I still think, SEC is a good conference, also the domination is over, but there are some candidates for Top8 this year, and the conference will easily get 5 or 6 teams , maybe 7, in the Top20 for sure. But so far i see only 7 , maximum 8 teams for the Ncaas in May.
1) UGA still when everyone plays, i know everyone will be surprised , but they are still a heck of a team on all positions., 1, 3 and 4 not played vs MSU and they still nearly won, they will not win the title, but Elite 8 is still possible, took UCLA to the wire.
depth and Waglands behaviour could be a problem; lost only Ku Singh and Marco Nunez from last years team, by the way, where is nunez? ah at FSU.
2) Texas A&M, i think they ve great talent, but not really showed it so long, but they will be even better outdoors,
they beat the Vols, so they are 2. Should ve beaten Illini, but okay, on the road, indoors, they beat them now in their home. They will play Vols and UGA plus Florida at home, so they are the little favourite to win sec, but they ve road problems allways. Lost only Angus, but got Lunkin.
Aggies have a very outstanding 1 to 4 lineup, plus great doubles. the real no.1 is missing.
3) Vols, still good enough on Top2 , from the results alone they are better as UGA, but not from talent, some depth, and very good doubles, lost only a very solid Edward Jones and Patrick Taylor, Liebietis and Resse are one of the best 1-2 punches in NCAAs, Kerner at 6 is great value. The Okla State loss was a bad one.
4) UK also they not played in ITA Indoors, really experienced team , 6 seniors ! ( i ll wonder how they solve this problem next season..), the real top players are missing, also Jomby can compete with a lot of people, Rossi is badly missed for sure. Lost 2 times vs notre dame, which looked weak in first, but Notre Dame as better as everyone expected. Fought well in a 0-4 loss vs Ohio State. Cause of their experience i still bet on Top4 Wildcat team !
5) Florida, really surprising me, good win over UGA, 4 good seniors, really good freshman in Lippma and Hidalgo, Shelton plus Merklein really could beat a dynasty here. Lost only van Overbeek in bigger things, could be a tough out this season, but not will make Elite 8 (only if everything falls in place) and not Top4 in SEC.
6) MSU, a really down year , lost very important players also they got Lakat now, fought well in indoors, but still nearly lost vs UGA-2 of their best players, do not really like MSU, but they can prove me better, roster is too inexperienced, still has to find themselves as a team. Making the Indoors was good, beating Georgia was just lucky. They can fight , lots of close wins.
7) Vanderbilt, really a decent team, took easily out Memphis and LSU so far. played Texas tough, also it was 0-4. Good mix of a team, they sit on 6 in my eyes now, but also can fall down. (can also move up past MSU)
8) Ole Miss, i still have hope in this team, also it will be tough in SEC this season, Scholtz is one of the best in the nation, 5 and 6 are really a weakness, 2 till 4 can play with anyone, doubles is a weakness, even the Ncaas can be in danger , if this 50%-win-rule is still in place..they ve just one win so far. Still not know their bad scheduling....; sit on 8 right now, cause of their history (i am a long time rebels-fan)
9) Auburn , had them above Ole Miss, until losing big at Clemson, Mies is really missed, beating some decent teams in Drake and GTech, roster is too thin, to really compete.
10) USC, a team i do not know too much about, they do doing some fine things, but still have 4 losses vs decent teams, also they took out Harvard easily. 4-3 at home vs a down-year MTSU-team is also not a standout result. If everything falls in place they can compete with Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss for the 8th place in SEC, but not more. Mihov on one is a weak point, also he has a good ranking. Andrew Schaefer is top freshman.
11) LSU, also not knowing much about them, lots of freshman, lost Szaczinski, Borsos, Bowtell, this really hurts. The depth on all places is not there. Will be a tough season.
12) Alabama, still more talent as Arkansas, but still bad, Proskura and O'Shaugnessy are great guys, but thats all, problem is they will not win allways 1 and 2..certainly not..and behind them...it is falling down..., chances are there to be better as LSU
13) Arkansas , really bad, they ve lost to Dartmouth and Purdue...surprisingly they took Tulsa on the road to the wire
alabama, auburn, msu all in action this weekend in Blue and Gray Tennis classic. MSU should compete for the title there.