SEC Basketball

An SEC Basketball Weekend Recap

There’s quite a lot to unpack here.

By Christopher Novak@ChrisMNovak Mar 21, 2022, 12:13pm EDT

Let’s bring everybody up to speed here!

The SEC had a multitude of teams in postseason play. After this past weekend, they are down to only three.

The big dogs of the conference all went exit, stage left this weekend. Auburn, Kentucky, and Tennessee all couldn’t survive the first weekend of the tournament. The Tigers and Volunteers were unceremoniously sent packing from the tournament by two low-seeded high-major programs. Miami defeated Auburn on Sunday night while Michigan defeated Tennessee on Saturday night.

But to Auburn and Tennessee’s credit, they at least survived the first round. John Calipari’s Wildcats can’t say the same. They were uprooted by tournament darling Saint Peter’s, who’ll play in the Sweet Sixteen in Philadelphia this coming Friday. It was perhaps the worst tournament loss of Cal’s career and maybe the entire program’s history.

Not all things are so pessimistic though. Arkansas advanced through to the Sweet Sixteen again. They of course went to the Elite Eight last year before ultimately falling to eventual National Champion Baylor. The Razorbacks don’t draw a 15-seed this time around, as last year they of course knocked off Oral Roberts. This time... they face Gonzaga in San Francisco. What a game that’s poised to be.

Alabama and LSU both lost their first-round games to Notre Dame and Iowa State, meanwhile.

In the NIT, two teams from the SEC who were invited emerged from the pack. Texas A&M and Vanderbilt moved on through weekend play and will continue in the event. Vandy will face Xavier, who of course brought Sean Miller back over the weekend. A&M, meanwhile, is tasked with Wake Forest.

In all, we’re bound for more fun basketball this coming week.

Speaking of Vanderbilt, let’s take a look at some photos from their NIT game on Sunday. These come courtesy of photographer Nazlie Amirazodi. You can follow her on Instagram at @nazlie_amirazodi.