SEC, Pac 10 see uncharacteristic seasons

This season has been full of surprises.

For me, two of the biggest surprises have been the SEC and the Pac 10. These two conferences generally combine for anywhere from 6 to 8 teams in top 25. This season, there are only three, all coming from the Pac 10.

The SEC is significantly down this season. Tennessee has dropped out of the top 25, just one season after being the number one team in the land. Vanderbilt, and both Kentucky and Florida are also struggling this season, depsite playing well as of late. LSU has also been playing well, atop the SEC West with a 6-1 record.

The Tigers are riding a three game winning streak in to the rest of their schedule, which has them in games against Alabama, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Florida, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt. Also, a pesky Arkansas team could play spoiler to the Tigers, much like they did to Texas back on Jan. 6.

Florida's remaining schedule isn't much easier. The Gators still have to play Kentucky twice, Alabama, Vanderbilt, LSU, and Tennessee, who is still dangerous. The Gators lost to the Vols back on Jan. 31, 79-63.

After losing to Kentucky 90-72 on Jan. 13, Tennessee will get a redemption match-up against the Wildcats on Feb. 21. The Volunteers are essentially in a must win situation now throughout the rest of the conference schedule if they want any chance to win the regular season conference title.

With that being said, my pick is going to Florida. They're in great position right now, only a half game behind LSU for first place. They're riding the momentum of an exciting overtime win over South Carolina, and will need that momentum in their Feb. 24 meeting with LSU, which could potentially decide the champion.

Now, we head out west to the Pac 10.

After putting six teams in last year's NCAA tournament, the Pac 10 will likely only get three teams in this year.

UCLA is the clear favorite to win this conference, and is also my pick to take the season title. The Bruins sit atop the Pac 10 with an 8-2 record, suffering a loss to Washington, and an overtime loss to Arizona State.

Darren Collison, Josh Shipp, and freshman Jrue Holiday are all averaging double figures in points, and are making their cases for a spot on the All-Conference first team. As a team, the Bruins are third in the nation, shooting just over 50%.

Look for the Bruins to come out firing when they enter their rematches with Arizona State and Washington. My predicition is that the leadership of Collison and Shipp will take over, and the Bruins will remain at the top of the conference and win the season title.

This is the only team from this conference that I see doing anything in this years tournament. However, I don't see them getting any farther than the Sweet 16, but we'll discuss that later on down the road.