Todd Golden evaluates how the perception of the SEC has changed over the years

Todd Golden is heading into his fourth season as an SEC coach and his second as a head man. Even in that short span, though, he has picked up a profound perspective on how far the conference has come on the hardwood.

Golden spoke about the quality basketball in the Southeastern Conference during the SEC’s Media Day on Wednesday. To him, the commitment from each school and program as well as the head coaching hires have completely changed the complexion and competitiveness around the league.

“I mean this league is way better than it was when I was here as an assistant,” said Golden. “You look back when I first got to Auburn – I think it was 2016? Like, the league was trying to find ways to get basketball to the same level that football was. Whether it was creative scheduling, there were a lot of different initiatives they were taking on.”

“When you look at it, I really think the coaches that were hired during that stretch were a huge reason why the league is at the level it is now and why you could argue it’s the best league in America,” Golden said.

However, Golden also stated that it’s a privilege to coach on the opposite side of those faces that are around the league these days.

“As a young coach, this is something you aspire to do. You aspire to coach against Rick Barnes, you aspire to coach against John Calipari. These different guys who have had a lot of success over their career,” said Golden. “Just kind of being in that arena with these guys is an honor and something that I look forward to competing against every night.”

This also led to a lesson that Golden picked up quickly over his first season at Florida. He knows you can get caught on any night when you compete against the players that are now in the SEC.

“It’s one of – if not the – best league in America. Every night? You’re going up against NBA players on the other side,” Golden said. “If you don’t put your best foot forward? If you’re not competitive, if you’re not physical, if you’re not ready to go? You’re going to get popped. It’s always good to remember that.”

The SEC is coming off a year where eight teams made the Field of 68 for the 2023 NCAA Tournament. Now, coming into this season, five teams from the league made the Preseason Top-25. Four more, including Golden’s Gators, earned votes to make nine in total

That caliber of team is why, once they tip the ball in November or when conference play starts at the start of January, Golden says it’s going to get busy between the league’s 14 teams.

“Five or six teams in the AP Top-25, there were four other teams getting votes. That’s more than half the league that some people consider to be Top-25. When you put that together? It’s going to be really tough.