Top storylines to follow for all 16 men's teams at SEC Tipoff '26

Big Blue Madness has come and gone while Kentucky‘s annual Blue-White Game is scheduled for Friday inside Historic Memorial Coliseum, but Mark Pope isn’t kicking his legs up and relaxing until then. The second-year coach and a trio of Wildcats are hopping on the private jet and making their way to Birmingham to split the difference for basketball media days at SEC Tipoff ’26, scheduled for October 14-15.

This year, SEC men’s and women’s programs will overlap for the two-day event with eight schools going on Tuesday, then the other eight on Wednesday. Kentucky will close out day one, starting with Kenny Brooks and Teonni Key, Tonie Morgan and Clara Strack from 5:20-5:45 p.m. ET, followed by Pope and Denzel Aberdeen, Jaland Lowe, Otega Oweh from 6:20-6:45 p.m. ET.

KSR’s Phoenix Stevens will have you covered from the women’s side, but what do you need to know about the men heading into the 2025-26 season? Let’s talk through the top storylines for all 16 teams going into SEC Tipoff ’26.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Head coach: Nate Oats
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Houston Mallette, Labaron Philon Jr., Latrell Wrightsell Jr.

Nate Oats has led the Crimson Tide to 129 wins over the past five seasons, ranked No. 7 nationally and No. 1 in the SEC, including a league-best 75 conference victories since he first arrived in 2019-20. Can Labaron Philon Jr. make the superstar leap to pick up where two-time All-American Mark Sears left off? Aden Holloway will be there to help, too, with Alabama picked to finish No. 4 in the league.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Head coach: John Calipari
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Trevon Brazile, D.J. Wagner

Coach Cal returns four of his top six performers down the stretch of a Sweet 16 team while adding five-star guards Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas. Playing all eight teams from the Elite Eight this past season in year two, can the Hall of Fame coach outplay his program’s No. 5 predicted order of finish in the league with two All-SEC talents back in Karter Knox and D.J. Wagner?

Auburn Tigers

Head coach: Steven Pearl
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Keyshawn Hall, KeShawn Murphy, Tahaad Pettiford

Bruce Pearl is out and his son, Steven Pearl, is in. Will there be a drop-off in coaching and fan energy on the Plains? The Tigers lost a ton of talent coming off an SEC championship and Final Four, including SEC Player of the Year and consensus First Team All-American Johni Broome. Tahaad Pettiford will be leaned on to take over alongside standout transfers Keyshawn Hall from UCF and KeShawn Murphy from Mississippi State.

Florida Gators

Head coach: Todd Golden
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh

Coming off the program’s third national championship and the first under Todd Golden, expectations are high to run it back in Gainesville. The Gators return essentially their entire frontcourt and will have one of the deepest groups in college basketball, but can Boogie Fland (Arkansas), Xaivian Lee (Princeton) and AJ Brown (Ohio) replace departing senior guards Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard — plus Denzel Aberdeen, who made the intraconference move to Kentucky?

Georgia Bulldogs

Head coach: Mike White
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Blue Cain, Dylan James

The Bulldogs return two starters and seven total scholarship pieces from an NCAA Tournament team — the program’s first in a decade — but lose lottery pick Asa Newell and standout guard Silas Demary Jr., who transferred to UConn. They will need one (or a couple) of Jeremiah Wilkinson (California), Kanon Catchings (BYU), Marcus Millender (UTSA), Jordan Ross (Saint Mary’s) or Justin Bailey (Wofford) to hit to get back to the Big Dance. Picked to finish No. 14 in the SEC, that’ll be tough.

Kentucky Wildcats

Head coach: Mark Pope
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Denzel Aberdeen, Jaland Lowe, Otega Oweh

Kentucky made history in year one of the Mark Pope era with eight top-15 wins and a return to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. Can the Wildcats turn that momentum into their first Final Four since 2015? Pope has the roster to do it, spending big to build the deepest team in college basketball while bringing back the Preseason SEC Player of the Year in Otega Oweh. Future lottery pick Jayden Quaintance is a needle-mover, depending on his health and return timeline, as is preseason All-SEC pick Jaland Lowe coming in from Pittsburgh.

