Tom Hart analyzes the latest in college basketball from across the SEC

Key notes from Tom Hart interview

• I'll be in Baton Rouge this weekend for Texas Tech at LSU. Texas Tech is an exciting team with not much depth, but they lost last night after blowing a 12-point lead. Looking forward to that game.
   
• LSU just has so many weapons. They're not gonna play much defense, so A&M will have a few opportunities to score, but LSU makes up for their lack of defense by utilizing their offensive tempo and weapons. Freshman Cameron Thomas takes 35% of their shots; he's just an incredible scorer. He's a classic ball hog. What Buzz has done defensively, trying to adjust against the pick and roll, could be beneficial for the Aggies. They're still a good fundamental defensive team. 
   
• This is more of a big picture comment, but coaching this year is so different than it's ever been. Coaches have never been through this, so what's tried and true is now new to these guys. It has put coaches who are true motivators into a place of bewilderment. They just don't have the relationships with their players they've previously had. For Texas A&M, they're turning the ball over at an incredible rate. For a team like LSU that doesn't play much defense, if you turn it over that much, you're making it easier for them on both sides of the ball.
   
• Here's a fun nugget for you. Alabama’s football team has had 18 undefeated in conference seasons since The Tide’s basketball team last went undefeated in conference play. Missouri is also a good team to watch. They're not a perfect offensive team, but their offensive versatility allows them to score many points on some teams. Tennessee would also have been good to watch, but they are struggling with injuries right now. Florida is also a wild card, but no team has been affected by COVID-19 as much as the Gators. If they can get over those injuries, they could be very good. 
   
• Kentucky and Big Blue Nation is like one of the wildlife channels where they eat their own. Duke and UNC are most likely gonna miss the tournament. When another team struggles, they focus on recruiting and look forward to next year. When Kentucky struggles, they want to blow the whole thing up and start over. It's truly fascinating to see how little leeway the Kentucky community gives to Coach Calipari after a tough season. It’s a soap opera mixed with a trainwreck, and you can’t turn away.