ESPN: Cal says Mizzou, Texas A&M make SEC stronger than ever

Missouri and Texas A & M were plucked from the Big 12 and brought over to the SEC for monetary reasons that will be put on full display during college football season. But, UK head coach John Calipari believes that their addition will make SEC basketball as competitive as ever and expects to see seven teams from the league make the NCAA Tournament.

“Think about what happens now,” said Calipari. “Now we start moving up a notch in where everybody is. I think, again, seven teams in our league, half of our league is going to be in the NCAA tournament. That’s what I believe. And I think that will be from here on in.” 

If the SEC sent seven teams to the Dance, it would be the most in league history. They have never sent more than six and a year ago sent just four teams to the tourney, including the eventual National Champion Kentucky Wildcats.

The other coaches in the league are drinking the same Kool-aid.

“If you would poll the coaches across the league, I think you’d hear consistently that this could be a banner year for our league — in terms of how many teams we can potentially get into the postseason,” said Alabama head coach Anthony Grant.

There’s no denying that the addition of Missouri will make the SEC a better basketball league. Don’t expect the Tigers to have the same kind of season they had last year as Frank Haith inherited all of Mike Anderson’s players, but they should be competitive.