The SEC is poised to dominate the NCAA Tournament and could emerge as the strongest conference among its competitors. A major factor behind this is the fierce competition at the top, with elite teams knocking each other off. One prime example is Coach Todd Golden’s Florida Gators, who recently dismantled both Alabama and Auburn.
While Auburn, under Coach Bruce Pearl, and Alabama, led by Nate Oats, have both made deep tournament runs—including Final Four appearances—Coach Golden remains unfazed. His confidence stems from his team’s maturity, as noted by Matt Stahl of AL.com. “I think it’s the strength of our team. We have a very mature team and a workmanlike approach. We’re very consistent, and for whatever reason, I feel like we really hone in and do a great job of preparing on the road and making sure we come in with a great mentality. You’re gonna have to deal with some highs and lows, and you can’t allow your emotions to affect you negatively,” he explained.
Currently ranked fifth in the nation, Florida’s recent victories could propel them even higher as March Madness approaches. Their wins over Alabama and Auburn have also secured them the second-best record in the SEC. If they continue their strong performance against Ole Miss, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to consider Coach Golden’s squad as a serious national championship contender.