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Sporting News, The, March 18, 2005 by Roger Kuznia

Kentucky has talent, depth and a pressure defense that leads to easy baskets. PF Chuck Hayes does whatever is necessary to win, and he has been aided by the development of freshman C Randolph Morris. Opponents who take care of the ball and slow the Wildcats' transition game can give Kentucky trouble.... Alabama returns four starters from last year's Elite Eight team, but the key player might be the newcomer, freshman PG Ronald Steele, who knows his primary role is to set up his teammates. Star SF Kennedy Winston blends size, quickness and perimeter touch. SG Earnest Shelton makes teams pay if they leave him open on the perimeter.... LSU has played terrific basketball down the stretch, riding the low-post duo of PF Brandon Bass, a top candidate for SEC Player of the Year, and freshman C Glen Davis. They pack a wallop. The Tigers are prone to turnovers, however; PG Tack Minor is a wild card.... Not surprisingly, Florida leads the SEC in scoring. It also has made strides on defense and on the glass, where senior PF David Lee and freshman PF Al Horford lead the way. G Anthony Roberson is a deadeye shooter and an explosive scorer. SF Matt Walsh has battled an ankle injury for much of the season, but he still is a dangerous scorer and the team's assists leader.... Mississippi State gets a boost with the return of SG Winsome Frazier; the Bulldogs were 4-4 when he was out with a broken foot. Frazier is the team's best perimeter defender and a good 3-point shooter. The threat of Frazier and SF Shane Power from the perimeter takes pressure off star PF Lawrence Roberts, who has been bothered by a quadriceps injury. PG Gary Ervin often has struggled as a first-year starter.... Vanderbilt lives along the 3-point line; five Commodores are threats from long range. If Vandy is hitting from deep-and it ranks third nationally in made 3s per game-it can overcome its lack of top-shelf talent and creative playmaking.... Arkansas continues to make strides under Stan Heath, and G/F Ronnie Brewer is one of the SEC's best-and most complete--players. But an inability to win away from home could keep the Razorbacks out of the tournament.

SEC
                          Likely
School              RPI    seed    Record

Alabama              14      4      23-6
Arkansas             95     --      18-11
Florida              32      7      19-7
Kentucky             11      2      23-3
LSU                  25      8      19-8
Mississippi State    28      8      21-9
Vanderbilt           64     11      18-12

2005 Ad

Sporting News, The, March 18, 2005 by Roger Kuznia

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