The SEC has had its share of ups and down this season. Kentucky has stayed up, while the rest of the teams have had their successes and failures. It looks like I was wrong about Florida who beat Mississippi State yesterday. The Gators are a tournament team. It was a ballsy call, if I do say so myself, but talent wins out. That has not stopped me from putting a Gator guard in the Not file. The conference is shaking out much as expected with Vanderbilt fighting the Gators for second place. Ole Miss has been a pleasant surprise and I wouldn't be shocked if they make some appearances inside the bubble. Alabama has been a disappointment, but we'll get to them in a moment. Let's start with the good news.
Hot
Justin Hamilton, center, LSU Tigers
Before getting hounded out of existence against Kentucky yesterday, the 6-foot-11 transfer from Iowa State had been outstanding in conference play. He scored a season-high 27 points to show off the defensive weaknesses on the Gator interior last Saturday and had managed to score 20 points in half of his conference games. Hamilton fouled out after 19 minutes against the Wildcats and had a season-low seven points, but that will happen against a team full of crazy shot blockers. Look for the centerpiece of coach Trent Johnson's offense to establish himself next Saturday against Arkansas, against whom he had 20 points on Jan. 14.
Jeffery Taylor, guard/forward, Vanderbilt Commodores
As good as Taylor is, he can sometimes get lost in the shuffle with Vanderbilt who has a superior scorer in John Jenkins and a superior defender in Festus Ezeli. Taylor does everything well and has been red hot from three-point land. The 6-foot-7 Swedish born swingman has connect on 16-for-25 (64%) of his threes since conference play started. He has also scored at least 16 points in his last five games and has been chipping in on the boards (7.0 boards over his last five games). Taylor's assist rate has fallen off in his senior year and he does not have any helpers in his last two games (while scoring 40 points). With Taylor playing so well, it is hard to imagine how the Commodores will be stopped in the first round of the tournament again this year.
Jarnell Stokes, freshman forward, Tennessee Volunteers
This is more of a speculative hot than an actual burning sensation. Stokes was not allowed to play in his senior year of high school because he had transferred (which makes you wonder how Michael Beasley played at five different high schools - he must be 80 years old!). So, the 6-foot-8, 250 pound post presence matriculated to Tennessee and has started the last three games. He is a beast on the boards and is averaging 8.0 rebounds and providing 10.6 points. Because of his age, Stokes will not be allowed to test his NBA draft status after this season, so if you are in a keeper league, you have to get him on your squad. He'll be the centerpiece of the Volunteer offense next season.
Not
Tony Mitchell, forward, Alabama Crimson Tide
Things have not gone right in Tuscaloosa. The expected dynamic duo of Mitchell and JaMychal Green has been limited. Green has suffered through a variety of injuries (a shoulder strain being the latest) and Mitchell is stuck in a deep shooting slump. The 6-foot-6 high flyer has not been attacking the rim and has only attempted eight free throws in his last eight games. Over his last six games has made just 23.8% of his shots (20-for-84). If the Crimson Tide are to be successful, they need Mitchell to move in from the perimeter. He has taken a major step back in his junior season, so he will likely return next year.
Chris Denson, guard, Auburn Tigers
Based on his preseason play and his early season scoring exploits, I thought Denson was in for a nice jump into prominence as a scorer for the Tigers. The 6-foot-2 sophomore has shown flashes and was able to move into the starting lineup for a time. On Jan. 17, he started against LSU and missed all five of his shots. Coach Tony Barbee sent him back to the bench and has provided 19 points in limited minutes in his last three games. So much for the breakout. He is still young and worth keeping an eye on, especially after Frankie Sullivan moves on, but you can leave him be on the waiver wire for now.
Kenny Boynton, Jr., guard, Florida Gators
Over his first two years as a Gator, Boynton established himself as a high volume, low efficiency player. He opened his junior season as a high volume, high efficiency player who was canning nearly half of his threes. That brief period has come to an end with conference play. In his last three games, Boynton has gone 4-for-17 on threes. He was a non-factor yesterday against Mississippi State in scoring a season-low two points. Boynton will bounce back against South Carolina on Thursday before the Gators host Vanderbilt in a big game next Saturday. In five games against the Commodores prior to this season, Boynton has averaged 18.2 points.