2025-26 SEC Basketball Preview & Preseason Awards

CBB Review previews SEC basketball heading into the 2025-26 season.

The SEC are reigning champions again after Florida took the crown in a thriller against Houston in the national title game, but the Southeastern Conference has much more to offer. For several years now, they’ve shown to be at the level of the Big Ten and Big 12, and that shouldn’t change this season.

From top to bottom, the league has talent that can drop 20+ PPG on a really good defense. However, not every team is equal in talent. The losses have to come from somewhere, so CBB Review is finding out where that is in the SEC basketball preview, along with an appearance from the Vibe Meter, soon to be a regular on this season’s version of the SEC Basketball Power Rankings.

SEC basketball projected standings

1. Florida Gators

Florida might lose Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin, sure, but their quest to repeat (again) might be successful. They reloaded with some very talented transfers, headlined by Arkansas guard Boogie Fland, a former Calipari recruit.But the most important part might be the fact that the frontcourt remained relatively intact. Alex Condon is back. So is Rueben Chinyelu and Thomas Haugh, which is big for the defending champs. Ultimately, this is a roster that can compete for the SEC crown yet again.

Gainesville Vibe Meter: 10/10.

2. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee has always been very good under Rick Barnes, but they haven’t made a Final Four. Is this the year they finally break through? It’s possible, with a bevy of very talented guards and a frontcourt duo (Felix Okpara and Nate Ament) that can match up with Florida. This truly might be the year to be a Tennessee Volunteers basketball fan.

Knoxville Vibe Meter: 10/10.

3. Arkansas Razorbacks

Never sleep on John Calipari. It’s time to recognize that his departure from Kentucky might have truly been a win-win for everyone involved. Now at Arkansas, he’s got himself a really talented team this year, with the classic Calipari freshmen in fold. Darius Acuff Jr. might challenge Nate Ament for SEC Freshman of the Year, and don’t sleep on Meleek Thomas, either. That duo of guards will man the backcourt, but there’s one more thing in the fold. What if Arkansas gets the 2022 version of Trevon Brazile this year? Don’t look now, but the Razorbacks might be back.

Fayetteville Vibe Meter: 9/10.

4. Kentucky Wildcats

Mark Pope has done a wonderful job in Lexington so far, turning Kentucky around from the John Calipari days. Just kidding, it wasn’t that bad, but speaking to Kentucky fans, the span between 2020-24 was years of walking through the desert. For whatever it’s worth, Otega Oweh and Jasper Johnson will be a phenomenal duo, but keep an eye on injuries to Jaland Lowe and Denzel Aberdeen. Those could lower the team’s ceiling.

Lexington Vibe Meter: Expectations/10.

5. Alabama Crimson Tide

The tide is turning. I don’t quite know what that means. But I do know that Labaron Philon is an All-SEC type of talent, and Aden Holloway is also back. So is Latrell Wrightsell Jr., who averaged 11.5 PPG. It feels weird to say, but Alabama is kind of flying under the radar this year. But they should be really good. Why would anyone doubt Nate Oats?

Tuscaloosa Vibe Meter: High Tide/10.

6. Missouri Tigers

Two words: Dennis Gates. While two Tigers (Trent Pierce and Annor Boateng) are out to start the season, Missouri is sitting well. Anthony Robinson II is back, whose underlying stats point to a breakout type of year. The Tigers have Mark Mitchell, who is a dog. Sebastian Mack? Also a dog. Jacob Crews? Shooter and possibly the dictionary definition for “dog”, but we knew that already. But the most important addition from the portal could be Shawn Phillips Jr., who can step up with Pierce and Trent Burns out.

Columbia Vibe Meter: 9/10.

7. Vanderbilt Commodores

Mark Byington has done an amazing job turning this program around very quickly. The Commodores easily made the tournament last year, just after they let go of Jerry Stackhouse. Round of applause for the Commodores. And this year, they’re one of just three SEC schools bringing back multiple 10+ PPG scorers. That’s also reason for applause. Tyler Nickel and Devin McGlockton are back, along with solid transfer pickups Duke Miles and Frankie Collins. This starting lineup is sneakily very good, and Nashville should be happy about where they’re at.

