ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas joined Tuesday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to discuss whether the SEC is turning into a basketball powerhouse and what’s going on with UConn hoops.
Given how dominant the SEC has been early in the college basketball season, GoJo jokingly asked Jay Bilas if it’s time to call the SEC a basketball conference with them not managing to get three teams into the college football playoff. Bilas didn’t hold back, calling the SEC’s dominance in college basketball RIDICULOUS! He even drummed up a Mr. T reference for those old enough to remember him in Rocky III, stating, “I do not accept the challenge because you are no challenge,” as the SEC’s attitude towards other conferences. Bilas noted there’s never been a result like the SEC’s 14-2 domination in the SEC/ACC Challenge.
Is the SEC a basketball conference now? @JayBilas says forget that — they’re the new NBA.
“I’ve never seen anything quite like this…I mean, I think everybody saw the SEC-ACC challenge…It was 14 to 2. There’s never been a result like that in one of those conference… pic.twitter.com/ArEjyRbofp
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) December 17, 2024
He pointed out the SEC’s impeccable non-conference record, highlighting how even the worst team in the league, South Carolina, sits at an impressive 7-2. Further, the conference’s depth, according to Bilas, dwarfs every other league. While conference play will reveal more, Bilas predicts the SEC could send double-digit teams to the NCAA tournament, potentially as many as 12, which he admits sounds absurd but is completely possible.
Senior asked Bilas what’s driving the league’s success. Bilas explained that while the exact answer is hard to pinpoint —especially with the lack of full data around NIL and the transfer portal — the SEC made a clear commitment to basketball about a decade ago. That commitment came from the league office and every program, leading to better coaching hires, smarter recruiting and upgraded scheduling. He highlighted how coaches have been making intelligent portal decisions, like Mark Pope at Kentucky, who didn’t just grab the 12 best players but found the 12 who fit his system. Pope even used analytics to target players with specific strengths, like a high-level cutter who could also shoot — a move that resulted in an invaluable role player. He admitted that that approach has gotten the Wildcats in the Top 5 and they will probably stay within the top 5-10 for the remainder of the season.
Bilas added that the SEC’s depth means teams must adjust their perception of losses this year. In a strong league, a great performance can still result in a loss — something that might signal a crisis elsewhere but won’t mean much in the SEC. The depth of talent is so intense that even a two- or three-game losing streak doesn’t carry the same weight. As Bilas put it, in the SEC, it just means more; this year, even a loss can reflect a high-quality performance.
The defending national champion UConn Huskies went through a rough stretch, enduring three losses in the Maui Invitational, but have rebounded and now sit at No. 11 in the latest AP Top 25 poll, GoJo asked Bilas how he would assess the champs currently. Bilas expressed that this season feels a bit different for the Huskies. He joked about head coach Danny Hurley, saying that when you’re yelling at refs and collapsing on the floor in a Hawaiian shirt —usually a sign of calm — that might suggest some deeper frustration.
Bilas noted that this is more of a process year for UConn. Unlike last season, when key players from the 2023 championship team returned with established roles, this year’s team is filled with players stepping into new, unfamiliar responsibilities, including star roles. While they remain a strong program, Bilas pointed out they aren’t as dominant inside. Although they have capable bigs, they must find different ways to win, unlike their steamrolling performances in past seasons. He reminded everyone that UConn hit a midseason slump two years ago, losing several games, only to rebound and dominate the NCAA tournament. Given that, Bilas isn’t doubting them — UConn may look different, but he believes they’ll still be in the mix when it matters most.
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: The Failed Kirk Cousins Experiment + Daniel Gallen, Penn State Beat Reporter, on James Franklin, Beau Pribula Transfer & Previews PSU vs. SMU
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.
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