Kentucky, Tennessee lead SEC loaded with new talent

Updated Nov. 11, 2020 4:56 p.m. ET

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Kentucky has yet another crop of Big Blue-chippers and Tennessee looks poised to prove last season was a blip on an otherwise impressive recent run of success.

When it comes to the rest of the Southeastern Conference it's anybody's guess.

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“We’re all together trying to figure everybody out,” Calipari said. “But this is every year.”

Rick Barnes and

They'll join SEC defensive player of the year Yves Pons, who returned after exploring an NBA move. The Vols went 17-14 last season.

Kentucky and Tennessee were the only SEC teams to crack the

,

KEY TRANSFERS

A number of teams will be leaning on transfers, with Kentucky and Tennessee among those getting a boost. The Wildcats added 7-footer Olivier Sarr from Wake Forest. The Vols are hoping for instant and needed rebounding help from Sacred Heart grad transfer E.J. Anosike. Ex-Oregon player Victor Bailey Jr. is also available after sitting out last season.

“We weren’t very good in that area a year ago, and it’s something we’ve really made a conscious effort on to know that we have to be better there,” Barnes said of the rebounding reinforcements. “E.J. will help us and he does a great job in that area. It’s not just going to be him though.”

Mississippi’s additions include Romello White, who was the Pac-12′s No. 2 rebounder last season at Arizona State. Alabama nabbed another rebounding force, Jordan Bruner from Yale.

even landed a transfer from a league rival, with forward Javian Davis coming over from Alabama. LSU added 6-foot-10 UCLA transfer Shareef O’Neal, son of former LSU and NBA star Shaquille O’Neal.

added the nation's top rebounder in Quinnipiac graduate transfer Kevin Marfo.

sat out last season after transferring from North Carolina.

TOP RECRUITS

The SEC had five of the nation's top 12 recruiting classes according to the 247Sports composite rankings, with Kentucky and Tennessee followed by LSU (No. 6), Auburn (9) and Alabama (12.) Boston was rated the fifth-best prospect and Clarke, No. 8.

Tennessee's Springer was No. 16 and Johnson 19th-best overall. Auburn also landed point guard Sharife Cooper (No. 24) and LSU got shooting guard Cameron Thomas (No. 25).

BIGGEST GAMES

The pandemic wreaked havoc on the nonconference schedules, but there are some solid games still. That includes Tennessee vs. Kansas, Alabama-Oklahoma, Auburn-Baylor and Arkansas State-Oklahoma State.

The Gators face

But Kentucky has the most big-name opponents: Notre Dame and Texas at home, along with neutral-site matchups against Georgia Tech, Kansas and UCLA plus a visit to Louisville.

AUBURN REBUILDS

The Tigers have won 81 games over the past three seasons, including SEC regular season and tournament titles. Now, coach Bruce Pearl has

“I like our talent,” Pearl said. “We’ve got just a ton of learning, a ton of catching up to do, and we’re going to have to get better throughout the season if we’re going to be a competitive team this year, (if) we’re going to be an NCAA Tournament team this year.”

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AP Sports Writers Teresa Walker, Mark Long and Gary B. Graves contributed to this report.

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Immanuel Quickley

Isaac Okoro

Romello White

Victor Bailey

Yves Pons

Tennessee Volunteers

Kentucky Wildcats