SEC PRESEASON POLL: Florida picked to repeat; Gators Haugh selected preseason POY

By GRAHAM DUNN

The Florida Gators have been picked to repeat as the men’s SEC Champions in basketball for 2026-27.

The Gators were selected by a panel of both SEC and national media members.

Alabama was picked fifth while Auburn was the No. 9 pick.

 The Gators’ Thomas Haugh was the choice of the media for SEC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year. Alex Condon (Florida), Billy Richmond III (Arkansas), and Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt) also received votes in the Player of the Year voting.

Haugh and Tanner were each All-SEC First Team selections along with Florida’s Rueben Chinyelu.

Alabama and Auburn had one player each as an All-SEC selection with the Tide’s Amari Allen picked second team and Tahaad Pettiford of Auburn picked third team.

Most teams open regular season play on Nov. 2 and SEC play on Jan. 2. Alabama will open on Nov. 3 with Sam Houston while Auburn opens Nov. 4 against Southeastern Louisana.

PRESEASON PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1.      Florida

2.      Texas

3.      Arkansas

4.      Tennessee

5.      Alabama

6.      Vanderbilt

7.      Kentucky

8.      Missouri

9.      Auburn

10.    Texas A&M

11.    Georgia

12.    Oklahoma

13.    Ole Miss

14.    LSU

15.    Mississippi State

16.    South Carolina

PRE-SEASON SEC PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Thomas Haugh – Florida

ALL-SEC 1st TEAM

Rueben Chinyelu – Florida

Juke Harris – Tennessee

Thomas Haugh – Florida

Josh Hubbard – Mississippi State

Tyler Tanner – Vanderbilt

ALL-SEC 2nd TEAM

Amari Allen – Alabama

Alex Condon – Florida

Milan Momcilovic – Kentucky

Jordan Smith Jr. – Arkansas

Matas Vokietaitis – Texas

ALL-SEC 3rd TEAM

PJ Haggerty – Texas A&M

Malachi Moreno – Kentucky

Tahaad Pettiford – Auburn

David Punch – Texas

Billy Richmond III – Arkansas