SEC's Judgement Week

ESPN has deemed this week “Judgment Week” in college basketball as a plethora of games have implications on in’s, outs, and seedings for the NCAA tournament that is less than three weeks away.

To deem call a week “Judgment Week” seems especially fitting for the SEC East Division, which has 3 teams tied with four –Florida, South Carolina and Kentucky as well as Tennessee just a game behind.

In the remaining two weeks of the regular season, the Kentucky Wildcats must face South Carolina in Columbia, host the #18 LSU, hosts the Georgia Bulldogs and travel to Florida for the finale.

Florida goes to Baton Rouge, faces Tennessee, travels to Mississippi State, and has Kentucky.
South Carolina hosts the Wildcats, goes to Vanderbilt, plays Tennessee, and finishes off with Georgia.

The Gators have the most difficult sleight having to play each of their remaining games against teams vying for one of the SEC’s tournament selections. South Carolina appears to have the easiest road to the SEC East title and track to the big dance. Other than Kentucky this week and Tennessee, the Gamecocks hold the scheduling advantage.

With the conference as a whole on a down year, just one team, LSU is ranked in the top-25, the number of teams that will be selected to make the tournament are down this year.

According to ESPN’s bracketology, the SEC should send 5 teams to the tournament, but a lot can still happen. Teams in contention for the five bids include; Mississippi State, LSU, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida, while Auburn is seemingly making a late push and could throw their resume to the table with a strong showing in the conference tournament.

Judgment Week, as it has been deemed promises to separate the contenders and pretenders. Florida’s trip to Baton Rouge and the SEC leading LSU Tigers kicks off the week, followed by a Kentucky and South Carolina showdown Wednesday.

By mid-week there might be one team alone in first in the East conference. And then it can all change again with the second games of the week Saturday and Sunday.

The term of March Madness, should be moved to February. Judgment Week will certainly drive teams and fans mad. With the games set to kick off Tuesday, a lot will be decided this week.