This starts the first ever "This Week in SEC Basketball" post here at Team Speed Kills where I will attempt to give fans some sort of insight, wisdom, knowledge (that might be stretching it) that they won't find on many other blog sites. To begin, I'll preview key games for the week along with my Top Five Players of the past week of play. Without further ado:
Tuesday:
Key Game: South Carolina at Florida
- Here's the re-match that every Gator has been waiting for after South Carolina took the Gators down on a last second lay-up. What happened defensively Nick Calathes? If Florida hopes to even the season series they'll have to contain the guard duo of Devan Downey and Zam Fredrick who combined for 35 points in the two teams' last meeting.
Mississippi State at Kentucky
Wednesday:
Key Game: Auburn at Ole Miss
- This will be an interesting match-up considering the Tigers have showed glimpses of promise this season by competing in each SEC contest. On the other hand, Ole Miss is fresh off two straight wins against Kentucky and Mississippi State which have opened up the door for the Rebels to compete in the SEC West. This could be a revenge game of sorts for Ole Miss, as they take on virtually the same Auburn team that beat them twice last season thus ultimately sending the Rebels to the NIT.
LSU at Georgia
Tennessee at Arkansas
Thursday:
Alabama at Vanderbilt
Saturday:
Key Game: Arkansas at Mississippi State
- Maybe not as intriguing as the previous two games, but this game will make or break both teams in the West Division. The Bulldogs will stay in contention for the West with a win, while the Hogs are teetering on the brink of falling off with games against Tennessee, Mississippi State, Kentucky, LSU, and South Carolina all on the horizon.
Tennessee at Auburn
Ole Miss at Vanderbilt
Georgia at South Carolina
Five Key Players to Watch:
G Terrico White, Ole Miss, Freshman
- The freshman has taken over the reigns at PG for Andy Kennedy's club and has responded with 21 points and 7 assists against Kentucky and 18 points in the win over Mississippi State.
C Chris Johnson, LSU, Senior
- The 6'11" senior has posted double-doubles in back-to-back games with 14 and 14 against Tennessee and 18 and 11 against Arkansas. Johnson's play now begs the question: top post player in the SEC?
G Ravern Johnson, Mississippi State, Sophomore
- Johnson has gone for 21 and points respectively over the past two games. The first time he's done that this season.
G Devan Downey, South Carolina, Junior
- Downey has posted games of 20, 22, 18, and 23 points over the Gamecocks' four game win streak. Oh yeah, he's still got another year of eligibility.
F Patrick Patterson, Kentucky, Sophomore
- I've been critical of Patterson this season, but the big man has brought it over the past week. In losses to Ole Miss and South Carolina, Patterson has led the Cats averaging 26 points and 7 rebounds along the way
For more information, head over to The Ghost of Chucky at http://ghostofchucky.blogspot.com. Hopefully cocknfire won't mind the shameless plug.