburn, Bama, Florida, Tennessee--are obviously legacy SEC schools.
The best conference in the 2000’s has been the Big East. Of course, mainly because of UCONN. The SEC has had Donovan Florida teams and a Calipati Kentucky Natty. The Big Ten does great as runner up’s. We’ll see if the SEC crushes in in the tourney.
The SEC has as much money to spend as anyone in the NCAA and they have competitively low standards. I'm not sure if they're at the level of NC with fake classes, but life is surely easier for pro players in the SEC than it is in the B1G, and the climate is currently better.
The SEC has made excellent coaching hires in recent years:
Auburn - Bruce Pearl, scumbag though he may be, took UW-Milwaukee to their best record in the kenpom era and took Tennessee to their only Elite 8 appearance in the kenpom era before Rick Barnes did it last year.
Florida - Todd Golden, despite being investigated for sexual assault, took San Francisco to their best season in the kenpom era and is in the process of leading the Gators to their best season in a decade.
Alabama - Nate Oats took Buffalo to the tourney 3 times in 4 seasons, while leading them to their best season in the kenpom era, and has already led Alabama to their best season in the kenpom era two seasons ago, when his best player was possibly an accomplice to murder but played in every game.
Tennessee - Rick Barnes has led Clemson, Texas and Tennessee to their best seasons in the kenpom era, took Texas to the final four (with TJ Ford, not Kevin Durant) once and the elite 8 twice, and will take Tennessee to the tourney as a top-4 seed this year for the 4th year in a row.
Missouri - Dennis Gates turned around a moribund Cleveland St program coming out of COVID before getting Mizzou their first NCAA tourney win in 13 years in his first year. Inexplicably followed that up going 0-18 in conference last year and even more inexplicably turning THAT around into Mizzou's best team since 2012 this year.
Texas A&M - Buzz Williams took Marquette to the sweet 16 or better 3 years in a row before deciding to take the job at Virginia Tech, eventually leading them to their best season in the kenpom era. This year he will lead A&M to the tourney for the 3rd straight year for the first time since 2009-11.
Mississippi - Chris Beard spent one year as the head coach at Little Rock where they had their best record in the kenpom era, before moving to Texas Tech, leading them to their best season in the kenpom era as national runner-up. Shockingly jumped to Texas before being fired in the middle of his second season for likely strangling his girlfriend, but Ole Miss didn't mind that so much as long as he wins games. He will likely take them to the tournament for the first time in 5 seasons, and will be hoping to win a game for the first time since 2013.
Kentucky - Mark Pope was a member of Kentucky's 96 championship team, but started his head coaching career at Utah Valley, leading them to their best record in the kenpom era at the time (since surpassed by current Cal coach Mad Dog Mark Madsen), before heading to BYU, where he guided them to what would have been 3 tournaments in 5 seasons of COVID didn't cancel 2020, including their highest seeding since 2010. He has won over the entire Kentucky fanbase in his first season there, though TBD on if he can do better than Calipari.
Auburn - Bruce Pearl, scumbag though he may be, took UW-Milwaukee to their best record in the kenpom era and took Tennessee to their only Elite 8 appearance in the kenpom era before Rick Barnes did it last year.
Florida - Todd Golden, despite being investigated for sexual assault, took San Francisco to their best season in the kenpom era and is in the process of leading the Gators to their best season in a decade.
Alabama - Nate Oats took Buffalo to the tourney 3 times in 4 seasons, while leading them to their best season in the kenpom era, and has already led Alabama to their best season in the kenpom era two seasons ago, when his best player was possibly an accomplice to murder but played in every game.
Tennessee - Rick Barnes has led Clemson, Texas and Tennessee to their best seasons in the kenpom era, took Texas to the final four (with TJ Ford, not Kevin Durant) once and the elite 8 twice, and will take Tennessee to the tourney as a top-4 seed this year for the 4th year in a row.
