Sears is back and Bama returns 5 starters, in addition to some nice transfers and a couple of highly rated freshman, all from a 4-seed that did had much better metrics all season and made the Final 4. Hard to argue against them. UConn may be more talented than the last two years, but they are going to be way less experienced and have less continuity than in recent years. Karaban is a terrifically smart, competitive stretch four, but you aren't going to run things through him. Newton, Spence, and Clingan were elite vets last year. Sanogo, Hawkins, and Jackson before them. They will have to rely on guys like Mahaney, Reed, and McNeeley this season. I just don't see the same level of maturity or upside. They will still be good, but I wouldn't pencil them in as a final weekend team, to be honest.
This is not the most helpful sentiment, but my kingdom for one more year of eligibility for Pullin. That would really round this squad out perfectly.
I'm working on it. Things are in motion, pieces are in play, deals being made, kneecaps being kneecapped. It's all very hush-hush.
So, Lunardi has the Gators as the 10th best team in the SEC.That might actually be a reasonable guess. The SEC is going to be brutal this coming season.