MIKE STRANGE

Mike Strange: Is SEC basketball worthy?

Mike Strange
USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes watches a play against Auburn in the first half of their NCAA college basketball game on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, in Auburn, Ala.

Tennessee vs. California at the First Four in Dayton.

If only USA Today's NCAA men's basketball bracket projection Monday comes to pass (It won't).  Wouldn't that be an interesting night for Vol basketball fans, revisiting former coach Cuonzo Martin in the Big Dance. Think of all the factions that would weigh in.

Despite a bad loss at Mississippi State on Saturday, USA Today's bracket has the Vols clinging to the First Four by the width of Grant Williams' fingernails.

In another bracket, Joe Lunardi's on ESPN.com, the Vols were in the "First four out" Monday. Lunardi likes Arkansas better. USA Today gives the Vols the nod over the Razorbacks.

With eight regular-season games to play, Kentucky, Florida and South Carolina are in solid shape to make the tournament. As has been the case lately, the SEC is scrapping to get a fourth team into the bracket.

Will it be Arkansas or Tennessee? Or Georgia? Or...nobody.

Meanwhile, the ACC has 10 teams in Lunardi's bracket. Seven – seven – of the Big 12's 10 members are in. Half the Big Ten's 14 teams are in.

The SEC? When does spring practice start?

"I think our league is so much better than people think it is from a perception out there,'' Barnes said Monday.

I can't tell you how many times I've written that quote, or a similar one, over the years. From every Tennessee coach I've covered and from most of the other coaches in the conference.  I'll bet an archivist could find those words coming out of Adolph Rupp's mouth.

In four of the past five seasons, only three SEC teams were selected for the NCAA tournament. Last year, a 24-win (regular season) South Carolina team was passed over. In 2014, a 21-win Arkansas team wasn't deemed worthy. In 2013, Kentucky and Alabama, both with 21 wins, both 12-6 in the SEC, were snubbed. So was 20-win Tennessee.

Is perception a factor? Never mind that in 2014 when only Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee were picked, the Gators and Wildcats reached the Final Four and the Vols lost a Sweet 16 game to Michigan on the final possession.

Last March, a couple of days after another three-team Selection Sunday – Kentucky, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt – new SEC commissioner Greg Sankey announced the appointment of Mike Tranghese as a special consultant for basketball. Tranghese is a former Big East Conference commish and veteran of the NCAA tournament selection committee.

Barnes also lauds Sankey for appointing veteran ref Mark Whitehead as supervisor of SEC officiating. That's another story for another day.

Tranghese is the latest hired gun to help the SEC upgrade its lackluster hoops image. Barnes liked what Tranghese brought to the table at the SEC spring meetings.

"I thought, and heard many coaches say they thought it was the best dialogue we've ever had,'' Barnes said Monday. "Mike's been around a long time. I thought it was a great move by the commissioner.''

But here we are in February with only three SEC teams in good shape. As long as the SEC is not held in high esteem, all those teams living in bubble land might well be at a disadvantage when the selection committee hunkers down.

Look at the league standings. Once past Kentucky, Florida and South Carolina, there are nine teams ranging from 6-4 to 4-6. A two-game swing can take you from 12th place to fourth place. Or vice versa. The Vols, at 5-5, are in the thick of it. Home games this week with Ole Miss and Georgia are must wins.

In the end, what will be enough? We never know until the bracket is announced. If you're wearing the SEC brand, it might take a little extra.

"Our league is much better,'' Barnes said, "and I know it's heading in the right direction because of what the commissioner has done and his commitment to basketball. We're not a year away, I can tell you that.''

We'll see about that on Selection Sunday.

MIke Strange may be reached at mike.strange@knoxnews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @Strangemike44

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