The SEC has long been known as the nation’s most imposing college football conference. Over the last few years, the league has used its football-earned riches to transform itself into one of the elite basketball conferences as well.
That was never more apparent than last March. The 16-team SEC, in its first year with Oklahoma and Texas as member schools, landed a college hoops record 14 programs in the 68-team March Madness field. Regular season champion Auburn reached the Final Four, where they were defeated by SEC tournament champion Florida, which went on to beat Houston to capture the men’s NCAA tournament crown.
