SEC Player of the Week

Koby Brea, Kentucky

This week’s SEC Player of the Week is Kentucky guard Koby Brea. The senior showed out in a big way for the No. 12 Wildcats in their 78-73 win over No. 8 Tennessee. In 31 minutes, Brea showcased both aspects of the game, scoring 18 points, grabbing 3 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists, as well as amassing a steal and block. He only missed 2 shots all game, both from the free-throw line, as he was perfect from the field and beyond the arc. A Dayton transfer, Brea is now averaging 11.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists on 48.7% shooting from the field and 47.8% from three this season.

Who’s Hot

Johni Broome, Auburn

He’s back! Having sat out since January 11th, Auburn’s Johni Broome came back in a big way this weekend. Easing his way back in, Broome came off the bench for the Tigers but still played 33 minutes and had a massive presence. He picked up right where he left off, posting a double-double, 16 points and 14 rebounds, to go with 2 assists and 4 blocks. His efforts helped No. 1 Auburn knock off Tennessee 53-51 at home. Now that he’s returned to the fold, expect Broome to continue to lead the SEC and country’s best as we get closer to March.

Vanderbilt

Blink once, and all of a sudden Vanderbilt is 16-4 and one of the top teams in the country. Now ranked 24th nationally, the Commodores have been a pleasant surprise. Vandy made headlines over the weekend, knocking off the struggling Kentucky who proceeded to turn things around by beating Tennessee. Vanderbilt’s leading scorer in their upset victory was Devin McGlockton, a 6’7 junior forward, who recorded 14 points on 60% shooting from the field and 40% shooting from three. The Commodores are a group not to be slept on, and they’ll look to keep the good times rolling into the tournament.

Who’s Not

Jordan Gainey, Tennessee

Speaking of the Volunteers, Jordan Gainey had a rough game against Kentucky on Tuesday night. Despite coming off the bench, he still played 21 minutes. He scored 6 points on 2/8 shooting from three-point range, and 2/9 shooting overall. Tennessee only lost by 5 points, meaning the game’s outcome could have been much different with a better night offensively from Gainey. Having lost 2 straight now, he and the team will look to get back on track as we get deeper into the season.

South Carolina

The Gamecocks are now the only team left that is winless in conference play. They’re 0-8 against SEC opponents and 10-11 overall. In their most recent loss, a 71-60 affair with Georgia, the team shot 4/17 from downtown and 21/51 overall. However, one positive was their free-throw shooting, a 14/18 mark as a unit. With only two players scoring in double figures in that game, South Carolina must look to get others involved, and scoring consistently, if they want a chance at any in-conference success this year.

Top 5: SEC Sleepers

As we get deeper into the college basketball season, it’s time to talk about the great players who don’t get much praise. Here is a list of 5 players you shouldn’t sleep on, whether they make the tournament or not.

Sean Pedulla, Ole Miss

Ole Miss is ranked 23rd nationally at the moment, and Sean Pedulla is a big reason why. His 14.3 points and 2.3 steals per game are both top ranks for the team. A Virginia Tech transfer, he’s been consistent for a team struggling as of late, scoring double digits in 5 consecutive games with no less than 11 points in that span. His best performance as of late came against Mississippi State, when he posted 18 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals on 38.9% shooting.

Zakai Zeigler, Tennessee

Like Pedulla, Tennessee’s Zakai Zeigler has stepped up for a team experiencing some recent struggles. He scored 14 points against Auburn and 13 points against Tennessee with 2 steals in both games. A senior guard, Zakai does more than just score the basketball. His 7.4 assists and 2.1 steals per night are the best averages on the team in those categories. A team with lots of talent, Tennessee leaning on Zeigler’s skillset could help them get back on track.

Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn

Last week’s SEC Player of the Week, Pettiford has been a consistent bucket-getter for the top-ranked Tigers. While he was held to 8 points in his last game, he was key for Auburn in his previous 4, highlighted by a career-high 24 points against Georgia and 15 points against South Carolina. Even though teammate Johni Broome leads the way in most team-wide statistical categories, Pettiford’s 1.3 steals per game are the best on the team. Another reason to buy in? His success mostly comes off the bench.

Jordan Sears, LSU

Most college basketball fans tune in to LSU games to watch Cam Carter play, but you should also tune in to watch Jordan Sears play. He’s the team leader in assists per game (2.9) and steals per game (1.6), and ranks 2nd on the team in points per game (14.2). A senior transfer from UT Martin, he’s coming off a 21-point game against Alabama, and also recently scored 17 against Arkansas. LSU has been struggling in conference play, but Sears hasn’t been a reason why.

Jaxson Robinson, Kentucky

Robinson has been very impressive for the Wildcats this year. While he’s not a team leader in any categories, he’s averaging 13.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.6 assists on 42.7% shooting. He’s scored 17 or more in 3 of Kentucky’s last 5 games, with the outliers being 27 points against Mississippi State and 22 against Texas A&M. A senior transfer from BYU, Robinson is a must-watch player as we inch closer to March hoops.

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