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SEC Basketball Preview: Ranking every game for Saturday, Feb. 22, men’s hoops slate
By Adam Spencer
Published:
SEC basketball returns with a full slate of men’s hoops action on Saturday. We have 2 ranked vs. ranked matchup, including a top-10 showdown in College Station.
Then, across the board, we have several important games for SEC teams on the NCAA Tournament bubble. In fact, all 8 games this week have tournament implications, whether for seeding or bubble watch.
Saturday is sure to be a lot of fun. So let’s dive into our 1-5 star rating system for this weekend’s 8-game slate:
5-Star Games
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
No. 6 Tennessee at No. 7 Texas A&M — 12 p.m. ET on ESPN
Texas A&M is coming off a lopsided road loss at Mississippi State. But the Aggies have been a different team at home. Meanwhile, Tennessee has dealt with some road struggles this year at times. These teams are battling for 1 of the 4 double-byes in the SEC Tournament, so expect a tense atmosphere at Reed Arena to start a busy day of SEC hoops.
No. 17 Kentucky at No. 4 Alabama — 6 p.m. ET on ESPN
Kentucky is coming off a big win over Vanderbilt. Alabama just suffered a road loss against a hot Mizzou team. This game might come down to whether or not Kentucky can get healthy in time. Jaxson Robinson and Lamont Butler are 2 of the notable players who have been in and out of the lineup recently. The Wildcats will need to be closer to full-strength to go into Tuscaloosa and win.
4-Star Games
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Georgia at No. 1 Auburn — 4 p.m. ET on ESPN
This rivalry game wouldn’t be a 4-star game except for the fact that Georgia will be desperate for a win. The Bulldogs are on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Auburn all but has a No. 1 seed locked up. I don’t expect Mike White’s squad to pull off the monumental upset, but I do expect the Bulldogs to play inspired basketball for 40 minutes.
No. 15 Mizzou at Arkansas — 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
It took forever for ESPN to announce a network for this game, which is the most Mizzou thing ever. How much more do the Tigers need to do to start getting some respect? They’ve beaten 3 top-5 teams already. Do they need to make it 4 to get on ESPN consistently? Arkansas will be a dangerous foe on Saturday night, as the Razorbacks need a big-time win to boost their NCAA Tournament résumé. Things are sure to get heated in Fayetteville.
3-Star Games
⭐⭐⭐
No. 24 Ole Miss at Vanderbilt — 3:30 p.m. on SEC Network
Ole Miss is the better team, but Nashville has been a nightmare for visiting teams this season. Mark Byington deserves a ton of credit for taking a team projected to finish last in the league to the NCAA Tournament bubble. If Vanderbilt is able to score another home win over a ranked team, it would all but lock up a March Madness berth.
2-Star Games
⭐⭐
No. 2 Florida at LSU — 6 p.m. ET on SEC Network
The Tigers have been frisky lately, but Florida is gunning for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a double-bye in the SEC Tournament. LSU will likely be overmatched in this one as the Gators stay focused on bigger goals. But Florida would be wise to try to limit what Cam Carter can do. He’s been explosive lately.
No. 21 Mississippi State at Oklahoma — 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network
The Bulldogs need a bounce-back win. Oklahoma needs a win to stay in the NCAA Tournament picture. This could end up being one of the closest games of the day, but it could also be an ugly, low-scoring affair.
1-Star Games
⭐
Texas at South Carolina — 8:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network
This is a game the Longhorns absolutely cannot afford to lose. A loss at South Carolina would likely drop Texas to the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. Thus, I think the Horns come out on fire, setting the tone early and cruising to an easy win as they keep the Gamecocks winless in SEC play.
Players to Watch
This week’s Players to Watch are:
Mark Mitchell, Mizzou
Mitchell has been incredible for the Tigers since transferring from Duke. His moves around the basket are fantastic. He runs the floor well. And he can even knock down a 3 from time to time as needed. His highlight reel from a career-high 31-point night against Alabama showcases his versatility:
The Tigers have a few guys who can go off on any given night, but Mitchell might be the most consistent performer Dennis Gates has. Keep an eye on Mitchell as we flip our calendars to March.
Amari Williams, Kentucky
Amari Williams did something against Vanderbilt that no NBA or Division I men’s basketball player has done since 2010 in this week’s big-time home win over the Commodores:
Williams is the sort of post player you can run your offense through. He’s a strong passer and has some smooth moves in the post. Defensively, he’s an elite rim protecter and solid rebounder. If Kentucky is going to make a deep run in March, it’ll be because Williams leads the way.
Coach of the Week
Dennis Gates, Mizzou
I’ll never understand how Gates went from taking the Tigers to Round 2 of the NCAA Tournament in 2023 to 0-18 in SEC play in 2024. And now he has the Tigers on the verge of a 4-seed or better in this year’s tournament. Talk about a roller-coaster ride. But it’s clear this year’s team loves its coach. Look at the way the guys swarmed him after a win over No. 4 Alabama:
How much aura does Gates have? Well, he told a bunch of rowdy college kids not to storm the court and… they actually listened. That’s impressive:
How far can this Mizzou team go in March Madness? That remains to be seen, but the Tigers are a team no one wants to see come March.
Relevant Quote from “The Office”
“I’m always thinking one step ahead, like a…carpenter that makes stairs.” — Andy Bernard
Entering the stretch run, we’re going to hear lots of discussion about how every game impacts the tourney bubble. Tis the season for looking ahead!
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
