From SEC Media Relations:
· SEC Player of the Week –Mississippi State forward Jimmy Bell Jr., a 6-foot-10, 280-pound graduate senior from Saginaw, Mich., had 17 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks in leading the Bulldogs to a win over Rutgers in the Gotham Classic. Bell earned Gotham Classic Game MVP honors after shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. The 17 points were a season-high while the 18 rebounds were a career mark.
· SEC Freshman of the Week – Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard, a 6-foot-3, 187-pound freshman from London, Ky., notched his first double-double of his career with 11 points and 11 assists in UK’s win at Louisville. The 11 assists are the most ever for a Wildcat against Louisville. He also had two steals, extending his streak of at least two steals in every game this season.
· Three SEC teams are ranked in the December 25 Associated Press poll. Tennessee leads the way at 6th, Kentucky is 8th, and Ole Miss is 24th. Additionally, Auburn, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Mississippi State, and Alabama are among the teams receiving votes.
· The SEC’s four Top 25 are second-most and eight Top 50 NET teams are tied for most in the nation (as of Dec. 26).
· The SEC leads the nation 30 Quad 1 & 2 wins through games of Dec. 25.
· Ole Miss guard Matthew Murrell’s 10 steals against Troy (12/19/23) tied the SEC single-game record set by Alabama’s Anthony Murray (1978) and LSU’s Shawn Griggs (1991).
· Former Missouri forward Kobe Brown has been honored as a recipient of the NCAA Today’s Top 10 award and will be honored at the NCAA Convention in January. The award recognizes former student-athletes for their exceptional athletic and academic achievements, as well as their contributions to their campuses and communities. The SEC led the nation with four honorees, also including Callie Dickinson of Georgia swimming & diving, Ashley Rogers of Tennessee softball and Trinity Thomas of Florida gymnastics.
· The SEC won the final three games of the first ACC/SEC Challenge to take a 7-7 tie with the ACC. The ACC/SEC Challenge marks the third interconference challenge the SEC has been a part of. The SEC also had events against the Big East (2007-08 to 2012-13) and Big 12 (2013-14 to 2022-23).
· Three SEC teams won holiday tournament titles this season: Auburn (Legends Classic), Mississippi State (Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off), South Carolina (Arizona Tip-Off).
· Seven SEC players have been named to the Naismith Player of the Year Watchlist: Trevon Brazile (Arkansas), Johni Broome (Auburn), Justin Edwards (Kentucky), Grant Nelson (Alabama), Tolu Smith III (Mississippi State), Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M), and Santiago Vescovi (Tennessee).
· Tennessee is the favorite to win the 2024 SEC championship in a preseason poll of media from around the league and nation. Texas A&M was picked to finish second and is followed by Arkansas, Kentucky and Alabama. Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV was selected by the media as the preseason player of the year.
· 92 players from SEC schools were on 2023-24 NBA Opening Day rosters. Twelve of 14 SEC schools are represented and at least one SEC player is on 29 of the 30 NBA rosters.
· 60 SEC players have been selected in the last six NBA Drafts. That leads all conferences: 50 ACC, 41 Big Ten, 37 Pac-12, 29 Big 12 and 19 Big East.
· The SEC led all conferences with 10 players selected in the 2023 NBA Draft. Six first round selections also led the nation.
· 35 NCAA Tournament selections over the last four tournaments.
· Alabama’s Brandon Miller earned 2023 National Freshman of the Year awards from the USBWA and NABC, joining Chris Jackson, John Wall, Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons, and Jabari Smith as SEC players who have been named national freshman of the year.
· Three players earned All-America honors from the Associated Press in 2023: Alabama’s Brandon Miller (1st team), Kentucky’s Oscar Tsheibwe (2nd team) and Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV (honorable mention).
· 13 SEC players on 2023-24 NBA Opening Day rosters have made an NBA All-Star Game.
