Georgia, SEC make NCAA Tournament history
The SEC has been the standard for elite conference basketball this year. The conference is usually known as the best football conference, but this season has been a basketball season to remember for the SEC.
The SEC has set a new record by placing 14 of its 16 teams in the NCAA Tournament bracket, besting the previous mark of 11 set by the Big East back in 2011 when it also had 16 members. By percentage (87.5%), the SEC's NCAA Tournament haul is also the best ever, topping the 77.7% mark posted when the nine-team Big East put seven schools in the 1991 bracket.
The SEC teams to make March Madness are No. 1 overall seed Auburn, No. 1 seed Florida, No. 2 seed Alabama, No. 2 seed Tennessee, No. 3 seed Kentucky, No. 4 seed Texas A&M, No. 6 seed Ole Miss, No. 6 seed Missouri, No. 8 seed Mississippi State, No. 9 seed Oklahoma, No. 9 seed Georgia, No. 10 seed Vanderbilt, No. 10 seed Arkansas, and No. 11 seed Texas. The only SEC teams to miss the NCAA Tournament are LSU and South Carolina.
"Best league in the history of college basketball," Georgia basketball coach Mike White said about hard the SEC schedule was for his team. Georgia basketball made March Madness despite having a 8-10 record in conference play. Teams under .500 in conference play usually miss the NCAA Tournament, but the SEC was so dominant this year in nonconference play that it had six teams make March Madness that won under half their conference games including Texas (6-12) and Oklahoma (6-12).
The Bulldogs played on the road for four games against top 10 opponents and faced 12 top 25 teams throughout conference play.
As the NCAA Tournament begins Tuesday with the First Four, the SEC will be closely watched as it tries to confirm its remarkable regular season, considered one of the most dominant in recent history.
The No. 9-seed Georgia will play the No. 8-seed Gonzaga Bulldogs (25-8, 14-4 West Coast) on Thursday in Wichita, Kansas. Georgia plays in the Midwest Region of the bracket.
This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Georgia basketball, SEC make March Madness history
Topics
-
SEC shatters record for most men's NCAA Tournament teams from one conference
The SEC has broken the men's NCAA Tournament record for most teams from a single conference with 14. Here's more on the record:Yahoo Sports - 1d -
SEC sets NCAA Tournament record with 14 March Madness bids as league embraces national title expectations
The SEC has made history and is now significant embracing NCAA Tournament aspirationsCBS Sports - 20h -
Sankey: Record 14 NCAA bids 'justified' for SEC
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey says his league has been "incomparable" this season and expects no less than a record 14 teams to make the men's NCAA tournament.ESPN - 2d -
Auburn, Duke top men's NCAA field; SEC gets 14
Overall top seed Auburn was joined by Duke, Houston and Florida as 1-seeds, and a record 14 teams from the SEC were selected to participate in the NCAA tournament.ESPN - 7h -
How will NCAA Tournament selection committee handle seeding as many as 12, 13 or 14 teams from the SEC?
The league is destined to set the record for the most bids in one year. Here's how the committee will look to try and avoid rematches earlyCBS Sports - 2d -
Gators win SEC Tournament title, secure No. 1 seed in NCAAs
A day after setting an SEC Tournament scoring record, No. 4 Florida got defensive to beat Tennessee in the title game and earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAAs. Following a 86-77 win over the No. 8 Vols, ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
2025 NCAA Tournament: Which First Four team has the best chance to make a deep March Madness run?
Since the First Four started in 2011, 13 of its teams have won multiple NCAA Tournament gamesCBS Sports - 9h -
2025 SEC college basketball recruiting rankings as March Madness tips off
With 14 teams in the NCAA tournament, all eyes turn to the SEC and what's ahead.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
UCLA sets school record by earning No. 1 overall seed in women's NCAA tournament
No. 1 UCLA earned its highest women's NCAA tournament seed and will face No. 16 seed UC San Diego or Southern at Pauley Pavilion Friday.Yahoo Sports - 23h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Twins’ Royce Lewis will miss start of season after hurting his hamstring
Lewis is coming off a 2024 season that saw him appear in just 82 games due to quadriceps and adductor issues.Yahoo Sports - 2h -
Texans to pick up Derek Stingley's Jr.'s fifth-year option ahead of extension
The Houston Texans will have Derek Stingley Jr. under contract through 2029 after agreeing to pick up one final year on his rookie deal.Yahoo Sports - 5h -
MLB hyped up a video game-like replay view from the Tokyo Dome and fans justifiably hated it
The on-field replay did not go over how MLB expected.Yahoo Sports - 7h -
The Players Championship 2025 prize money: Full payout from the $25 million purse
Here's how the $25 million purse will be paid out this week at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.Yahoo Sports - 23h -
Auburn basketball’s first round opponent revealed ahead of 2025 NCAA Tournament
Auburn basketball will face either Alabama State or St. Francis in March Madness to open its 2025 NCAA Tournament men’s bracket.Yahoo Sports - 1d
More in Sports
-
Shohei Ohtani opens up about being in the spotlight ahead of Dodgers' Tokyo games: 'Don't let those kids down'
Ohtani sat down with CBS Evening News before the MLB opening series against the CubsCBS Sports - 28m -
WVU snub 'robbery' at highest level, gov. says
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey wants his attorney general to investigate and work closely with the NCAA to ensure the men's tournament selection process is transparent and fair.ESPN - 30m -
S. Alabama has NIT invite nixed: 'Unacceptable'
South Alabama had its invitation to the NIT rescinded after the Jaguars were informed they would be playing, a decision the coach called "unacceptable."ESPN - 30m -
Stanley on deal: Happy to give Ravens 'bargain'
Ronnie Stanley chose to re-sign with the Ravens for a team-friendly three-year, $60 million deal on March 8 instead of testing free agency. His decision came down to loyalty, he said Monday.ESPN - 30m -
Deion wants foe for CU spring game; Cuse willing
Colorado coach Deion Sanders wants to save spring football games by having teams practice against another team for a week before playing them in a scrimmage.ESPN - 30m