LSU Tigers

Head coach: Matt McMahon
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Jalen Reed, Marquel Sutton, Dedan Thomas Jr.

Is Matt McMahon coaching for his job this season? With a 45-53 overall record and zero March Madness appearances in Baton Rouge while picked to finish No. 15 in the SEC in 2025-26, it’s fair to say. That’s why he rebuilt his roster with older talent, the team’s average age sitting at just under 22 with eight upperclassmen. Summit League Player of the Year Marquel Sutton (Omaha) will need to carry some serious weight while Jalen Reed (11.1 PPG, torn ACL last December) hopes to return to form sooner rather than later.

Ole Miss Rebels

Head coach: Chris Beard
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Malik Dia, Ilias Kamardine, AJ Storr

Beard has his work cut out for him with a major roster rebuild featuring 11 letterwinners and four starters gone from 2024-25, namely double-digit scorers Sean Pedulla, Jaemyn Brakefield, Matthew Murrell, Jaylen Murray and Dre Davis. Malik Dia is back, but elsewhere, it’s a mixed portal bag while banking on FIBA U20 Eurobasket MVP Ilias Kamardine (France) to be a star at guard.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Head coach: Chris Jans
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Jayden Epps, Josh Hubbard, Shawn Jones Jr.

The Josh Hubbard Show returns in Starkville, Coach Jans bringing back a two-time All-SEC talent and Preseason First Team All-SEC pick to go with some interesting portal adds in Brandon Walker (Montana State), Jayden Epps (Georgetown), Achor Achor (Kansas State) and Quincy Ballard (Wichita State). The Bulldogs lost some talent, but when you have a go-to star, you can figure the rest out ahead of what hopes to be the program’s fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance — something done just one other time at MSU.

Missouri Tigers

Head coach: Dennis Gates
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Jacob Crews, Mark Mitchell, Anthony Robinson II

Missouri is the only SEC school that returns three starters from 2024-25 — one that finished sixth in the league en route to an NCAA Tournament bid. All-SEC senior Mark Mitchell is the anchor and the program’s top returning scorer since 2011-12. Anthony Robinson II is also coming off an SEC All-Defensive Team campaign. Losing Caleb Grill and Tamar Bates hurts, but the Tigers have some ammo to work with as a top-half predicted finisher in 2025-26.

Oklahoma Sooners

Head coach: Porter Moser
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Tae Davis, Nijel Pack, Derrion Reid

The bad news is that the Sooners lost their top seven scorers from last season and return just two players who played in more than six games — neither scoring over 4.3 points per game. The good news? Porter Moser had an excellent portal offseason, signing the No. 6 transfer class in the country, headlined by Xzayvier Brown (Saint Joseph’s), Tae Davis (Notre Dame), Derrion Reid (Alabama) and Nijel Pack (Miami).

South Carolina Gamecocks

Head coach: Lamont Paris
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Meechie Johnson, Mike Sharavjamts, Myles Stute

12 new players are set to take the floor at Colonial Life Arena, headlined by the return of All-SEC guard Meechie Johnson. Replacing the program’s first lottery pick in history in Collin Murray-Boyles will not be easy, though, as South Carolina looks to avoid a last-place finish under Lamont Paris.

Tennessee Volunteers

Head coach: Rick Barnes
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Felix Okpara, Cade Phillips

Fresh off a lifetime contract extension in Knoxville, Rick Barnes will roll out three standout transfers in Amaree Abram (Louisiana Tech), Jaylen Carey (Vanderbilt) and Ja’Kobi Gillespie (Maryland) along with the highest-ranked recruit in program history, Nate Ament. There are question marks at the two spot, but the Volunteers are fairly loaded elsewhere, particularly in the frontcourt.

Texas Longhorns

Head coach: Sean Miller
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Dailyn Swain, Chendall Weaver

Tramon Mark, Jordan Pope and Chendall Weaver are back for the Longhorns under new head coach Sean Miller, who also brings standout Dailyn Swain with him from Xavier. 11 of the Texas’ 15-man roster have previous DI experience, combining for 694 career games and 387 starts with 5,980 points and 2,662 rebounds. Tre Johnson’s departure will be felt, obviously, but the floor should be high to get Miller off on the right track in Austin.

