Big year for Gary Blair’s team, the coaches predict
Southeastern Conference coaches have predicted Texas A&M to win the 2020 SEC title, the league announced Tuesday.
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The coaches picked the Aggies have an edge over the Gamecocks. A&M will have the same starting five that went to its second-consecutive Sweet 16 last season and the coaches’ preseason Player of the Year Chennedy Carter. According to the release, the Aggies return “94-percent of the team’s points and four double-figure scorers.”
Aggies’ post players Ciera Johnson and Kayla Wells, both on preseason national watchlists along with Carter, were named to the preseason All-SEC second team. Predicted No. 2 South Carolina has seniors in Tyasha Harris Mikiah Herbert Harrigan and the nation’s top recruiting class.
The media predicted A&M to finish second behind South Carolina in 2020, but both media and coaches selected reigning conference champions Mississippi State, who are without 2019 SEC Player of the Year Teaira McCowan, to finish third as the Bulldogs retool without having to completely rebuild – thanks to the fifth year of eligibility awarded to senior guard Jordan Danberry (preseason first team) and the return of forward Chloe Bibby (preseason second team), who was sidelined for half the season due to injury.
Arkansas’ Chelsea Dungee and Tennessee’s Rennia Davis also received votes for preseason Player of the Year.
The season begins Nov. 5.
"Predicted Order of Finish1. Texas A&M2. South Carolina3. Mississippi State4. Kentucky5. Arkansas6. LSU7. Tennessee8. Auburn9. Missouri10. Georgia11. Alabama12. Vanderbilt13. Ole Miss14. Florida"
Also on the preseason All-SEC first team with Carter:
"Chelsea Dungee, Arkansas; Rhyne Howard, Kentucky; Ayana Mitchell, LSU; Jordan Danberry, Mississippi State; Amber Smith, Missouri; Tyasha Harris, South Carolina; Rennia Davis, Tennessee."
A look at the second team:
"Cierra Johnson, Alabama; Daisa Alexander, Auburn; Unique Thompson, Auburn; Gabby Connally, Georgia; Chloe Bibby, Mississippi State; Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, South Carolina; Ciera Johnson, Texas A&M; Kayla Wells, Texas A&M; Mariella Fasoula, Vanderbilt."
Media picks South Carolina as 2020 SEC women’s basketball champs
South Carolina is predicted to win the 2020 Southeastern Conference women's basketball championship, the league announced this week.
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