Missouri - Dennis Gates turned around a moribund Cleveland St program coming out of COVID before getting Mizzou their first NCAA tourney win in 13 years in his first year. Inexplicably followed that up going 0-18 in conference last year and even more inexplicably turning THAT around into Mizzou's best team since 2012 this year.
Texas A&M - Buzz Williams took Marquette to the sweet 16 or better 3 years in a row before deciding to take the job at Virginia Tech, eventually leading them to their best season in the kenpom era. This year he will lead A&M to the tourney for the 3rd straight year for the first time since 2009-11.
Mississippi - Chris Beard spent one year as the head coach at Little Rock where they had their best record in the kenpom era, before moving to Texas Tech, leading them to their best season in the kenpom era as national runner-up. Shockingly jumped to Texas before being fired in the middle of his second season for likely strangling his girlfriend, but Ole Miss didn't mind that so much as long as he wins games. He will likely take them to the tournament for the first time in 5 seasons, and will be hoping to win a game for the first time since 2013.
Kentucky - Mark Pope was a member of Kentucky's 96 championship team, but started his head coaching career at Utah Valley, leading them to their best record in the kenpom era at the time (since surpassed by current Cal coach Mad Dog Mark Madsen), before heading to BYU, where he guided them to what would have been 3 tournaments in 5 seasons of COVID didn't cancel 2020, including their highest seeding since 2010. He has won over the entire Kentucky fanbase in his first season there, though TBD on if he can do better than Calipari.
Mississippi State - Chris Jans took New Mexico State to their best record in the kenpom era, nearly pulling a 12/5 upset over Auburn in 2019, before pulling off a 12/5 upset over UConn in the 2022 tourney. Before his arrival, State had one tourney appearance since 2009, this year will likely be his 3rd tourney appearance in 3 seasons in Starkville.
Vanderbilt - Mark Byington coached both Georgia Southern and James Madison to their best records in the kenpom era including a 12/5 upset for JMU over Wisconsin in Brooklyn last year. In his first season in Nashville, he may not make the tourney, but he's making Vandy fans forget about the dreadful Stackhouse era already.
Arkansas - John Calipari has taken Memphis and Kentucky to their best records in the kenpom era, including national runner-up at Memphis with Derrick Rose and winning a championship at Kentucky in 2012 with Anthony Davis, along with national runner-up in 2014 with Julius Randle, two other final fours, three elite 8s and one sweet 16. Post-COVID though, he seemed to lose a step and decided to take the Arkansas job. He's already beaten Kentucky at Rupp and looks to be challenging for a tourney spot after losing his star freshman midway through the season.
Texas - Rodney Terry took over after Chris Beard was fired and led the team to the Elite 8, thus getting the job full time. The jury is still out on him, and he is the least-accomplished of these coaches thus far, though he did lead Fresno State to the tourney in 2016 for their only appearance since 2001 in the days of Tark the Shark.
Georgia - Mike White led Louisiana Tech to their best season in the kenpom era before going to Florida, where he made the elite 8 in his second season thanks to Billy Donovan's recruits in 2017. He spent the next 6 seasons underperforming, before jumping to Georgia, where he has...underperformed as well, though they did make the final four last year...of the NIT. They will likely not make the tourney this year either.
Oklahoma - After two mediocre stints at Little Rock and Illinois St, Porter Moser went to Saint Louis to be an assistant under Rick Majerus for four seasons, before Loyola Chicago hired him. As we all remember, he took Loyola and Sister Jean to the final four in 2018, and also led Loyola to their best record in the kenpom era in 2021 before being hired at Oklahoma after Lon Kruger retired. Needless to say, it hasn't gone great, as it's looking like he may miss the tourney for the 4th season in a row after the Sooners had made it 8 of 9 seasons before that.
