STF Conference Reports: SEC 1/29

What up, peeps? It was a busy week for the SEC and although it's still a little early, the cream is starting to rise. Florida looks like they aren't going to miss a beat even though every starter from their repeat champion teams are gone. Tennessee has also announced they are going to be a major player in the SEC (even with the UK loss) and if Florida falters, the Vols will be waiting to snatch the East.

In the West, the Magnolia State is represented nicely as Ole Miss and Mississippi State have been playing well (Chris' note: Mississippi State is 9-1 in their last ten games); although a 20-point Bulldog victory against the Rebels this past Sunday dims Ole Miss' bulb some.

Other teams that have started playing well include Arkansas and UK, both at 3-2. It's shaping up for another competitive SEC Conference battle, something I'm sure everyone here will appreciate. On with the update:

Team(s) of the Week - Florida, Kentucky
Both the Gators and the Cats went 2-0 last week and both teams answered some questions about themselves. Florida proved their youth will not deter them from trying to grab the SEC crown again. Victories over South Carolina and Vanderbilt (who Florida DESTROYED) proves Billy Donovan isn't just the sum of his previous two-season perfect storm. Currently, Florida leads the East at 5-1.

As for Kentucky, is this the time for UK fans to start believing again? With two victories over Tennessee and South Carolina (both at Rupp Arena), the Cats are trying to prove they are not the same team that gave up some of the most embarrassing losses the program has ever experienced. Can UK keep this run going or will they "come back to earth?" Now that Billy Gillispie looks like he's solidifying his rotation, the Cats seem to be playing with more confidence. We'll see if it continues.

Worst Team of the Week - South Carolina
After losses to UK and Florida (at South Carolina), Dave Odom's final year of coaching is proving to be a challenging one as SEC Conference play takes over their schedule and according the Gamecock fan I overheard Saturday (in a Kansas City sports bar, no less), his retirement is not coming quickly enough. Can South Carolina rally for a strong finish and send Coach Odom out with some level of achievement?

Player of the Week - Ramel Bradley
Again, I'm going to agree with the SEC here and award this little designation to Billy Gillispie's lead guard, "Smoove." Against USC, Bradley had 26 points and 10 big rebounds while going 5-5 from the 3-point line. Against UT, "Brooklyn" had 16 points and 6 rebounds. Also, during this 2-game stretch, Ramel was 15-16 from the free-throw line. He leads the SEC in FT percentage at 86.9%. In case you are wondering, Ramel is an aspiring music artist as well.

Games to Watch:
1/29 - Tennessee at Alabama [ESPN] 9:00
1/30 - Mississippi State at Arkansas
2/2 - Kentucky at Georgia [CBS] 1:00
2/2 - LSU at Alabama
2/2 - Florida at Arkansas
2/2 - South Carolina at Ole Miss
2/2 - Auburn at Vanderbilt
2/2 - Tennessee at Mississippi State