South Carolina picked to win SEC



Photo: AP Photo/Chuck Burton

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - South Carolina was predicted to win the 2016 Southeastern Conference women's basketball championship in a voting of a select panel of both SEC and national media members.

The Gamecocks are coming off the first NCAA Final Four appearance in program history, posting a school-record 34 wins last season and falling just one point shy of a spot in the national championship game. They return their top three scorers and top two rebounders from last season in senior Tiffany Mitchell, junior Alaina Coates and sophomore A'ja Wilson. The Gamecocks' top two 3-point shooters are back (Mitchell, Tina Roy) as are their top two assist producers (Mitchell, Khadijah Sessions) and top two shot blockers (Wilson, Coates).

South Carolina tops the order of finish with 265 points, with Tennessee (248), Mississippi State (215), Texas A&M (207), Kentucky (205), Ole Miss (169), and Missouri (165) rounding out the top half the league. Arkansas (138), Georgia (128), LSU (128), Vanderbilt (80), Florida (78), Auburn (65) and Alabama (34) round out the bottom half.

South Carolina's Tiffany Mitchell was the overwhelming choice for SEC Women's Basketball Player of the Year with 11 votes, Mitchell's teammates A'ja Wilson and Alaina Coates also received votes, as did Tennessee's newcomer Diamond DeShields.

Joining Mitchell, Wilson, Coates and DeShields on the All-SEC Team are Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State and Makayla Epps, Kentucky. A tie pushed the team to six members this year. Points were compiled on a 14-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. Each media member also voted for a five-player All-SEC Team and the Preseason SEC Player of the Year.

The SEC Women's Basketball Coaches Poll will be released the Wednesday prior to the season.

Preseason Media Poll

SEC Champion



South Carolina

Predicted Order of Finish Place School Points 1. South Carolina 265 2. Tennessee 248 3. Mississippi State 215 4. Texas A&M 207 5. Kentucky 205 6. Ole Miss 169 7. Missouri 165 8. Arkansas 138 T-9. Georgia 128 T-9. LSU 128 11. Vanderbilt 80 12. Florida 78 13. Auburn 65 14. Alabama 34

Player of the Year

Tiffany Mitchell, South Carolina