LSU - Matt McMahon took Murray St to the tournament three times with two wins, one as a 12/5 dissection of Marquette in 2019, the other following a perfect 18-0 record in conference play as a 7-seed over Todd Golden's San Francisco in 2022. LSU hired him after Will Wade was fired for shady recruiting stuff that likely is perfectly legal today. Likely has a longer leash than most, but they have struggled this year.
South Carolina - Lamont Paris coached Chattanooga to their best record in the kenpom era, nearly upsetting Illinois as a 13-seed in a game that they led with 20 seconds to play. Last year in his 2nd season at South Carolina, they earned their highest seed since 1998, though those year they find themselves in last place, though extremely competitive.
Vanderbilt - Mark Byington coached both Georgia Southern and James Madison to their best records in the kenpom era including a 12/5 upset for JMU over Wisconsin in Brooklyn last year. In his first season in Nashville, he may not make the tourney, but he's making Vandy fans forget about the dreadful Stackhouse era already.
Arkansas - John Calipari has taken Memphis and Kentucky to their best records in the kenpom era, including national runner-up at Memphis with Derrick Rose and winning a championship at Kentucky in 2012 with Anthony Davis, along with national runner-up in 2014 with Julius Randle, two other final fours, three elite 8s and one sweet 16. Post-COVID though, he seemed to lose a step and decided to take the Arkansas job. He's already beaten Kentucky at Rupp and looks to be challenging for a tourney spot after losing his star freshman midway through the season.
Texas - Rodney Terry took over after Chris Beard was fired and led the team to the Elite 8, thus getting the job full time. The jury is still out on him, and he is the least-accomplished of these coaches thus far, though he did lead Fresno State to the tourney in 2016 for their only appearance since 2001 in the days of Tark the Shark.
Georgia - Mike White led Louisiana Tech to their best season in the kenpom era before going to Florida, where he made the elite 8 in his second season thanks to Billy Donovan's recruits in 2017. He spent the next 6 seasons underperforming, before jumping to Georgia, where he has...underperformed as well, though they did make the final four last year...of the NIT. They will likely not make the tourney this year either.
Oklahoma - After two mediocre stints at Little Rock and Illinois St, Porter Moser went to Saint Louis to be an assistant under Rick Majerus for four seasons, before Loyola Chicago hired him. As we all remember, he took Loyola and Sister Jean to the final four in 2018, and also led Loyola to their best record in the kenpom era in 2021 before being hired at Oklahoma after Lon Kruger retired. Needless to say, it hasn't gone great, as it's looking like he may miss the tourney for the 4th season in a row after the Sooners had made it 8 of 9 seasons before that.
LSU - Matt McMahon took Murray St to the tournament three times with two wins, one as a 12/5 dissection of Marquette in 2019, the other following a perfect 18-0 record in conference play as a 7-seed over Todd Golden's San Francisco in 2022. LSU hired him after Will Wade was fired for shady recruiting stuff that likely is perfectly legal today. Likely has a longer leash than most, but they have struggled this year.
South Carolina - Lamont Paris coached Chattanooga to their best record in the kenpom era, nearly upsetting Illinois as a 13-seed in a game that they led with 20 seconds to play. Last year in his 2nd season at South Carolina, they earned their highest seed since 1998, though those year they find themselves in last place, though extremely competitive.
@techtim72, the too long, didn't read version is that 13 of the 16 current coaches have coached a previous team to their best record in the Kenpom era (since the 1996-97 season), and of the 3 that haven't, one finished one Kenpom place off of the school record; one was an assistant to a fired coach who immediately took his team to the Elite 8 as an interim; and the other led Cleveland St to back-to-back Horizon league titles before getting Mizzou a tourney win for the first time in 13 years in his first season.
Yeah, was kind of remarkable how scummy a lot of the top coaches in this league are personally. Great basketball coaches though, which is perfectly on brand for the SEC!
For the Big 10, we don't have quite the same level of success, but we have a lot more longevity.