· The first two college players selected in the 2023 NBA Draft - Alabama’s Brandon Miller (2nd overall) and Arkansas’ Anthony Black (6th overall) - were from the SEC.
· A record-tying 10 SEC teams received postseason bids in 2023. The SEC’s eight NCAA Tournament selections tied its previous best set in 2018. Additionally, two SEC teams competed in the National Invitation Tournament.
· 14 of 14 SEC teams have made at least one NCAA Tournament appearance in the last eight tournaments.
· Nine different SEC teams have advanced to the Sweet 16 in the last six NCAA Tournaments. All 14 SEC members have advanced to the Sweet 16 since 1996.
· Four SEC coaches have been named national coach of the year: Rick Barnes, Chris Beard, John Calipari and Bruce Pearl.
· The SEC ranked second nationally with 2,756,659 fans attending games during the 2022-23 season. An average of 11,344 fans attended games at SEC schools in 2023, an increase of 787 from 2022.
· Three of the top four attendance leaders in 2022-23 were from the SEC. Kentucky led the nation with a total attendance of 357,721, Arkansas ranked third with 323,875) and Tennessee was fourth with 300,496 fans.
SCHEDULE/RESULTS (All Times Eastern):
Sunday, December 17
at Auburn 91, Southern California 75
Mississippi St. 72, North Texas 54
Seton Hall 93, Missouri 87
Tuesday, December 19
Western Carolina 63, at Vanderbilt 62
at #25 Ole Miss 74, Troy 53
at South Carolina 72, Winthrop 62
Jumpman Invitational (Charlotte, NC)
Florida 106, Michigan 101 2ot
Wednesday, December 20
at Georgia 94, Mount St. Mary’s 82
Hall of Fame Series (Phoenix, AZ)
#4 Arizona 87, Alabama 74
Thursday, December 21
#9 Kentucky 95, at Louisville 76
at #8 Tennessee 65, Tarleton St. 46
at Arkansas 83, Abilene Christian 73
at LSU 87, Lamar 66
Friday, December 22
at Georgia 78, North Florida 60
at Florida 96, Grambling St. 57
at South Carolina 70, Elon 43
at Texas A&M 79, Houston Christian 52
at Auburn 82, Alabama St. 62
#13 Illinois 97, Missouri 73
Saturday, December 23
Gotham Classic (Newark, NJ)
Mississippi St. 70, Rutgers 60
#25 Ole Miss 89, Southern Miss 72
at #23 Memphis 77, Vanderbilt 75
at Alabama 111, Eastern Ky. 67
Friday, December 29
Illinois St. at #8 Kentucky SEC Network 7:00p
Northwestern St. at LSU SECN+ 8:00p
Saturday, December 30
Quinnipiac at Florida ESPNU 1:00p
C.M. Newton Classic (Birmingham, AL)
Alabama vs. Liberty 2:00p
Florida A&M at South Carolina SECN+ 2:00p
Central Arkansas at Missouri SEC Network 3:00p
Alabama A&M at Georgia SECN+ 3:00p
Dartmouth at Vanderbilt SECN+ 5:00p
UNC Wilmington at Arkansas SEC Network 5:00p
Prairie View A&M at Texas A&M SEC Network 7:00p
Chattanooga at Auburn SEC Network 9:00p
Sunday, December 31
Bethune-Cookman at Mississippi St. SECN+ 3:00p
Bryant at #24 Ole Miss SEC Network 4:00p
Tuesday, January 2
Norfolk St. at Tennessee SEC Network 7:00p
Penn at Auburn SEC Network 9:00p
Saturday, January 6
Mississippi St. at South Carolina CBS 12:00p
Kentucky at Florida ESPN 12:30p
Georgia at Missouri SEC Network 1:00p
Auburn at Arkansas ESPN2 2:00p
Alabama at Vanderbilt SEC Network 3:30p
Ole Miss at Tennessee SEC Network 6:00p
LSU at Texas A&M SEC Network 8:30p
· SEC Player of the Week –Mississippi State forward Jimmy Bell Jr., a 6-foot-10, 280-pound graduate senior from Saginaw, Mich., had 17 points, 18 rebounds and three blocks in leading the Bulldogs to a win over Rutgers in the Gotham Classic. Bell earned Gotham Classic Game MVP honors after shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. The 17 points were a season-high while the 18 rebounds were a career mark.
