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2022 Southeastern Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics

Dates

Wednesday, March 9 (first round); Thursday, March 10 (second round); Friday, March 11 (quarterfinals); Saturday, March 12 (semifinals); Sunday, March 13 (championship)

Format

Traditional bracket

Site

Tampa’s Amalie Arena hosts for the first time since 2009. Nashville, the SEC Tournament’s usual home, will host for the next eight years.

TV/Streaming Info

ESPN has Sunday’s championship, Saturday’s semifinals, and the first two quarterfinals on Friday. SEC carries Friday’s evening session and Wednesday and Thursday’s full lineups.

Participants

All 14 SEC teams will play in this season’s event.

Downloadable Bracket

Schedule

First Round (Wed., March 9)

Game 1: (13) Ole Miss (13-19, 4-14) 60, (12) Missouri 72
Game 2: (14) Georgia (6-26, 1-17) 51, (11) Vanderbilt 86

Second Round (Thurs., March 10)

Game 3: (9) Florida (19-13, 9-9) 80, (8) Texas A&M 83 (OT)
Game 4: (12) Missouri (12-21, 5-13) 68, (5) LSU 76
Game 5: (10) Mississippi State 73, (7) South Carolina (18-13, 9-9) 51
Game 6: (11) Vanderbilt 82, (6) Alabama (19-13, 9-9) 76

Quarterfinals (Fri., March 11)

Game 7: (8) Texas A&M 67, (1) Auburn (27-5, 15-3) 62
Game 8: (5) LSU (22-11, 9-9) 67, (4) Arkansas 79
Game 9: (10) Mississippi State (18-15, 8-10) 59, (2) Tennessee 72
Game 10: (11) Vanderbilt (17-16, 7-11) 71, (3) Kentucky 77

Semifinals (Sat., March 12)

ESPN will air both games.

Game 11: (8) Texas A&M 82, (4) Arkansas (25-8, 13-5) 64
Game 12: (3) Kentucky (26-7, 14-4) 62, (2) Tennessee 69

Championship (Sun., March 13)

Game 13: (8) Texas A&M (23-12, 9-9) 50, (2) TENNESSEE (26-7, 14-4) 65

Mayhem Potential

Data originally posted by Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitter in 2020 with my own additions for 2021 and 2022.

Since 2011, the No. 1 seed has won four of the 10 SEC Tournament titles that were up for grabs. No team seeded lower than fifth has won the crown since the conference scrapped divisions for the 2011-12 season.

• 1 seed (4): 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021
• 2 seed (2): 2011 (East), 2016
• 3 seed (2); 2012, 2013
• 4 seed (1): 2018
• 5 seed (1): 2019

10-Year NCAA Bid Totals

• 8 bids (1): 2018 (8-8 record, 14 teams)
• 7 bids (1): 2019 (12-7 record, 14 teams)
• 6 bids (1): 2021 (7-6 record, 14 teams)
• 5 bids (3): 2011 (7-5 record, 12 teams), 2015 (6-5 record, 14 teams), 2017 (11-5 record, 14 teams)
• 4 bids (1): 2012 (10-3 record, 12 teams, Kentucky national champion)
• 3 bids (3): 2013 (4-3 record, 14 teams), 2014 (12-3 record, 14 teams), 2016 (3-3 record, 14 teams)

The SEC is virtually assured of six bids in 2022, with seven or eight possible depending on how things break over the next few days. With Auburn and Kentucky looking like legitimate title threats and the four remaining locks having second-weekend potential at a minimum, the conference should be able to better last season’s pedestrian 7-6 NCAA Tournament mark.

Last Conference Tournament Championships

Alabama: 2021 (1 seed)
Auburn: 2019 (5 seed)
Kentucky: 2018 (4 seed)
Florida: 2014 (1 seed)
Ole Miss: 2013 (3 seed)
Missouri: 2012 (2 seed, Big 12)
Vanderbilt: 2012 (3 seed)
Mississippi State: 2009 (West 3 seed)
Georgia: 2008 (East 6 seed)
Arkansas: 2000 (West 3 seed)
Texas A&M: 1987 (8 seed, SWC)
LSU: 1980 (2 seed)
Tennessee: 1979 (2 seed)
South Carolina: 1971 (2 seed, ACC)

Missouri, South Carolina, and Texas A&M have yet to win the SEC Tournament title, though all three have won championships in previous conferences.