7 of the 18 current coaches have coached their current team to their best ranking in the Kenpom era (Izzo, Painter, Cronin, Hoiberg, Pikiell, McCaffery, Collins)
7 of the 18 have coached a previous team to their best ranking (Sprinkle - Montana St., McCaffery - Siena, Musselman - Arkansas, Pikiell - Stony Brook, Underwood - Stephen F Austin, Willard - Seton Hall, May - Florida Atlantic)
12 of the 18 have coached a team to their best NCAA tourney seed (Sprinkle - Utah St., Collins - NU, McCaffery - Iowa, Siena, Musselman - Arkansas, Pikiell - Rutgers, Stony Brook, Hoiberg - Nebraska, Altman - Oregon, Creighton at the time, Underwood - Stephen F Austin, Illinois, Painter - Purdue, Southern Illinois at the time, Willard - Seton Hall, May - FAU, Izzo - MSU)
5 of the 18 have made the Final Four (Izzo - 8 times, May, Painter, Cronin, Altman - 1 time)
9 of the 18 have coached a team to the Sweet 16 or better (Izzo - 15 times, Painter - 7 times, Altman - 5 times, Cronin, Musselman - 4 times, Gard - 2 times, Hoiberg, May, Underwood - 1 time)
6 of the 18 have been a head coach for at least 20 years (Altman - 35 years, Izzo - 30 years, McCaffery - 26 years, Cronin - 22 years, Painter - 21 years, Pikiell - 20 years)
4 of the 18 have no notable positive achievements at the D1 level (Diebler - 1st full season, Woodson - 0 for NU, Johnson - likely no tourney in 4th season; first Gopher coach since Dan Monson to do that, Rhoades - broke VCU's streak of making NCAA tourney 7 years in a row
7 of the 18 current coaches have coached their current team to their best ranking in the Kenpom era (Izzo, Painter, Cronin, Hoiberg, Pikiell, McCaffery, Collins)
7 of the 18 have coached a previous team to their best ranking (Sprinkle - Montana St., McCaffery - Siena, Musselman - Arkansas, Pikiell - Stony Brook, Underwood - Stephen F Austin, Willard - Seton Hall, May - Florida Atlantic)
12 of the 18 have coached a team to their best NCAA tourney seed (Sprinkle - Utah St., Collins - NU, McCaffery - Iowa, Siena, Musselman - Arkansas, Pikiell - Rutgers, Stony Brook, Hoiberg - Nebraska, Altman - Oregon, Creighton at the time, Underwood - Stephen F Austin, Illinois, Painter - Purdue, Southern Illinois at the time, Willard - Seton Hall, May - FAU, Izzo - MSU)
5 of the 18 have made the Final Four (Izzo - 8 times, May, Painter, Cronin, Altman - 1 time)
9 of the 18 have coached a team to the Sweet 16 or better (Izzo - 15 times, Painter - 7 times, Altman - 5 times, Cronin, Musselman - 4 times, Gard - 2 times, Hoiberg, May, Underwood - 1 time)
6 of the 18 have been a head coach for at least 20 years (Altman - 35 years, Izzo - 30 years, McCaffery - 26 years, Cronin - 22 years, Painter - 21 years, Pikiell - 20 years)
4 of the 18 have no notable positive achievements at the D1 level (Diebler - 1st full season, Woodson - 0 for NU, Johnson - likely no tourney in 4th season; first Gopher coach since Dan Monson to do that, Rhoades - broke VCU's streak of making NCAA tourney 7 years in a row
Thanks, Cappy. Excellent. I have to believe that in terms of recruiting areas (to the extent this is even relevant these days) the Big Ten's are as good as any. I wonder about the money game - maybe the Big Ten is late by a year or two - but if the SEC is advantaged that will end soon enough. Maybe it comes down to what you say, good coaching hires coupled with a bit of good fortune.
Your assumption was correct. SEC went crazy with money for players.