· SEC Freshman of the Week – Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard, a 6-foot-3, 187-pound freshman from London, Ky., notched his first double-double of his career with 11 points and 11 assists in UK’s win at Louisville. The 11 assists are the most ever for a Wildcat against Louisville. He also had two steals, extending his streak of at least two steals in every game this season.
· Three SEC teams are ranked in the December 25 Associated Press poll. Tennessee leads the way at 6th, Kentucky is 8th, and Ole Miss is 24th. Additionally, Auburn, Texas A&M, South Carolina, Mississippi State, and Alabama are among the teams receiving votes.
· The SEC’s four Top 25 are second-most and eight Top 50 NET teams are tied for most in the nation (as of Dec. 26).
· The SEC leads the nation 30 Quad 1 & 2 wins through games of Dec. 25.
· Ole Miss guard Matthew Murrell’s 10 steals against Troy (12/19/23) tied the SEC single-game record set by Alabama’s Anthony Murray (1978) and LSU’s Shawn Griggs (1991).
· Former Missouri forward Kobe Brown has been honored as a recipient of the NCAA Today’s Top 10 award and will be honored at the NCAA Convention in January. The award recognizes former student-athletes for their exceptional athletic and academic achievements, as well as their contributions to their campuses and communities. The SEC led the nation with four honorees, also including Callie Dickinson of Georgia swimming & diving, Ashley Rogers of Tennessee softball and Trinity Thomas of Florida gymnastics.
· The SEC won the final three games of the first ACC/SEC Challenge to take a 7-7 tie with the ACC. The ACC/SEC Challenge marks the third interconference challenge the SEC has been a part of. The SEC also had events against the Big East (2007-08 to 2012-13) and Big 12 (2013-14 to 2022-23).
· Three SEC teams won holiday tournament titles this season: Auburn (Legends Classic), Mississippi State (Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off), South Carolina (Arizona Tip-Off).
· Seven SEC players have been named to the Naismith Player of the Year Watchlist: Trevon Brazile (Arkansas), Johni Broome (Auburn), Justin Edwards (Kentucky), Grant Nelson (Alabama), Tolu Smith III (Mississippi State), Wade Taylor IV (Texas A&M), and Santiago Vescovi (Tennessee).
· Tennessee is the favorite to win the 2024 SEC championship in a preseason poll of media from around the league and nation. Texas A&M was picked to finish second and is followed by Arkansas, Kentucky and Alabama. Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV was selected by the media as the preseason player of the year.
· 92 players from SEC schools were on 2023-24 NBA Opening Day rosters. Twelve of 14 SEC schools are represented and at least one SEC player is on 29 of the 30 NBA rosters.
· 60 SEC players have been selected in the last six NBA Drafts. That leads all conferences: 50 ACC, 41 Big Ten, 37 Pac-12, 29 Big 12 and 19 Big East.
· The SEC led all conferences with 10 players selected in the 2023 NBA Draft. Six first round selections also led the nation.
· 35 NCAA Tournament selections over the last four tournaments.
· Alabama’s Brandon Miller earned 2023 National Freshman of the Year awards from the USBWA and NABC, joining Chris Jackson, John Wall, Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons, and Jabari Smith as SEC players who have been named national freshman of the year.
· Three players earned All-America honors from the Associated Press in 2023: Alabama’s Brandon Miller (1st team), Kentucky’s Oscar Tsheibwe (2nd team) and Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV (honorable mention).
· 13 SEC players on 2023-24 NBA Opening Day rosters have made an NBA All-Star Game.
