SEC PREVIEW
FROM THE
WRONG END OF A CAT FIGHT...
TO SCRATCHING THEIR WAY TO THE TOP
By MATTHEW SPARKS / For Th e Daily Independent
A different clowder of cats clawed their way to the top of
the SEC last season.
The Tigers of LSU and Auburn showed their stripes,
taking the regular-season crown and the tournament title
respectively.
Kentucky will lean on its returning group of Wildcats to
reassert its place at the top of the standings. Coach John
Calipari can boast an experienced backcourt with sopho-
mores Ashton Hagans, a defensive specialist, and Imman-
uel Quickley, an athletic shooting guard.
Forwards Nick Richards and E.J. Montgomery tested the
NBA waters but resurfaced in Lexington. Grad transfer
Nate Sestina from Bucknell will offer another physical
presence down low.
Calipari and his preference for a professional-style
program always yields a talented recruiting class. This
year is no different with the addition of fi ve-star newcom-
ers Tyrese Maxey and 6-foot-6 forward Kahlil Whitney.
34 | UK Basketball Preview 2019/2020N
Johnny Juzang chose Kentucky over national-champion
Virginia and Kentucky Mr. Basketball Dontaie Allen will
see action after suffering a knee injury in his fi nal year of
high school.
Auburn, guided by its fl amboyant coach Bruce Pearl,
won 14 of its fi nal 16 games in last campaign, including the
school’s fi rst SEC Tournament title since 1985. The streak
culminated with in a one-point loss to Virginia in the fi nal
moments at the Final Four.
If Auburn wants to reach the 30-win plateau again, it
will rely on the great depth it enjoyed last season to adjust
to new roles. Playing on college basketball’s grandest
stage can help, but the solid frontcourt of Daniel Purifoy,
Anfernee McLemore and 6-11 Austin Wiley will need to
put up big minutes.
LSU brought back the services of coach Will Wade for a
third season after his involvement in an alleged recruit-
ing scandal that included recordings with former Adidas
consultant Christian Dawkins.