Last season felt like a fever dream for SEC basketball fans. Fourteen tournament bids. Four Elite Eight teams. Two Final Four appearances. And Florida cutting down the nets in San Antonio as national champions.

It was the kind of season that makes you wonder if we’ll ever see anything like it again—from any conference, let alone one that’s spent decades living in the shadow of football.

But here’s the thing: This wasn’t some fluke. The SEC has been building toward this moment for years, investing heavily in basketball infrastructure and making smart coaching hires that are finally paying dividends. While replicating last season’s historic run might be impossible, this conference has positioned itself to remain a legitimate power in college hoops for years to come.

The Defending Champions Are Built to Repeat

Todd Golden deserves a ton of credit for what he pulled off this offseason. Losing Walter Clayton Jr. to the NBA would’ve crippled most programs, but Golden hit the transfer portal hard and landed two of its best guards in Boogie Fland (Arkansas) and Xaivian Lee (Princeton).

The scary part? Florida’s dominant frontcourt is back. Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon were absolute forces during the tournament run, and both decided to return instead of testing the NBA waters. Haugh especially looks primed for a breakout—he was Florida’s second-best player down the stretch, making winning play after winning play. His versatility and motor make him the type of player NBA scouts drool over.

Depth could be an issue if injuries hit, but Florida’s starting five might be the most talented in the country. They’re the rightful favorites to win the SEC, and they’ve got a real shot at back-to-back titles.

Mark Pope Has Kentucky Rolling Again

Remember the chaos when Pope took over in Lexington last April? The roster was in shambles, he had weeks to build a team from scratch, and everyone wondered if he was in over his head. Then Kentucky made the Sweet 16, and suddenly Pope looked like a genius.

Now he’s got a year under his belt, more time to recruit, and a roster that’s deeper, more talented, and significantly more athletic than last year’s squad. Otega Oweh and Jaland Lowe form one of the best backcourts in America, and if Jayden Quaintance returns healthy from his ACL tear, this team gains another dimension that could push them over the top.

Kentucky finishing second in the preseason poll feels about right, but don’t be surprised if they’re battling Florida for the regular season title come March.

The Calipari Paradox in Fayetteville

Here’s something I never thought I’d write: John Calipari has the most continuity in the SEC. The king of one-and-done actually brought back three starters and built around experience instead of pure talent. It’s… weird? But also potentially genius?

Arkansas looks really good on paper. Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas give them dynamic freshman scoring, Karter Knox appears ready for a breakout sophomore campaign, and Trevon Brazile finally found his groove late last season. This team has the pieces to make a deep March run, and Calipari knows how to get there.

Finishing fifth in the preseason poll feels low for what this roster could accomplish. Don’t sleep on the Razorbacks.

Tennessee and Auburn Face Uncertainty

Rick Barnes has built something special in Knoxville—back-to-back Elite Eights is no joke—but the Vols keep coming up just short of their first Final Four. They’ve got Ja’Kobi Gillespie running the point now after his transfer from Maryland, and Nate Ament is a projected top-five NBA pick. The talent is there. The question is whether they can finally break through when it matters most.

Auburn’s situation is trickier. Bruce Pearl’s sudden retirement just weeks before the season throws everything into chaos. Steven Pearl steps in as head coach, and while the talent remains—Tahaad Pettiford is an absolute star—it’s fair to wonder if the Tigers take a step back. Pearl was one of the best coaches in college basketball, and replacing him on the fly is nearly impossible.

Sixth feels generous for Auburn given the circumstances, though Pettiford could single-handedly will them higher if he plays up to his potential.

The Texas A&M Wildcard

Bucky McMillan taking over for Buzz Williams is one of the more fascinating storylines heading into the season. McMillan built his reputation as an offensive mastermind at Samford, and now he’s got high-major talent to work with. The Aggies completely overhauled their roster, bringing in Rylan Griffen (Kansas), Pop Isaacs (Creighton), and Mackenzie Mgbako (Indiana).

Mgbako is the most intriguing piece. He was a five-star recruit who never quite found his footing at Indiana. A change of scenery could unlock the player everyone thought he’d become. If McMillan’s system clicks and Mgbako thrives, Texas A&M could be this year’s surprise team. Thirteenth in the preseason poll feels too low.

Alabama’s Championship Window Remains Open

Nate Oats has turned Alabama into a perennial contender. Four straight trips to the second weekend. Three top-10 KenPom finishes. A Final Four appearance. The résumé speaks for itself.

This year’s team leans heavily on Labaron Philon, who’s surrounded by proven shooters in Aden Holloway and Latrell Wrightsell. The concern is up front, where Alabama needs Aiden Sherrell to take a massive leap as a sophomore. If Sherrell delivers, this team has championship upside. If not, they might struggle more than expected.

The Bottom Line

The SEC won’t send 14 teams to the tournament again—that was lightning in a bottle. But this conference has the coaching, talent, and resources to remain elite. Florida, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Alabama all have legitimate Final Four potential. Auburn, Missouri, and Oklahoma should comfortably make the tournament. And dark horses like Texas A&M and Vanderbilt could crash the party.

College basketball is better when the SEC is good. Last season proved this conference can compete with anyone. This season will show whether they can sustain it.