The Midway Point: SEC Awards and Preview

As conference play sneaks up on the college basketball season, the Southeastern Conference has struggled through its non-conference play.

Perennial SEC Powerhouse Kentucky kicked off the season with a shocking loss to Virginia Military Institute (VMI). Following that, the Alabama schools, Alabama and Auburn, were defeated by Mercer. Vanderbilt was defeated at home by Illinois-Chicago by double digits. Those are just a handful of the defeats the SEC has endured.

Right when things started to look gloomy for the SEC, teams soon pulled off big wins to maybe give the conference some life.  Kentucky defeated West Virginia, Arkansas defeated Oklahoma, and Tennessee defeated Georgetown.

After the roller-coaster ride through the non-conference part of the schedule for SEC schools the SEC Player of the Year, All-SEC team, and favorites need to be determined.

SEC Player of the Year

Patrick Patterson (So.), Kentucky

• The sophomore forward is averaging over 19 points and nine rebounds a game.  His ability to score and play defense has overwhelmed opponents all season long.  Look for him to turn it up in SEC play.

All-SEC Team

G Devan Downey (Jr.), South Carolina

G Jodie Meeks (Jr.), Kentucky

F Tyler Smith (Jr.), Tennessee

F Michael Washington (Jr.), Arkansas

F Patrick Patterson (So.), Kentucky

Ranking the SEC

1. Tennessee
   
2. Arkansas
3. LSU
4. Kentucky
5. South Carolina
6. Florida
7. Vanderbilt
8. Auburn
9. Alabama
10. Ole Miss
11. Mississippi State
12. Georgia