Nashville Vibe Meter: Appreciative/10.

8. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Mississippi State has Josh Hubbard. Enough said. I will say some more, but the offense having Josh Hubbard is enough to get them to the tournament. And Jayden Epps? That’s a great 1-2 guard duo. There are questions remaining about the depth of the team, but it’ll definitely be fun. Keep an eye on Quincy Ballard, who should be an anchor down low.

Starkville Vibe Meter: Fun/10.

9. Texas Longhorns

Texas has Sean Miller. That’s an upgrade (strictly coaching-wise) from Rodney Terry. And they kept some of those important pieces from last season, with Jordan Pope, Tramon Mark, and Chendall Weaver all returning. That’s very impressive for a team that went through a coaching change. And don’t forget that the Longhorns are one of three teams with multiple 10+ PPG scorers coming back.

Austin Vibe Meter: Don’t Mess With Texas/10.

10. Ole Miss Rebels

The good news: Malik Dia (10.8 PPG) returns. The bad news: everything else? Ole Miss was a surprise addition to the Sweet Sixteen after taking out a good Iowa State defense, but they got Tom Izzoed in the Round of 16. Still, it was a solid and unexpected performance for the six seed Rebels. However, they lost the heartbeat of that team, Sean Pedulla. In addition to Pedulla, they also lost, get ready for this, four other 10+ PPG scorers. How does an offense replace that? Chris Beard has added some pieces from the portal, notably a couple of former Louisville guys in James Scott and Koren Johnson, and signed Corey Chest, possibly the best pound-for-pound rebounder in the SEC. But the depth? It doesn’t seem like it’s there, and that’s something that this team didn’t have an issue with last year. Ole Miss might be getting left behind in the arms race this season.

Oxford Vibe Meter: 4/10.

11. Auburn Tigers

Overnight, the Auburn Tigers went from having a top-3 coach in the league to having arguably the worst. That’s plane wrong. And to make matters worse, the roster has almost completely flipped. It’s hard for even Bruce Pearl to run it back to the Final Four while having to replace all but one player (Tahaad Pettiford) from that team, so how difficult will it be for Steven Pearl, who has never coached a basketball game prior to this season? The guess is very, even with UCF transfer Keyshawn Hall scoring at will.

Auburn Vibe Meter: Nepotism/10.

12. Texas A&M Aggies

It’s rebuild time in College Station. Buzz Williams did what he does best by moving away from a school after 5-6 seasons of good-not-great basketball, allowing Bucky Ball to infiltrate the College Station-Bryan area. The Samford coach immediately brought in some solid talent, notably Mackenzie Mgbako and Jacari Lane. Lane has spent three years in the A-Sun, and his shooting from deep (40.6 3PT% in 2024-25) will certainly translate. In all likelihood, however, this year is for building the future. The Aggies are likely not yet a tournament challenger

College Station Vibe Meter: It’s Football Season/10.

13. Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma basketball is year in and year out one of the hardest basketball teams to predict. They started real well last season, 13-0, but stumbled to a 4-9 record in their final 13 games. Derrion Reid is a good grab, but the losses of Jeremiah Fears and Jalon Moore have to be felt. Without Fears last season, there’s almost a certainty that the Sooners miss the tournament last March. Is Porter Moser on the move after this season?

Norman Vibe Meter: Uncertainty/10.

14. South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina has been picked last in the SEC by almost every major college basketball publication and poll. But what the Gamecocks lack in recruiting they make up for in scheme. Every player on the program’s roster has been hand-picked to succeed in Lamont Paris’s offensive scheme, which values spacing and perimeter shooting. To boost that scheme, he brought in Meechie Johnson, who might be the first double boomerang transfer in college basketball history (someone please check that), and Eli Ellis, who has one setting: score. South Carolina might have a low floor, and that’s evident. But this team’s ceiling is a lot higher than some expect.