· The first two college players selected in the 2023 NBA Draft - Alabama’s Brandon Miller (2nd overall) and Arkansas’ Anthony Black (6th overall) - were from the SEC.
· A record-tying 10 SEC teams received postseason bids in 2023. The SEC’s eight NCAA Tournament selections tied its previous best set in 2018. Additionally, two SEC teams competed in the National Invitation Tournament.
· 14 of 14 SEC teams have made at least one NCAA Tournament appearance in the last eight tournaments.
· Nine different SEC teams have advanced to the Sweet 16 in the last six NCAA Tournaments. All 14 SEC members have advanced to the Sweet 16 since 1996.
· Four SEC coaches have been named national coach of the year: Rick Barnes, Chris Beard, John Calipari and Bruce Pearl.
· The SEC ranked second nationally with 2,756,659 fans attending games during the 2022-23 season. An average of 11,344 fans attended games at SEC schools in 2023, an increase of 787 from 2022.
· Three of the top four attendance leaders in 2022-23 were from the SEC. Kentucky led the nation with a total attendance of 357,721, Arkansas ranked third with 323,875) and Tennessee was fourth with 300,496 fans.
SCHEDULE/RESULTS (All Times Eastern):
Sunday, December 17
at Auburn 91, Southern California 75
Mississippi St. 72, North Texas 54
Seton Hall 93, Missouri 87
Tuesday, December 19
Western Carolina 63, at Vanderbilt 62
at #25 Ole Miss 74, Troy 53
at South Carolina 72, Winthrop 62
Jumpman Invitational (Charlotte, NC)
Florida 106, Michigan 101 2ot
Wednesday, December 20
at Georgia 94, Mount St. Mary’s 82
Hall of Fame Series (Phoenix, AZ)
#4 Arizona 87, Alabama 74
Thursday, December 21
#9 Kentucky 95, at Louisville 76
at #8 Tennessee 65, Tarleton St. 46
at Arkansas 83, Abilene Christian 73
at LSU 87, Lamar 66
Friday, December 22
at Georgia 78, North Florida 60
at Florida 96, Grambling St. 57
at South Carolina 70, Elon 43
at Texas A&M 79, Houston Christian 52
at Auburn 82, Alabama St. 62
#13 Illinois 97, Missouri 73
Saturday, December 23
Gotham Classic (Newark, NJ)
Mississippi St. 70, Rutgers 60
#25 Ole Miss 89, Southern Miss 72
at #23 Memphis 77, Vanderbilt 75
at Alabama 111, Eastern Ky. 67
Friday, December 29
Illinois St. at #8 Kentucky SEC Network 7:00p
Northwestern St. at LSU SECN+ 8:00p
Saturday, December 30
Quinnipiac at Florida ESPNU 1:00p
C.M. Newton Classic (Birmingham, AL)
Alabama vs. Liberty 2:00p
Florida A&M at South Carolina SECN+ 2:00p
Central Arkansas at Missouri SEC Network 3:00p
Alabama A&M at Georgia SECN+ 3:00p
Dartmouth at Vanderbilt SECN+ 5:00p
UNC Wilmington at Arkansas SEC Network 5:00p
Prairie View A&M at Texas A&M SEC Network 7:00p
Chattanooga at Auburn SEC Network 9:00p
Sunday, December 31
Bethune-Cookman at Mississippi St. SECN+ 3:00p
Bryant at #24 Ole Miss SEC Network 4:00p
Tuesday, January 2
Norfolk St. at Tennessee SEC Network 7:00p
Penn at Auburn SEC Network 9:00p
Saturday, January 6
Mississippi St. at South Carolina CBS 12:00p
Kentucky at Florida ESPN 12:30p
Georgia at Missouri SEC Network 1:00p
Auburn at Arkansas ESPN2 2:00p
Alabama at Vanderbilt SEC Network 3:30p
Ole Miss at Tennessee SEC Network 6:00p
LSU at Texas A&M SEC Network 8:30p
