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…

2007-2008 Preseason All-SEC Third Team

Here they are, in all their glory - listed in reverse order for optimal excitement, beginning with All-SEC Third Team…

All-SEC Third Team

Tasmin Mitchell (LSU - Forward - Junior - 14.5ppg, 5.9rpg, 1.0spg) - The only remaining star player from a team that reached the Final Four two years ago only to miss the postseason last year. Relied on too heavily for outside contributions, Mitchell is shooting only 25.9% from three. Regardless, Mitchell is an outstanding all-around player who contains excellent versatility and will be relied on heavily by the Tigers this season and will receive ample opportunity to fluff his stats sheets.

Wayne Chism (Tennessee - Center - Sophomore - 9.1ppg, 5.2rpg, 0.6bpg) - An athletic, but short, purely-inside man who greatly increased his production at the end of last season. Although Chism will likely be overshadowed by Iowa transfer Tyler Smith in the post, Chism should easily average over 10ppg this season, giving a guard-heavy Volunteer team a legitimate inside presence.

Charles Thomas (Arkansas - Power Forward - Senior - 10.7ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.2apg) - Another forward relied on too heavily to score from behind the arc. Thomas averaged only 17.9% from that range last season, athough Thomas led the Hogs in both offensive rebounding and free throw attempts last season meaning he can more than handle his own inside the paint. Thomas needs to work on his offensive game, but has tremendous rebounding potential - best seen in his 18-rebound effort versus Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament last season…more rebounds by a single Razorback in a single game in over 10 years.

Ramel Bradley (Kentucky - Point Guard - Senior - 13.4ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.8apg) - A combo guard slotted in the point guard position, Bradley loves to score from the field (42.0%), from three (36.7%) or the stripe (81.5%). That last mark ranked second in the conference. With that said, Bradley has the problem many floor generals do - giving the ball away…his assist-to-turnover ratio notched in at a meager 1.42 as he caused 91 turnovers on the season. If Bradley could work on his ball-handling, he has the potential to be one of the most effective points in the SEC.

Ben Hansbrough (Miss. State - Guard - Sophomore - 7.3ppg, 2.8rpg, 3.2apg) - Brother of National Player of the Year candidate Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina, Ben shares his love for the game and drive to win with his older sibling. Hansbrough ranked second in the SEC from behind the arc as a freshman (41.2%) and sixth from the stripe (78.4%). Backing up Gordon at the point occasionally, Hansbrough also ranked eighth in the conference in the assist-to-turnover ratio category, with a 1.72:1 mark. If Hansbrough can continue shooting with the same accuracy and learn to drive and dish a little better, he could do big things as a starter for the Bulldogs.

Well, there you have it. Look for Second-Team All-SEC very soon.

Schedule Breakdown: Arkansas

Predicted wins and losses, with wins in bold and losses italicized.

vs. Wofford
vs. College of Charleston - Puerto Rico Tipoff (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
vs. Providence/Temple - Puerto Rico Tipoff (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
vs. TBA - Puerto Rico Tipoff (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
vs. Deleware State
vs. Missouri
vs. Oral Roberts
vs. Missouri State
vs. Texas-San Antonio
@ Oklahoma
vs. Northwestern State
@ Appalachian State
vs. Louisiana-Monroe
@ Baylor
—————————
@ Auburn
vs. Alabama
vs. South Carolina
@ Georgia
@ LSU
vs. Mississippi State
vs. Florida
vs. Ole Miss
@ Tennessee
@ Mississippi State
vs. LSU
@ Kentucky
@ Alabama
vs. Vanderbilt
@ Ole Miss
vs. Auburn

This scenario gives the Razorbacks an overall record of (25-5) and (12-4). This would easily provide Pelphrey’s squad with an at-large NCAA bid - around a 4 or 5 seed due to the below average strength of schedule out of conference.

Arkansas releases schedule…

Second-to-last…

vs. Wofford
vs. College of Charleston - O’Reilly Puerto Rico Tipoff (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
vs. Providence/Temple - O’Reilly Puerto Rico Tipoff (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
vs. TBA - O’Reilly Puerto Rico Tipoff (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
vs. Deleware State
vs. Missouri
vs. Oral Roberts
vs. Missouri State
vs. Texas-San Antonio
@ Oklahoma
vs. Northwestern State
@ Appalachian State
vs. Louisiana-Monroe
@ Baylor
————————
vs. Florida
vs. South Carolina
vs. Vanderbilt
@ Kentucky
@ Tennessee
@ Georgia

The Razorbacks’ non-conference slate is relatively weak, with a trip to Oklahoma being their biggest challenge. The championship game of the Puerto Rico trip could be tough, assuming the ‘Backs make it that far, depending on who Pelphrey’s squad is paired up against.

As favorable as Mississippi State’s schedule versus the East may be, Arkansas’ is equally as difficult. The Razorbacks must travel to each of the supposed toughest three out of the Eastern Division - Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia.