SEC Tournament 2015: Dates, Top Players to Watch in Upcoming Event

As of this writing, the SEC is still planning on holding its annual conference tournament instead of just awarding the trophy to mighty Kentucky.

Sure, the Wildcats are the most dominant force in college basketball, but it is called March Madness for a reason. Upsets define the month in the sport, and fans could be treated to their first major one during the SEC tournament in Nashville.

Here is a look at the dates and some top players to watch at the event. The bracket and full schedule can be found here, courtesy of ESPN.

2015 SEC Tournament 

Dates: Wednesday, March 11, through Sunday, March 15

Location: Bridgestone Arena; Nashville, Tennessee

TV: SEC Network (first, second and third rounds), ESPN (semifinals and finals)

Top Players to Watch

Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

There are a number of players on the Kentucky roster who could slide in here, but only Karl-Anthony Towns is projected as the No. 2 pick in the upcoming NBA draft by DraftExpress.

Myron Medcalf of ESPN noted that he could challenge for the top pick, via ESPN’s Chad Ford:

Towns’ numbers don’t blow you away, but that is largely because he was only playing 20 minutes a night entering Wednesday’s game against Mississippi State. If those 9.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and especially 2.4 blocks per game are extended to 40-minute averages, we would be talking about a first-team All-American.

Towns brings an incredible combination of size and skill, which makes him the biggest matchup nightmare in the conference. He checks in at 6’11” and 250 pounds but can run the floor, hit jumpers from the top of the key and dominate on the blocks with his footwork and strength.

Perhaps the scariest thing for opponents is that Towns is improving as the season progresses, via RealGM:

Despite the improving offense, Towns’ best attribute on the court is his stifling defense. He is arguably the best shot-blocker in college basketball and has the lateral quickness and wingspan to challenge almost any shot near the rim or along the baseline. 

With Towns spearheading Kentucky’s top-rated defense (according to Ken Pomeroy’s advanced numbers), the Wildcats are not only the favorites to win in Nashville, but the favorites to win the national title.

Bobby Portis, Arkansas

Danny Johnston/Associated Press

If there is one team that could challenge Kentucky at the SEC tournament (at least on paper), it is Arkansas.

The Razorbacks have won seven games in a row and are preparing for their first and only regular-season shot at the Wildcats Saturday. A major reason for Arkansas’ climb is the play of superstar Bobby Portis, who is second in the SEC in scoring at 17.6 points per game, fourth in rebounds per game at 8.5, fifth in blocks per game at 1.6 and first in field-goal percentage at 56.4 (as of Wednesday).

He has scored in double figures in every game but one this season and is the type of walking double-double who could put a team on his back for 40 minutes and carry it against the Wildcats.

Alabama coach Anthony Grant offered some praise for his conference rival, via Drew Champlin of AL.com:

"

I said earlier this week I think he's one of the leading candidates for Player of the Year right now for what he's able to do. At 6-foot-11, he's got great size and physicality. It looks like he's put on some good weight.

He's got the ability to stretch to the three-point line, and also post you inside, we're going to have to do a great job as a team offensively in terms of limiting him offensively. 

"

When Arkansas plays Kentucky Saturday, and possibly in the SEC tournament, the Wildcats won’t be the only ones with matchup nightmares lining up down low.

Jarell Martin and Jordan Mickey, LSU

Steve Helber/Associated Press

While Portis is incredibly talented at the individual level, the best way to match up with Kentucky could be to match size with size across the board. That is exactly what LSU can do, and it almost worked when it lost a two-point heartbreaker to the Wildcats on Feb. 10.

As of Wednesday, Jarell Martin and Jordan Mickey were tied for third in the conference with 16.5 points per game. Mickey was second in rebounds (10.1), while Martin was third (nine), and Mickey was third in field-goal percentage (52.5), while Martin was fourth (50.9).

Statistically, this is as dominant of a duo as you will find in this conference, which will make the Tigers such a difficult out in the conference tournament. They combined for 37 points and 18 rebounds against Kentucky, and Mickey had four blocks.

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

The ultimate question for LSU is whether it can get enough production from the guards in Nashville to make enough noise to convince the selection committee that it is worthy of a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Mickey and Martin are certainly going to do their part down low.

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