2007-2008 Preseason All-SEC First Team

Now we move on to the A-listers…

All-SEC First Team

Chris Lofton (Tennessee - Shot Guard - Senior - 20.8ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.4spg) - Lofton is easily the best pure shooter in the nation, and a contender for National Player of the Year. The SEC Player of the Year and an All-American a year ago, there is no reason why Lofton shouldn’t continue to improve both his shot and all-around game during his last year as a Volunteer. Despite suffering a short-lived ankle sprain last season, Lofton shot an SEC-leading 41.9% from behind the arc and also added the drive-and-dish to his arsenal. The only negative concerning Lofton is the Vols’ reliance upon him. If the team can avoid becoming too uni-dimensional, Lofton could shoot Tennessee to a National Championship.

Jamont Gordon (Miss. State - Point Guard - Junior - 16.0ppg, 7.1rpg, 5.3apg) - Not many point guards in the nation average 7.1 rebounds per game. The question is, are the Bulldogs relying too heavily on Gordon to supply them or does it come natural? Regardless, Gordon is built like a power forward but has the passing and dribbling abilities of a point. Because of his size, athleticism, and talent, Gordon is a mis-match against both guards and forwards. If the Tennessee-native can continue to improve his assist-to-turnover ratio as he did late last season, Gordon could very well make a case for National Player of the Year.

Shan Foster (Vanderbilt - Power Forward - Senior - 15.6ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.2apg) - Foster is a stereotypical do-everything power guard. He shoots decently from behind the arc (34.6%), but his jumpers are almost impossible to defend with his hands-behind-the-head release. His rebounding numbers will need to improve to truly step up and be the go-to guy the Commodores will need him to be, but Foster has more than enough ability to do it.

Richard Hendrix (Alabama - Power Forward - Junior - 14.6ppg, 8.7rpg, 1.2bpg) - The fact that Hendrix is only a junior is nothing short of scary. One of the most overlooked big men in the country, Hendrix averaged 14.6ppg last season despite playing behind fellow Tide standout Jermareo Davidson. Hendrix will be forced to make up for a lack of experienced inside depth this season, and thus his numbers should explode. If Hendrix can maintain his SEC-best 60.2% field goal percentage and avoid injury, he should be recognized by season’s end as one of the best under-the-basket players in the nation.

Patrick Beverly (Arkansas - Shot Guard - Sophomore - 13.9ppg, 4.5rpg, 3.1apg) - The lone underclassman to make first team, Beverly earned it - and a reputation as an unstoppable shooter - by shooting 38.6% from behind the arc to average nearly 14ppg to lead all SEC freshmen in scoring . One of the best pure shooters in his class, and last season’s SEC Freshman of the Year, Beverly must now focus on improving his already-impressive ball-handling abilities and become more accurate on his shot. Also wise would be to leave the rebounds to Arkansas’ stable of great big men and instead get down-court for the quick transition basket…something I’m sure Pelphrey has mentioned to him. Beverly is a fierce competitor and looks to be one of the conference’s best shooters both this coming season and two to come.

But which wins the coveted SEC:GBD 2007-2008 SEC Player of the Year? Stay tuned…

Updated alabama prediction…

With the loss of Steele, I am going to go back and alter some predictions to more accurately predict Alabama’s (and their opponents’) record.

Ronald Steele to redshirt…

Alabama senior-to-be and former first-team All-American Ronald Steele will redshirt this season and play his senior season with his brother, Andrew.

This will provide Alabama with less experience and leadership, but more potential talent and give the backups some more playing time (something Gottfried isn’t fond of).

This will bring Alabama back down to Earth, maybe a few less wins and a high NIT bid. Losing both Davidson and Steele in one season could devastate the Tide’s chances at a big season this year, but should help out tremendously next season, when both State and Arkansas are looking to lose a serious amount of talent and experience.

Schedule Breakdown: Alabama

Here’s how it will work. The schedule will be listed again, this time a complete schedule with all the SEC games, with wins being bolded and losses being italicized. None of those sissy “toss-up” games…I’ll call it either a “W” or an “L”. At the end, you’ll see a total for regular-season wins and losses, as well as SEC wins and losses predicted.

With that said, I’ll work down the list of SEC schools alphabetically, meaning Alabama is first! Here goes.

vs. Troy
@ Mercer
vs. Belmont
vs. Southern Mississippi
@ Texas A&M
vs. Southeastern Louisiana
vs. Georgetown - Birmingham, AL
vs. Nicholls State
vs. Wofford
vs. Texas Pan American
vs. Missouri State - Las Vegas, NV
vs. Purdue or Iowa State - Las Vegas, NV
vs. George Washington
vs. Clemson
vs. Chicago State
——————————————–
vs. Florida
@ Arkansas
@ Georgia
vs. Mississippi State
vs. Auburn
vs. Tennessee
vs. LSU
@ Mississippi State
@ Kentucky
vs. Ole Miss
@ South Carolina
@ Auburn
vs. Arkansas
@ Ole Miss
@ LSU
vs. Vanderbilt

This would put the Crimson Tide at (19-12) and (7-9). That would put Alabama just outside the NCAA bubble, with a 1 or 2 seed in the NIT.

Next up: Arkansas.

Alabama releases schedule…

Here’s who the Tide will be playing…

vs. Troy
@ Mercer
vs. Belmont
vs. Southern Mississippi
@ Texas A&M
vs. Southeastern Louisiana
vs. Georgetown - Birmingham, AL
vs. Nicholls State
vs. Wofford
vs. Texas Pan American
vs. Missouri State - Las Vegas, NV
vs. Purdue or Iowa State - Las Vegas, NV
vs. George Washington
vs. Clemson
vs. Chicago State
————————–
vs. Florida
vs. Tennessee
vs. Vanderbilt
@ Georgia
@ Kentucky
@ South Carolina

Gottfried has pieced together a solid schedule for the upcomimg campaign. Two true road games is acceptable, plus a decent assumed matchup in the finals of the Las Vegas tournament. A trip to College Station will be an intruiging matchup of possible Top 25 teams, and Georgetown/Clemson will both be challenging games.

The Tide’s schedule versus the East doesn’t favor them very much, with trips to both Georgia and Kentucky on the horizon. Hosting SEC-title-favorite Tennessee will help tremendously, as that game is a must-win for Alabama to seriously challenge the Vols.

Only waiting on two now, Arkansas and Mississippi State.

Link now working…

http://collegehoopsnet.com/new/story/alabama_the_nations_most_overrated_team

That’s where you can find the bold - and accurate - prediction from last season.