Texas A&M Aggies

Head coach: Bucky McMillan
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Pop Isaacs, Mackenzie Mgbako

Bucky Ball has arrived in College Station, Coach McMillan coming from Samford as a three-time SoCon Coach of the Year. It’s a brand-new roster, but given the late start in the portal and high school recruiting, he built a competitive roster with the likes of Pop Isaacs (Creighton), Mackenzie Mgbako (Indiana) and Rylan Griffen (Kansas) leading the way. Could they be a poor man’s version of Kentucky’s 2024-25 group, exceeding early expectations at A&M?

Vanderbilt Commodores

Head coach: Mark Byington
Players at SEC Tipoff ’26: Devin McGlockton, Tyler Nickel, Tyler Tanner

Entering year two of the Mark Byington era, the Commodores bring back real core talent in Devin McGlockton, Tyler Nickel and Tyler Tanner while also bringing in five newcomers from high-major programs in Frankie Collins (TCU), Tyler Harris (Washington), Mike James (NC State), Duke Miles (Oklahoma) and Jalen Washington (North Carolina). Byington’s 20 regular-season wins in 2024-25 were the most by a first-year Vanderbilt coach in program history. Can he match or top that mark in 2025-26 with a return to the NCAA Tournament?

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SEC Tipoff ’26 Schedule

Tuesday, October 14

• 9:05-9:20 a.m.        Georgia (M) – Mike White
• 9:20-9:30 a.m.        Georgia (M) – Blue Cain, Dylan James
• 9:35-9:50 a.m.        Vanderbilt (M) – Mark Byington
• 9:50-10:00 a.m.      Vanderbilt (M) – Devin McGlockton, Tyler Nickel, Tyler Tanner
• 10:05-10:20 a.m.     Georgia (W) – Katie Abrahamson-Henderson
• 10:20-10:30 a.m.     Georgia (W) – Dani Carnegie, Savannah Henderson, Mia Woolfolk
• 10:35-10:50 a.m.     Vanderbilt (W) – Shea Ralph
• 10:50-11:00 a.m.     Vanderbilt (W) – Mikayla Blakes, Ndjakelenga Mwenentanda, Sacha Washington
• 11:20-11:35 a.m.     Ole Miss (W) – Yolett McPhee-McCuin
• 11:35-11:45 a.m.     Ole Miss (W) – Christeen Iwuala, Latasha Lattimore, Cotie McMahon
• 11:50-12:05 p.m.    South Carolina (W) – Dawn Staley
• 12:05-12:15 p.m.    South Carolina (W) – Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts, Ta’Niya Latson
• 12:20-12:35 p.m.    Ole Miss (M) – Chris Beard
• 12:35-12:45 p.m.    Ole Miss (M) – Malik Dia, Ilias Kamardine, AJ Storr
• 12:50-1:05 p.m.      South Carolina (M) – Lamont Paris
• 1:05-1:15 p.m.        South Carolina (M) – Meechie Johnson, Mike Sharavjamts, Myles Stute
• 1:35-1:50 p.m.        Arkansas (M) – John Calipari
• 1:50-2:00 p.m.        Arkansas (M) – Trevon Brazile, D.J. Wagner
• 2:05-2:20 p.m.        Alabama (M) – Nate Oats
• 2:20-2:30 p.m.        Alabama (M) – Houston Mallette, Labaron Philon Jr., Latrell Wrightsell Jr.
• 2:35-2:50 p.m.        Arkansas (W) – Kelsi Musick
• 2:50-3:00 p.m.        Arkansas (W) – Taleyah Jones, Wyvette Mayberry
• 3:05-3:20 p.m.        Alabama (W) – Kristy Curry
• 3:20-3:30 p.m.        Alabama (W) – Essence Cody, Jessica Timmons, Karly Weathers
• 3:50-4:05 p.m.        Texas (W) – Vic Schaefer
• 4:05-4:15 p.m.        Texas (W) – Madison Booker, Rori Harmon, Kyla Oldacre
• 4:20-4:35 p.m.        Kentucky (W) – Kenny Brooks
• 4:35-4:45 p.m.        Kentucky (W) – Teonnie Key, Tonie Morgan, Clara Strack
• 4:50-5:05 p.m.        Texas (M) – Sean Miller
• 5:05-5:15 p.m.        Texas (M) – Dailyn Swain, Chendall Weaver
• 5:20-5:35 p.m.        Kentucky (M) – Mark Pope
• 5:35-5:45 p.m.        Kentucky (M) – Denzel Aberdeen, Jaland Lowe, Otega Oweh

