Auburn’s breakthrough last basketball season didn't earn the Tigers much respect.
Despite finishing 24-12 overall and 10-6 in the Southeastern Conference last season, the Tigers were picked to finish last in the West Division in a vote of SEC and natonal media members. Each SEC school chose media members that covered their teams and others were chosen nationally by the SEC office.
AuburnUndercover.com Senior Writer Phillip Marshall was on the panel of voters.
Kentucky was picked to win the East Division and overall championships in John Calipari’s first season as head coach. Mississippi State was picked to win the West, followed by Ole Miss, Alabama, LSU Alabama, Arkansas and Auburn.
Tennessee, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia followed Kentucky in the East.
Auburn point guard DeWayne Reed was a second-team selection on the preseason All-SEC team.
Preseason Media Poll
(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
(*-unanimous selection)
SEC CHAMPION: Kentucky (20); Mississippi State (3); Tennessee (2)
EAST DIVISION
Kentucky (23) 148
Tennessee (2) 117
Vanderbilt 90
South Carolina 77
Florida 68
Georgia 25
WEST DIVISION
Mississippi State (22) 144
Ole Miss (2) 120
Alabama 84
LSU (1) 70
Arkansas 63
Auburn 44
FIRST-TEAM ALL-SEC
Devan Downey, G, South Carolina
* Patrick Patterson, F, Kentucky
Tyler Smith G/F, Tennessee
Jarvis Varnado, F, Mississippi State
Terrico White, G, Ole Miss
SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC
Tasmin Mitchell, F, LSU
A.J. Ogilvy, C, Vanderbilt
DeWayne Reed, G, Auburn
John Wall, G, Kentucky
Chris Warren, G, Ole Miss
SEC PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Patrick Patterson, Kentucky
