At long last the 2013-14 college basketball season is upon us. Below is a recap of all the preseason coverage we’ve had over the past few weeks here on the SEC microsite. We’re looking forward to an exciting five months, and as one final preview morsel, here are the RTC SEC microsite’s preseason awards.

RTC Preseason SEC Player of the Year

Kentucky’s Julius Randle, the RTC Preseason SEC Player of the Year.

Julius Randle, Kentucky

RTC Preseason All-SEC First and Second Teams

Brian

• First Team: Marshall Henderson (Miss), Jabari Brown (Mizz), James Young (UK), Jarnell Stokes (UT), Julius Randle (UK)
• Second Team: Andrew Harrison (UK), Jordan McRae (UT), Dorian Finney-Smith (UF), Johnny O’Bryant (LSU), Willie Cauley-Stein (UK)

David

• First Team: Marshall Henderson (Miss), Trevor Releford (Bama), Jordan McRae (UT), Johnny O’Bryant (LSU), Julius Randle (UK)
• Second Team: Scottie Wilbekin (UF), Andrew Harrison (UK), Jabari Brown (Mizz), Patric Young (UF), Jarnell Stokes (UT)

Justin

• First Team: Andrew Harrison (UK), Aaron Harrison (UK), James Young (UK), Julius Randle (UK), Willie Cauley-Stein (UK)
• Second Team: Trevor Releford (Bama), Marshall Henderson (Miss), Jordan McRae (UT), Patric Young (UF), Jarnell Stokes (UT)

Greg

• First Team: Guards: Marshall Henderson (Miss), Trevor Releford (Bama), Jordan McRae (UT), Jarnell Stokes (UT), Julius Randle (UK)
• Second Team: Charles Mann (UGA), Andrew Harrison (UK), James Young (UK), Patric Young (UF), Johnny O’Bryant (LSU)

Preview Coverage Recap

The New Hand-Check Rule And Its Probable Effect On SEC Teams

Some of these names are understandable. Williams and Payne are undersized players (in terms of weight) who are forced to guard bigger post players and therefore need to make constant contact. Increased frontcourt depth at Georgia and Auburn will help them remain on the court. Sword is an interesting player — he showed big scoring potential last year as a freshman, but also led the SEC in turnovers (127) and fouled way too much. Both of these issues should get better with experience, but Rick Ray needs him to adjust quickly because Sword’s offensive upside can’t be sitting next to him on the bench. Caruso and Summers are offensive catalysts for their respective teams, and their foul trouble-induced absences from games could be costly. Poythress can’t afford any forced time off-the-court given how deep Kentucky is. Big men in general will likely find it difficult to guard players primarily with their feet and avoid foul trouble. This is especially the case when guarding players who excel at using power post moves, like Jarnell Stokes or Julius Randle. One might think that the more athletic a big man is, the better at avoiding fouls he will be. The new rule could also especially frustrate guards whose calling card is pressure on-ball defense, such as Anthony Hickey and Scottie Wilbekin.

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