I know many people will call me crazy, but SEC basketball has never been better than it is right now. The SEC has seven teams in the NCAA tournament and has six ranked teams. As we enter the last week of the regular season, this is setting up to be the greatest stretch of games in SEC history. There are five teams that still have a chance to hold at least a share of the regular season title. Tennessee is in the driver's seat, as they can win the league outright with two wins this week. 

Vols roll the Tide

Tennessee goes to Tuscaloosa and pulls out what was the most impressive win in the SEC this year.

With College Gameday and a sold out crowd, in a place Alabama has won 16 straight conference games, the Vols win by multiple possessions. We talked all week that if Tennessee was going to win Dalton Knecht was going to perform like he did against Auburn, but he did not. Knecht struggled with foul trouble and Alabama doubled him for much of the game. Just because Knecht did not put up great scoring numbers, his presence on the court opened up all the other guys. Alabama was doubling Knecht on the catch, in pick and rolls, and on post ups. Knecht is a great passer out of a double team and this led to wide open shots for everyone else. 

I thought Knecht played great the other night, as his decision making was the reason Tennessee won this game. I also think Saturday proved once again that defense travels. Tennessee’s ability to guard on the perimeter is impressive and it took Alabama out of rhythm offensively. The Vols ability to fight through screens is different than anyone else and this caused the Tide to have multiple moving screens.

Jahmi Mashack was the key player in the win. He is the best perimeter defender in the SEC. The job he did on Mark Sears was impressive. Mashack hit a huge three pointer then hustled back to get a steal, which resulted in an and one opportunity for Jonas Aidoo. Tennessee got every 50-50 ball and the team that does that will win big time matchups. 

This win puts a pretty big gap between the Vols and everyone else in the SEC. For Alabama, you have to find a way to play defense. They did a good job on Knecht, but it was because they sent a double team. This put the Tide in scramble mode defensively and it's really hard to guard when you are in rotations as a defense. Tennessee did a great job of moving the ball on offense.

I thought this game also showed why Alabama needs a post presence. Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka were in foul trouble in the first half, which really helped the Tide. The second half these guys controlled the paint. The Tide do not have a low post presence on the offensive side of the ball. In the end, basketball is a game of matchups and this is not a good matchup for Alabama. 

Gamecocks down the Gators

South Carolina completes an incredible comeback to beat Gators in Columbia. Lamont Paris proved once again why he is one of the best coaches around. Florida had controlled much of the last 10 minutes of the first half and first 10 of the second. They were controlling the glass and Zyon Pullin and Walter Clayton were making shots and getting in the lane. This all changed when Paris decided to go change defenses and go to 1-3-1.

Florida was totally not prepared for it and it cost them the game. South Carolina's activity in the zone really bothered the Gators. Zachary Davis was very impactful at the top of the 1-3-1, as he got his hand on the ball multiple times, as well getting a couple of kicked balls. His activity bothered Clayton and Pullin.

Florida’s spacing in the zone was not good. In order to beat a 1-3-1, four corners is the correct spacing. Two guards split the top defender and two shooters are in the corners. The big man plays in the middle of the zone and tries to screen the top defender in the 1-3-1. The Gators kept trying to dribble into the zone and that never works.

I talked about in the preview how the South Carolina guards were going to need to hold their own and they did. Meetchie Johnson was excellent as he showed the ability to be a three level scorer. He attacked the basket and also took great shots on the perimeter. He played confident and under control. 

Auburn bounces back

I was a little worried about the Auburn Tigers after the heartbreaking loss in Knoxville on Wednesday. I was not sure if they were going to have a letdown or not. This team is starting to play really good ball and seems to have found their stride coming into March.

Chad Baker-Mazara has developed into a very nice player. I believe he has a chance to be a pro one day. Johni Broome continues to play at a first team all-sec level, as he had 17 points 6 rebounds in the game. For Auburn to be at its best, Broome needs to touch the ball on offense just about every time he is in the game. Good things happen to Auburn when he touches the ball. 

Another encouraging state for Auburn was that they had 19 assists to only 10 turnovers. Auburn has been fine with its turnovers all season statistically, but the turnovers they have are really bad ones. The one knock on Auburn is the inconsistent guard play. Good guards win in March and guards for Auburn have not been great. Denver Jones played well for the Tigers, but the Auburn point guards combined for four points on 2-7 shooting. 

I thought this was a missed opportunity for Mississippi State. They have a great duo in Tolu Smith and Josh Hubbard, but needed a third scorer to really challenge Auburn. Smith and Hubbard had good scoring games, but were not very efficient. Smith had 14 points on 15 shots and that's not going to get it done when Smith does not take perimeter shots. Bulldogs really need Shakeel Moore to be more aggressive on the offensive end. 

Best of the rest in the SEC

Kentucky fans should get used to watching a lot of entertaining games. This team scores the ball so easily and has so many weapons. Now, defense is optional right now for this team, which is why I could see them winning the National Championship or not getting out of the first weekend. Arkansas played really well on Saturday and it's a shame they have not played with that energy and effort all season. Kentucky just did not look engaged on defense as they were giving up a lot of uncontested shots but the Wildcats played a solid last five minutes on that end and were able to pull away.

Texas A&M kept their slim hopes alive of making the NCAA tournament as they beat Georgia. The Aggies won despite not getting its normal production from Wade Taylor.

LSU defeated Vanderbilt in what I thought was a chance for an upset. Ole Miss also kept their slim chance of getting in the tournament, as they beat winless Missouri. Dennis Gates will go from getting an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament, and turning around the next year and going winless in the league.

Look ahead to this week's action

The game of the week is in Columbia, South Carolina, as the Tennessee Vols come to town. This has SEC regular season championship implications on the line. As Tennessee looks to claim the title outright. I am interested to see how South Carolina guards Dalton Knecht. Will they double him and see if the others can make shots or will they let him just go one on one?

If I am Lamont Paris, I am not letting Knecht beat me. I look for Tennessee to go with their two-big lineup a lot in this game. South Carolina plays BJ Mack and Collin Murray-Bowles together. These two gave the Vols a lot of trouble in the last meeting. 

Alabama goes to Gainesville, as both teams look to bounce back. Florida really controlled the last game in Tuscaloosa until the end and Alabama has not been great on the road this season. One thing I will be looking for is how well can Alabama rebound and can they get any scoring inside. Mark Sears and company have to be able to keep the Florida guards out of the paint.

Mississippi State goes to College Station in what will be a game with NCAA tournament implications. Texas A&M has to have this game and the Bulldogs do not want to lose two in a row. Which team will get contributions from their role players will win the game. 

Ole Miss goes to Athens, in what is another must win for the Rebels. LSU goes to Bud Walton. I am interested to see what level of energy Arkansas plays with. This team has the talent to make things interesting in Nashville. Kentucky hosts Vanderbilt, and the only question in this game is how many points will the Wildcats score. Auburn travels to winless Missouri to round out the week of games.

Other news

The mid major conference tournaments start this week and if you are looking for fun and meaningful basketball this is it. These tournaments are so fun to watch as most of these leagues are one bid leagues. The kids give it everything they got for a chance to go dancing. I also want to shine light on some D2 basketball as their conference tournaments begin as well.

I would encourage everyone to watch the Mountain East tournament, as it is the highest scoring league in the country. I want to give a big shoutout to my former team Fairmont State, as they start the play in the Mountain East Conference Tournament.