SEC Hoops: Close Calls for Arkansas, Tennessee and Bad Beats

Getting into the 2022-23 season, the 2 matchups between Kentucky and Arkansas gave the impression to be the largest headliners of the SEC. Accidents put every group on the bubble early. The Cats have gained their manner off, for now, whereas the Razorbacks can’t appear to discover a rhythm in Eric Musselman’s fourth season.

Arkansas is ranked twenty ninth within the NET, however they’re simply 1-5 in opposition to Quad 1 opponents and 5-5 in SEC play. On Saturday they obtained caught taking part in with hearth and it virtually burned them forward of Tuesday evening’s matchup with the Wildcats at Rupp Area.

On the lookout for their first true street win of the season at South Carolina, the Razorbacks shot 57.7% from the ground within the first 20 minutes, but solely led by 9 factors on the break. It left the door open for the woeful Gamecocks to make a comeback. South Carolina retook the lead with slightly below 5 minutes remaining and it went backwards and forwards the remainder of the way in which.

Clinging to a one-point lead within the closing minute, Carolina’s Meechie Johnson missed a go-ahead three-point try. Arkansas clanged the entrance finish of a one-and-one, giving the Gamecocks one other probability to hit a game-winner, however Hayden Brown’s layup try fell quick. After one made Arkansas free throw, South Carolina missed one final look, giving Arkansas a 65-63 win.

Jalen Graham scored 16 factors off the bench to guide the Hogs who’re nonetheless struggling to search out their offensive id. Hopefully they don’t uncover it Tuesday evening. Arkansas can be looking for its second true street win of the yr, however KenPom is looking for a 72-70 Kentucky victory.

Late No Name Saves Tennessee

The horrible Tennessee offense will stop the Vols from doing something important in March, a normal for the SEC program that doesn’t know its place within the league’s pecking order. Saturday afternoon they scored precisely 23 factors within the first and second half of their win over Auburn. That’s not precisely the components to get the Vols again to only their second Elite Eight in program historical past.

Tennessee shot simply 27% from the sector in Bruce Pearl’s return to Rocky High, however SEC officers didn’t need the Auburn head coach to depart victorious. Down three factors with only a few seconds on the clock, Wendell Inexperienced obtained a glance from three. As a substitute of sinking the game-tying shot, he obtained hacked to items and the refs swallowed their whistles. Pearl was irate on the officers, and rightfully so, because the second-ranked Vols escaped with a 46-43 win. If that’s the second-best group in America, anybody can win this factor in March.

A Unhealthy Beat in Nashville

Contemporary off an embarrassing loss to Alabama, Liam Robbins returned to assist the Commodores cruise to a win and a canopy (-4.5) over Ole Miss. Effectively, virtually a canopy. Vanderbilt led by 11 factors with 50 seconds remaining when Ole Miss began piling up factors in rubbish time. It ended with the worst manner you may presumably lose a guess.

SEC Stunner in Starkville

Within the cluster that’s the center of the pack within the SEC, Missouri was essentially the most nice shock, and perhaps most poised to play spoiler this postseason. That’s why their 63-52 loss in Starkville to Mississippi State was surprising. Mizzou’s Kobe Brown shot simply 3-of-11 from the ground and Tolu Smith dominated inside for the Bulldogs. He had 25 factors and 12 rebounds to select up his tenth profession double-double and get Miss. State its third straight win. Different scores from across the SEC:

SEC Standings

Alabama stays alone on the high of league unbeaten, whereas a bunch of groups are within the combine for the double-bye on the SEC Match in Nashville.