2016 NCAA Tournament: SEC Bids

Mar 12, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats players celebrate after a basket in the second half against the Georgia Bulldogs during the SEC conference tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Kentucky won 93-80. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

2016 NCAA Tournament: SEC bids

Here at Fantasy CPR, we will keep you up to date on which teams are fighting for a tournament berth, which teams are in, and which teams should be in. We will go conference by conference for the major conferences. The traditional one bid conferences will all get their day in print as well. Follow along as we unveil our projected teams up until Selection Sunday!

Up next, we will take a look at the SEC, where it was Texas A&M, Kentucky, and everyone else this year. How many of the everyone else will make it in? Let’s take a look!

A big win is a win against a RPI top 50 team. A bad loss is a loss to a team under 100 in the RPI. RPI rankings are in parenthesis.

Just in case you missed any:
ACC
A-10
American
Big East
Big Ten
Big 12
Missouri Valley

Kentucky (25-8, 13-5 SEC, RPI: 11, SOS: 30)

Big Wins: vs. (17)Louisville(75-73), vs. (20)Duke(74-63)

Bad Losses: at (103)UCLA(77-87), at (144)Tennessee(77-84), at (175)Auburn(70-75)

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Kentucky has 11 more wins against the RPI top 100, so they are miles ahead of where Ohio State and Michigan are, for example. A win in the SEC Tournament final would likely help their seeding some, but this is going to be a dangerous team no matter where they land.

The whole starting five were bench players last year behind one of the best freshman classes we have seen in a while. Jamal Murray and Tyler Ulis make this team go. Kentucky is a deep team as well. They frequently play eight players, and all of them are good.

Does anyone want to face the Wildcats right now? Once again, they are peaking come tournament time. Just look at what they did to Georgia down the stretch today. If Kentucky can take down A&M, they could move up as high as a four seed.

Projected seed: 5

Next: Where Will A&M End Up?

Mar 12, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Bill Kennedy celebrates with team members and cheerleaders after defeating the LSU Tigers during the second half of game ten of the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Texas A&M won 71-38. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Texas A&M (26-7, 13-5 SEC, RPI: 18, SOS: 55)

Big Wins: vs. (11)Kentucky(79-77), vs. (21)Iowa State(72-62), vs. (24)Baylor(80-61), vs. (26)Texas(84-73), vs. (43)Gonzaga(62-61)

Bad Losses: at (100)Arizona State(54-67), at (129)Arkansas(71-74)

The SEC Championship game will likely be for a four or five seed between A&M and Kentucky. There is a slight chance that the Aggies could jump to a three, but I don’t really see that happening, especially if Purdue wins.

Jalen Jones and Danuel House are forces for the Aggies. Each of them average over 15 points per game. They have five other players that average more than six points per game, so they get production from everywhere.

Projected seed: 4

Next: Can Georgia Get In?

Mar 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs forward Kenny Paul Geno (25) celebrates with guard Kenny Gaines (12) after beating South Carolina Gamecocks with a free throw in the closing seconds during the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Georgia won 65-64. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Georgia (29-13, 10-8 SEC, RPI: 60, SOS: 26)

Big Wins: NONE

Bad Losses: at (175)Auburn 81-84

The Bulldogs only had six wins against the RPI top 10, with none coming against the top 50. They really needed that win against Kentucky yesterday. The low RPI and lack of quality wins will land them in the NIT.

Projected seed: OUT

Next: How Many Bubble Teams Get In?

Mar 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Sindarius Thornwell (0) steals the ball in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs during the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

South Carolina (24-8, 11-7 SEC, RPI: 65, SOS: 123)

Big Wins: at (17)Texas A&M(81-78)

Bad Losses: at (144)Tennessee(69-78), at (150)Mississippi State(58-68), at (222)Missouri(67-72)

The Cocks only have one big win, and three bad losses. They did rack up seven more wins against the RPI top 100, but that RPI is dangerously low for an at large team. The Gamecocks might be the most polarizing team among those predicting tournament teams. I don’t think they get in. They just don’t have the wins necessary. They didn’t beat Kentucky, and they lost to Georgia three times.

Projected seed: OUT

Next: Is Mississippi In?

Mar 1, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores fans cheer for their team against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Memorial Gym. Vanderbilt won 86-69. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Vanderbilt (19-13, 11-7 SEC, RPI: 61, SOS: 36)

Big Wins: vs. (12)Kentucky(74-62), vs. (17)Texas A&M(77-60)

Bad Losses: at (132)Arkansas(85-90), vs. (144)Tennessee(65-67), at (150)Mississippi State(74-75)

The good wins were almost wiped out by the bad losses. Those two wins helps keep Vanderbilt above water, but again, their RPI is very low because the SEC overall was weak. Can the SEC really only get two teams in? They likely should. Honestly, Vanderbilt deserves to be in over South Carolina.

Projected seed: OUT

Next: 2016 Big 12 Picks For NCAA Tournament

Stay tuned to meet the teams that could destroy your brackets, the teams from the one bid leagues!