Interesting breakdown of the SEC's historic strength. One of their writers took it a step further and says he would take Auburn to win the title right now over the entire rest of the country. Soak it in folks, we've come a long way from Barbee and his defenders telling us winning was impossible at Auburn.
Auburn (14-1, 2-0 SEC) has a current KenPom net rating above last year's title-winning UConn team -- which is viewed as one of the best teams of the modern era. Using that metric, the Tigers are on pace for one of the most dominant seasons of the last few decades among title-winners and non-title-winners (which includes that great 1998-99 Duke team and the 2014-15 Kentucky squad that went 38-1).
It's not a fluke. The SEC has established itself as the superior conference, which should be applauded given how good the Big Ten looks and how long the Big 12 held a stronghold to that claim. But Auburn is in its own tier at the top among the league members. This is a special team anchored by a special player (Johni Broome) with a special mix of youngsters and vets. The Tigers have the talent to win the title, they navigated a brutal first two months with only one loss and are -- deservedly -- the betting favorite to win it all.
We're seeing a team in put together a legendary season in real time, and my bet is it ends with Bruce Pearl and his Tigers cutting down the nets in San Antonio on the first Monday night in April. -- Kyle Boone
www.cbssports.com
Auburn
I'll take the SEC as my answer here, but I'm going to toss a curveball and take this one step further by taking SEC member Auburn -- specifically -- over the rest of the college basketball field.Auburn (14-1, 2-0 SEC) has a current KenPom net rating above last year's title-winning UConn team -- which is viewed as one of the best teams of the modern era. Using that metric, the Tigers are on pace for one of the most dominant seasons of the last few decades among title-winners and non-title-winners (which includes that great 1998-99 Duke team and the 2014-15 Kentucky squad that went 38-1).
It's not a fluke. The SEC has established itself as the superior conference, which should be applauded given how good the Big Ten looks and how long the Big 12 held a stronghold to that claim. But Auburn is in its own tier at the top among the league members. This is a special team anchored by a special player (Johni Broome) with a special mix of youngsters and vets. The Tigers have the talent to win the title, they navigated a brutal first two months with only one loss and are -- deservedly -- the betting favorite to win it all.
We're seeing a team in put together a legendary season in real time, and my bet is it ends with Bruce Pearl and his Tigers cutting down the nets in San Antonio on the first Monday night in April. -- Kyle Boone
Dribble Handoff: Amid the league's dominant run, is it SEC or the field to win the 2025 NCAA Tournament
The SEC last won it all in 2012. It's having a historic run. Is it destined to produce the champion in April?
www.cbssports.com
