As part of its 2024–25 men’s basketball preseason coverage, Sports Illustrated is rolling out previews for the five high-major conferences, plus the top mid-majors nationally. Previously: ACC, Big East, Big Ten and Big 12. Next up is the SEC.
There’s been a changing of the guard in the SEC coaching ranks, with John Calipari’s shocking departure from Kentucky to Arkansas in April. That gives the Razorbacks a title-winning coach to replace Eric Musselman and puts a new face in UK alum Mark Pope on the sidelines in Lexington. That was the biggest headline of the SEC offseason, but it was a very active spring and summer throughout the league in recruiting and retention with stars returning and being added through the portal. The talent level in this league from top to bottom is ridiculously high, and that should make for an incredible year of basketball down South.