Columbia Vibe Meter: Midnight in Paris/10.

15. Georgia Bulldogs

Georgia is one of those teams that has the potential to make this prediction look borderline silly once March rolls around. A true bucket is coming to Athens with the addition of Jeremiah Wilkinson, and Georgia retained both Blue Cain and Somto Cyril, two big pieces. Mike White signed an extension in the offseason, so clearly the athletic department has faith in him. After all, he led the Bulldogs to their first 20-win season since the 2015-16 season. But the one-two punch of Asa Newell and Silas Demary Jr. is gone. How much will that affect the team’s fortunes?

Athens Vibe Meter: Hopeful/10.

16. LSU Tigers

Someone had to be last. With respect to the Tigers, it might have to be LSU. They didn’t have a great year last year, and haven’t notched a winning conference season since 2020-21. Cam Carter and Jordan Sears are gone, but what really hurts is the exodus of depth. So much of their bench transferred out after last season, and they’re heavily reliant on transfers this year. Look out for Dedan Thomas Jr., but this team might not have the talent level to make their first tournament appearance under Matt McMahon.

Baton Rouge Vibe Meter: Will Wade/10.

CBB Review Preseason SEC Basketball Player of the Year

Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State

Josh Hubbard might be small, listed at just 6′ tall, but he’s the best scorer in the conference. He’s shown that again and again, even for a program that is more known for their defense. Hubbard might be the most fun player to watch in the SEC, and even if that’s not the only qualification for SEC Player of the Year, he also does deserve it on merit. Don’t forget this is the player that has gone bucket for bucket with pretty much every high-profile guard that has come through the conference in the past two years.

CBB Review Preseason SEC Basketball Coach of the Year

Dennis Gates, Missouri

Never doubt Dennis Gates. The Missouri Tigers program has been transformed under him, just not counting the 2023-24 season. This year, they’ve got a chance to go back to the dance. They haven’t made consecutive appearances in the tournament since a stretch between 2009-2013, but if indications in Columbia are worth anything, this team will do more than just that.

CBB Review Preseason SEC Basketball Freshman of the Year

Nate Ament, Tennessee

The Volunteers needed help in the frontcourt, and they got it with Ament. Listed at 6’10”, 207, he’s already got SEC size, and he’s able to immediately make an impact. That’s great news for a Tennessee program that lost Igor Milicic Jr. in the offseason. Ament should provide a spark to a top-15 team, and despite a flurry of other very impressive freshman, it’s that distinction that would allow Ament to win Freshman of the Year.

CBB Review Preseason SEC Basketball Transfer of the Year

Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee

The college basketball world was formally introduced to Ja’Kobi Gillespie last year as part of Maryland’s Crab Five team that went to the Sweet Sixteen, but he’s been balling for a considerable time. In three years between Belmont and Maryland, he’s blossomed into an elite three-point shooter (who keeps giving Rick Barnes shooters?) and most-level scorer. Last season, he shot 40.7% from deep, but he also averaged 4.8 APG to go along with 14.7 PPG. Look out for Gillespie to garner All-SEC attention.

CBB Review Preseason SEC Basketball First Team

• G: Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State
• G: Otega Oweh, Kentucky
• G: Labaron Philon, Alabama
• F: Alex Condon, Florida
• F: Nate Ament, Tennessee

CBB Review Preseason SEC Basketball Second Team

• G: Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee
• G: Boogie Fland, Florida
• G: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
• G: Anthony Robinson II, Missouri
• F: Mark Mitchell, Missouri

CBB Review Preseason SEC Basketball All-Freshmen Team

• G: Eli Ellis, South Carolina
• G: Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
• G: Meleek Thomas, Arkansas
• G: Jasper Johnson, Kentucky
• F: Nate Ament, Tennessee