by BOB HOLT ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE , Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

"We weren't as good as we usually are, let's not try to trick anybody," Stallings said at SEC media day. "We weren't bad, bad, but we weren't as good as we've been." The only SEC teams to make the NCAA Tournament last year were LSU, Tennessee and Mississippi State, and they went a combined 1-3, with only LSU advancing to the second round before being bounced out by eventual national champion North Carolina.

The Tigers won the SEC regularseason title with a 13-3 record, but were made a No. 8 seed by the NCAA Tournament selection committee.

But that wasn't the only example of how the selection committee disrespected the SEC. Auburn and South Carolina became the first teams since the conference expanded and went to a 16-game schedule in 1992 to win at least 10 games and not make the NCAA Tournament.

Three teams in the NCAA Tournament were the fewest for the SEC since 1990, when it was a 10-team conference and Alabama, Georgia and LSU were its NCAA entrants. Arkansas reached the 1990 Final Four, but as a Southwest Conference team.

The SEC had at least five teams in the NCAA Tournament the previous 12 years, and six teams eight times.

So what happened last year?

"We all got young at the same time," Stallings said. "It was one of those weird things where pro defections and graduation affected a bunch of us at the same time." Eight SEC teams last season had a combined 15 freshmen among their regular starters. This season the 12 teams have a combined 46 returning starters, including 32 who are seniors or juniors.

"Everyone has everybody back," Kentucky Coach John Calipari said.

Seven SEC underclassmen who declared for last year's NBA Draft withdrew their names and decided to return to school.

The list of returnees includes six players who earned All-SEC honors last season: Arkansas forward Michael Washington; Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson; South Carolina guard Devan Downey; Mississippi State center Jarvis Varnado; Tennessee forward Tyler Smith; and LSU forward Tasmin Mitchell.

South Carolina forward Dominque Archie, a threeyear starter, also withdrew his name from the draft.

The SEC, which begins regular-season play this weekend, also is getting a boost from players returning from injuries, including Ole Miss guard Chris Warren.

"Last year wasn't the norm," Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey said. "Now we're going to have a pretty experienced league." The SEC has three new coaches with Calipari, Anthony Grant at Alabama and Mark Fox at Georgia.

"I think all three programs have really upgraded with their coaching hires," said Jimmy Dykes, a former Razorback who is an ESPN analyst and calls SEC games. Calipari's addition has been especially noteworthy after he led Memphis to a combined 137-14 record the previous four years, including 13-4 in the NCAA Tournament.

With Calipari bringing in a recruiting class rated No. 1 nationally, led by freshman point guard John Wall, expectations are soaring for Kentucky after the Wildcats went 22-14 and missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 18 years, resulting in Billy Gillispie's firing.

Kentucky is ranked No. 4 in The Associated Press preseason poll. That's good for the SEC, Ole Miss Coach Andy Kennedy said.

"I think every league has a team that it needs to be good for the league to get the recognition that it deserves nationally," Kennedy said. "Kentucky is obviously the most storied program in college basketball , and we need Kentucky to be Kentucky.

"John Calipari obviously brings immediate credibility to their situation. He brought in high, high level players, which Kentucky is used to having, and I think it's going to be great for the league." Calipari predicted the SEC will have seven or eight teams make the NCAA Tournament based on the returning players, newcomers and upgraded nonconference schedules.

"When we start playing each other, we're just going to make each other stronger," Calipari said.

Stallings said SEC coaches were "admonished" by their athletic directors at last spring's conference meetings for having just three teams in the NCAA Tournament.

"I understand where they're coming from, because the financial implications are significant," Stallings said. "They've gotten used to our dollars.

"It's not just the football bucks anymore. Our money is starting to matter a little bit, and they like it, and I don't blame them.

"But we'll get it back for them this year."

Preseason media poll

Predicted order of finish with first-place votes in parentheses:

SEC CHAMPION Kentucky (20); Mississippi State (3); Tennessee (2)

EASTERN DIVISION PTS

Kentucky (23) ......... 148

Tennessee (2) .......... 117

Vanderbilt .................. 90

South Carolina .......... 77

Florida........................ 68

Georgia ...................... 25

WESTERN DIVISION PTS

Mississippi St. (22) ..144

Ole Miss (2) ............ 120

Alabama .................... 84

LSU (1) ...................... 70

Arkansas ..............63

Auburn ...................... 44

This article was published 11/10/2009

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