Wednesday, October 15

• 9:05-9:20 a.m.        Auburn (M) – Steven Pearl
• 9:20-9:30 a.m.        Auburn (M) – Keyshawn Hall, KeShawn Murphy, Tahaad Pettiford
• 9:35-9:50 a.m.        Mississippi St. (M) – Chris Jans
• 9:50-10:00 a.m.      Mississippi St. (M) – Shawn Jones Jr., Jayden Epps, Josh Hubbard
• 10:05-10:20 a.m.     Auburn (W) – Larry Vickers
• 10:20-10:30 a.m.     Auburn (W) – Ja’Mia Harris, Khady Leye
• 10:35-10:50 a.m.     Mississippi St. (W) – Sam Purcell
• 10:50-11:00 a.m.     Mississippi St. (W) – Madison Francis, Chandler Prater, Kharyssa Richardson
• 11:20-11:35 a.m.     Florida (W) – Kelly Rae Finley
• 11:35-11:45 a.m.     Florida (W) – Liv McGill, Me’Arah O’Neal, Laila Reynolds
• 11:50-12:05 p.m.    Tennessee (W) – Kim Caldwell
• 12:05-12:15 p.m.    Tennessee (W) – Janiah Barker, Talaysia Cooper, Zee Spearman
• 12:20-12:35 p.m.    Florida (M) – Todd Golden
• 12:35-12:45 p.m.    Florida (M) – Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh
• 12:50-1:05 p.m.      Tennessee (M) – Rick Barnes
• 1:05-1:15 p.m.        Tennessee (M) – Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Felix Okpara, Cade Phillips
• 1:35-1:50 p.m.        LSU (M) – Matt McMahon
• 1:50-2:00 p.m.        LSU (M) – Jalen Reed, Marquel Sutton, Dedan Thomas Jr.
• 2:05-2:20 p.m.        Texas A&M (M) – Bucky McMillan
• 2:20-2:30 p.m.        Texas A&M (M) – Pop Isaacs, Mackenzie Mgbako
• 2:35-2:50 p.m.        LSU (W) – Kim Mulkey
• 2:50-3:00 p.m.        LSU (W) – MiLaysia Fulwiley, Flau’Jae Johnson, Mikaylah Williams
• 3:05-3:20 p.m.        Texas A&M (W) – Joni Taylor
• 3:20-3:30 p.m.        Texas A&M (W) – Fatmata Janneh, Lauren Ware
• 3:50-4:05 p.m.        Missouri (W) – Kellie Harper
• 4:05-4:15 p.m.        Missouri (W) – Abbey Schreacke, Grace Slaughter
• 4:20-4:35 p.m.        Oklahoma (W) – Jennie Baranczyk
• 4:35-4:45 p.m.        Oklahoma (W) – Raegan Beers, Payton Verhulst, Sahara Williams
• 4:50-5:05 p.m.        Missouri (M) – Dennis Gates
• 5:05-5:15 p.m.        Missouri (M) – Jacob Crews, Mark Mitchell, Anthony Robinson II
• 5:20-5:35 p.m.        Oklahoma (M) – Porter Moser
• 5:35-5:45 p.m.        Oklahoma (M) – Tae Davis, Nijel Pack, Derrion Reid

KSR will be in attendance bright and early starting Tuesday morning with non-stop coverage to follow. Stay tuned, BBN.