And, as Cappy detailed, there are good, often scummy, coaches in the SEC.
Scummy coaches are willing to make promises they can't keep and find ways to get money to their players.
Big East:
Pitino - Championship with UK and national runner-up, highest rank/seed in Kenpom era. Championship with Louisville, 2 F4, 3 E8, 1 S16. 13 tourney appearances in 16 seasons, highest rank/seed in Kenpom era, before he was undone by a recruiting scandal for which he was ultimately vindicated years later. Hired by Iona after 3 years away from college bball, won school-record 27 games, went to tourney two of three seasons, won MAAC twice. Hired by St. John's, on track to win Big East in 2nd season, which would be first for St. John's in Kenpom era.
McDermott - Took N. Iowa to tourney 3 years in a row, highest Kenpom rating at the time, failed at Iowa St. but rebounded with Creighton - 1 E8, 2 S16, 10 tourney appearances, highest rating/seed in Kenpom era.
Smart - Took VCU to Final Four from 1st Four, 5 straight tourney appearances, highest Kenpom rating. Mediocre run at Texas. Taken Marquette to highest seed in NCAA tourney, 1 S16, highest rating in Kenpom era, will be 4th-straight year in NCAA tourney.
Hurley - Highest rating in Kenpom era at Wagner, brought Rhode Island to back-to-back NCAA tourney appearances for first time since Jim Harrick in 1998-99, highest seed in Kenpom era, won A-10 regular season for first time in Kenpom era. Highest rating in Kenpom era at UConn, back to back champions, likely to make NCAA tourney for 5th year in a row.
Miller - Made tourney 4 straight years with Xavier in A-10, 1 S16, 1 E8. Won A-10 3 years in a row. Took Arizona to highest rating in Kenpom era, 3 E8, 2 S16, 5 PAC-10/12 titles. Back to Xavier after underperforming 2018-2021, went to S16 first year with Travis Steele's recruits but no tourney last year and on the bubble this year.
Neptune - Yeah everyone at Nova hates him, never follow a coaching legend. On verge of missing tourney 3 years in a row for first time since Wright's first three seasons.
Cooley - Took Fairfield to highest rating in Kenpom era, won MAAC that same year, but did not make tourney. Resurrected Providence program, went to tourney five years in a row, then later won Big East in 2022 with highest seed in Kenpom era, 1 S16. Despite success, wasn't enough for Providence fans, and he went to Georgetown. In year 2 of turning that program around from the wreckage left by Ewing.
Matta - One season at Butler, won league, conf. tourney, and one game at NCAA tourney. Scooped up by Xavier, won league twice, took them to the tourney all three seasons, the year he didn't win the league he went to E8. Scooped up by OSU, made tourney 9 of 13 seasons, won the NIT in one of the 4 he didn't, 1 national runner-up, 1 F4, 1 E8, 2 S16, highest ranking/seed in Kenpom era, retired due to "health reasons". Rejoined Butler after LaVall Jordan disaster, but not going great in 3rd season.
English - ...not really sure how/why he was hired? Two seasons at George Mason where he didn't make the tourney or have any big wins. Cooley's last two seasons were significantly better than English's first two at Providence. Odd.
Holloway - Rode two and a half magical weeks at St. Peter's into the Seton Hall job, was also a former player there. St. Peter's lucked out by not having to face an Iona team in the conf. tourney that swept them in the reg. season, then went on the run of a lifetime. Won the NIT last season, but the bottom fell out this year after losing 6 of 8 players to transfer/graduation.
Holtmann - 3 seasons at Gardner Webb where they were headed in the right direction, then went to Butler as an assistant before becoming interim coach due to resignation on Brandon Miller for health reasons. Was hired full time and took Butler to tourney next 3 seasons including 1 S16. Went to OSU after Matta resigned, made tourney first five seasons but never past 2nd round, including upset by 15-seed Oral Roberts. Fired last year, now in first year with DePaul. 7-0 in November, 4-17 since.
