BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Kentucky has been picked as the preseason favorite to win the Southeastern Conference men's basketball championship. The Wildcats' Patrick Patterson was the choice to win player of the year honors. The predictions, released on Monday, were made by a panel of SEC and national media members. Kentucky is coming off a season when it failed to make the NCAA tournament but is picked for a quick rebound with the hiring of coach John Calipari and the nation's top recruiting classes. Mississippi State was picked to win the West Division. Along with Patterson, the other preseason All-SEC first-team picks were South Carolina guard Devan Downey, Tennessee guard/forward Tyler Smith, Mississippi State center Jarvis Varnado and Mississippi guard Terrico White. EASTERN DIVISION
Tennessee (2) 117
Vanderbilt 90
South Carolina 77
Florida 68
Georgia 25
WESTERN DIVISION
Mississippi State (22) 144
Ole Miss (2) 120
Alabama 84
LSU (1) 70
Arkansas 63
Auburn 44
FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC:
Devan Downey, G, South Carolina
..Patrick Patterson, F, Kentucky
Tyler Smith, G/F, Tennessee
Jarvis Varnado, F, Mississippi State
Terrico White, G, Ole Miss
SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC:
Tasmin Mitchell, F, LSU
A.J. Ogilvy, C, Vanderbilt
DeWayne Reed, G, Auburn
John Wall, G, Kentucky
Chris Warren, G, Ole Miss
Player of the year: Patrick Patterson, Kentucky (11 votes); John Wall, Kentucky (six), Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State (three), Devan Downey, South Carolina (three) and Tyler Smith, Tennessee (two).
10/19/2009 5:25:58 PM
