SEC MBB: Kentucky picked first, Bama second in preseason poll

Alabama reached the Sweet 16 a year ago and are tabbed to finish second in the SEC in 2021-22. (UA Media Relations)

COMBINED REPORTS

Kentucky was predicted to win the 2022 Southeastern Conference men’s basketball championship in voting by a select panel of both SEC and national media members.

After winning the 2020-21 SEC title, Alabama was picked to finish second behind the Wildcats. The Crimson Tide return two starters from last year’s team in Jaden Shackelford and Jahvon Quinerly and add newcomers JD Davison and Noah Gurley, a transfer from Furman.

Auburn was picked fifth.

Vanderbilt sophomore guard Scotty Pippen Jr. was the choice of the media for SEC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year. Alabama’s Shackelford and Quinerly; Arkansas’ JD Notae; Kentucky’s Keion Brooks Jr., Kellan Grady & Sahvir Wheeler; and Tennessee’s Kennedy Chandler also received votes in the Player of the Year voting.

Pippen, Shackelford, Quinerly and Wheeler were each All-SEC First Team selections in addition to Florida’s Colin Castleton and Mississippi State’s Iverson Molinar. Brooks and Grady were second team picks along with Arkansas’ Davonte Davis, Auburn’s Jabari Smith, Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe and LSU’s Darius Days.

Points were compiled on a 14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. Each media member also voted for a five-player All-SEC Team. Ties were not broken.

The 2021-22 campaign begins Nov. 9, with conference play set to begin Dec. 29. The 2022 SEC Tournament will be March 9-13 at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay, Fla.

Preseason Media Poll

1.            Kentucky

2.            Alabama

3.            Arkansas

4.            Tennessee

5.            Auburn

6.            LSU

7.            Florida

8.            Mississippi State

9.            Ole Miss

10.          Missouri

11.          South Carolina

12.          Texas A&M

13.          Vanderbilt

14.          Georgia

First Team All-SEC

Jaden Shackelford – Alabama

Jahvon Quinerly – Alabama

Colin Castleton – Florida

Sahvir Wheeler – Kentucky

Iverson Molinar – Mississippi State

Scotty Pippen Jr. – Vanderbilt

Second Team All-SEC

Davonte Davis – Arkansas

Jabari Smith – Auburn

Keion Brooks Jr. – Kentucky

Kellan Grady – Kentucky

Oscar Tshiebwe – Kentucky

Darius Days – LSU

SEC Player of the Year

Scotty Pippen Jr. – Vanderbilt