The SEC microsite spent the summer months rolling out summer reset posts on each of the 14 teams in the conference. And with the start of the regular season just days away, now seems as good of a time as any to review where each team stands. Check out all the preseason content from your SEC microsite in this Southeastern Conference primer:

Who’s ready for some SEC basketball?

Vanderbilt Commodores

• 2011-12 record: 25-11 (10-6)
• Key returnees: Kedren Johnson (3.1 PPG); Dai-Jon Parker (1.7 PPG)
• Fresh face set to have the biggest impact: AJ Astroth – The ‘Dores need to replace a lot of scoring, and Astroth can shoot.
• Preseason RTC content: Summer update post; Dai-Jon Parker suspension; finding an answer at point guard
• 2012-13 Twitter style outlook: Expectations are quite a bit lower this year for Vanderbilt after a mass exodus in Nashville. Expect to see some growing pains in a tough SEC.
• Quotable quote from Anchor of Gold’s Christian D’Andrea:  “They’ll have the horses to pull a few big upsets, but make no mistake – this is going to be a massive rebuilding project in Nashville this season.”

Missouri Tigers

• 2011-12 record: 30-5
• Key returnees: Phil Pressey (6.4 APG); Mike Dixon Jr. (13.5 PPG)
• Fresh face set to have the biggest impact: Alex Oriakhi (transfer from UConn) – Mizzou needs his experience and presence on the low block.
• Preseason RTC content: Summer update post ; Missouri preview
• 2012-13 Twitter style outlook: In many ways its a year of transition for #Mizzou… new league… new rivals… 10 new players… expect an upper echelon SEC finish + NCAA bid
• Quotable quote from PowerMizzou’s Gabe DeArmond: “The top scorer is likely to be either Mike Dixon or Laurence Bowers, although I wouldn’t rule out Auburn transfer Earnest Ross, who some said would have been the best player on the team last year.”

Kentucky Wildcats

• 2011-12 record: 38-2 (16-0)
• Key returnees: Kyle Wiltjer (4.8 PPG)
• Fresh face set to have the biggest impact: Nerlens Noel – The big guy is known for his defensive presence, but he is much further along offensively then he is given credit for.
• Preseason RTC content: summer update post; SEC Media pick as champion; a look at Kentucky’s future; Nerlens Noel cleared by the NCAA; Bob Knight to call two UK games
• 2012-13 Twitter style outlook: This may be John Calipari’s biggest test at Kentucky yet. The Wildcats have to replace a lot of scoring and rebounding, but they have the talent to be among the nation’s best yet again.
• Quotable quote from A Sea of Blue’s Glenn Logan: “Kentucky has firepower on the perimeter, but the 2012-13 team is built to slash more than it is to spot up. That will naturally lead to some spot-up opportunities, but I expect this team to play very similarly to last year.”

Texas A&M

• 2011-12 record: 14-18
• Key returnees: Elston Turner (13.8 PPG); Ray Turner (5.5 RPG)
• Fresh face set to have the biggest impact: J-Mychal Reese – a four star point guard who can make an immediate impact.
• Preseason RTC content: summer update post;  running with the Corps of Cadets
• 2012-13 Twitter style outlook: Should see progress, but not enough has changed to see significant improvement upon a record that boasted zero wins over RPI top 100 last season.
• Quotable quote Good Bull Hunting’s DerekAggie06: “Looking at Elston’s stats can be a little misleading. Again, he was forced to play a very unnatural position for a good chunk of the 2011-12 season. He is absolutely going to be a focal point of the team as they head into the SEC.”

Jarnell Stokes Is Around For A Full Year In Knoxville This Time Around. (Wildcat Blue Nation)

Tennessee

• 2011-12 record: 19-15 (10-6)
• Key returnees: Jarnell Stokes (7.4 RPG); Trae Golden (4.5 APG)
• Fresh face set to have the biggest impact: D’Montre Edwards – another guy who can step out and knock down an open shot can’t be a bad thing.
• Preseason RTC content: summer update post; Jeronne Maymon’s minor setback
• 2012-13 Twitter style outlook: The pieces are in place for a solid season including a return to the Top 25 and successful NCAA Tournament run. The puzzle isn’t complete, but the picture is starting to take shape.
• Quotable quote with the Daily Beacon’s Patrick Maccoon: “If the team can play to their potential with limited setbacks there’s no reason why they can’t earn a Top 25 ranking throughout the season or earn themselves a favorable seeding in March Madness.”

South Carolina

• 2011-12 record: 10-21 (2-14)
• Key returnees: Bruce Ellington (11.0 PPG), Damien Leonard (6.8 PPG)
• Fresh face set to have the biggest impact:  Frank Martin… okay, besides Martin… LaShay Page – guy has DI experience and success and will be counted on to lead the way for a young team.
• Preseason RTC content: summer update post
• 2012-13 Twitter style outlook:  New head coach Frank Martin has the excitement level on high in Columbia, but expectations for his first year remain tempered at best.
• Quotable quote with the Charleston Post and Courier’s Darryl Slater: “It’s fair to say that beating any SEC opponent is going to be a challenge for USC this season, as it was last season.”

Arkansas

• 2011-12 record: 18-14 (6-10)
• Key returners: BJ Young (15.2 PPG); Hunter Mickelson (2.2 BPG)
• Fresh face set to have the biggest impact: Coty Clarke – played well on the team’s trip to Italy over the summer.
• Preseason RTC content: summer update post
• 2012-13 Twitter style outlook: Barring any injuries, Anderson’s Hogs have the talent and depth this season to be a major force at the top of the conference.
• Quotable quote from ArkansasSports360.com and Arkansas Expats’ Doc Harper: “Mickelson was one of the premier shot blockers in the SEC last year, and you could see evidence of his progress on offense as the season went on.  There’s plenty there for fans to be excited about.”

Didn’t see your team? Check out Part Two of the Southeastern Conference Season Primer tomorrow.

Brian Joyce is a writer for the SEC microsite and regular contributor for Rush The Court. Follow him on Twitter for more about SEC basketball at bjoyce_hoops. 

Brian Joyce (333 Posts)

Brian Joyce is an advanced metrics enthusiast, college hoops junkie, and writer for the SEC basketball microsite for Rush the Court.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 7th, 2012 at 10:25 am by Brian Joyce and is filed under microsites, sec. Tagged: arkansas, kentucky, missouri, south carolina, tennessee, texas a&m, vanderbilt. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.