Pitino - Championship with UK and national runner-up, highest rank/seed in Kenpom era. Championship with Louisville, 2 F4, 3 E8, 1 S16. 13 tourney appearances in 16 seasons, highest rank/seed in Kenpom era, before he was undone by a recruiting scandal for which he was ultimately vindicated years later. Hired by Iona after 3 years away from college bball, won school-record 27 games, went to tourney two of three seasons, won MAAC twice. Hired by St. John's, on track to win Big East in 2nd season, which would be first for St. John's in Kenpom era.
McDermott - Took N. Iowa to tourney 3 years in a row, highest Kenpom rating at the time, failed at Iowa St. but rebounded with Creighton - 1 E8, 2 S16, 10 tourney appearances, highest rating/seed in Kenpom era.
Smart - Took VCU to Final Four from 1st Four, 5 straight tourney appearances, highest Kenpom rating. Mediocre run at Texas. Taken Marquette to highest seed in NCAA tourney, 1 S16, highest rating in Kenpom era, will be 4th-straight year in NCAA tourney.
Hurley - Highest rating in Kenpom era at Wagner, brought Rhode Island to back-to-back NCAA tourney appearances for first time since Jim Harrick in 1998-99, highest seed in Kenpom era, won A-10 regular season for first time in Kenpom era. Highest rating in Kenpom era at UConn, back to back champions, likely to make NCAA tourney for 5th year in a row.
Miller - Made tourney 4 straight years with Xavier in A-10, 1 S16, 1 E8. Won A-10 3 years in a row. Took Arizona to highest rating in Kenpom era, 3 E8, 2 S16, 5 PAC-10/12 titles. Back to Xavier after underperforming 2018-2021, went to S16 first year with Travis Steele's recruits but no tourney last year and on the bubble this year.
Neptune - Yeah everyone at Nova hates him, never follow a coaching legend. On verge of missing tourney 3 years in a row for first time since Wright's first three seasons.
Cooley - Took Fairfield to highest rating in Kenpom era, won MAAC that same year, but did not make tourney. Resurrected Providence program, went to tourney five years in a row, then later won Big East in 2022 with highest seed in Kenpom era, 1 S16. Despite success, wasn't enough for Providence fans, and he went to Georgetown. In year 2 of turning that program around from the wreckage left by Ewing.
Matta - One season at Butler, won league, conf. tourney, and one game at NCAA tourney. Scooped up by Xavier, won league twice, took them to the tourney all three seasons, the year he didn't win the league he went to E8. Scooped up by OSU, made tourney 9 of 13 seasons, won the NIT in one of the 4 he didn't, 1 national runner-up, 1 F4, 1 E8, 2 S16, highest ranking/seed in Kenpom era, retired due to "health reasons". Rejoined Butler after LaVall Jordan disaster, but not going great in 3rd season.
English - ...not really sure how/why he was hired? Two seasons at George Mason where he didn't make the tourney or have any big wins. Cooley's last two seasons were significantly better than English's first two at Providence. Odd.
Holloway - Rode two and a half magical weeks at St. Peter's into the Seton Hall job, was also a former player there. St. Peter's lucked out by not having to face an Iona team in the conf. tourney that swept them in the reg. season, then went on the run of a lifetime. Won the NIT last season, but the bottom fell out this year after losing 6 of 8 players to transfer/graduation.
Holtmann - 3 seasons at Gardner Webb where they were headed in the right direction, then went to Butler as an assistant before becoming interim coach due to resignation on Brandon Miller for health reasons. Was hired full time and took Butler to tourney next 3 seasons including 1 S16. Went to OSU after Matta resigned, made tourney first five seasons but never past 2nd round, including upset by 15-seed Oral Roberts. Fired last year, now in first year with DePaul. 7-0 in November, 4-17 since.
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