SEC regular-season play concluded Sunday with the Kentucky Wildcats 64-58 win over the Tennessee Volunteers. The 2011 SEC Tournament starts Thursday, and the East's logjam has finally cleared up. The Georgia Bulldogs, who entered the weekend with a chance at the East's No. 2 seed, hold steady at No. 4 after losing to the Alabama Crimson Tide, getting the Auburn Tigers at 1 pm ET to open the tourney.
The Florida Gators hold the No. 1 seed, followed by Bama, Kentucky, and the Mississippi St. Bulldogs. Those four teams will get first-round byes. Thursday's matchups pair non-bye teams from each division according to their standing.
The Vanderbilt Commodores get the LSU Tigers, Tennessee draws the Arkansas Razorbacks, and the South Carolina Gamecocks are up against the Mississippi Rebels. When that last game airs, you may skip it without losing your right to chant "SEC!" at passerby, because gawd.
The complete TV schedule and bracket (all games SEC Network unless otherwise noted) via the SEC's website:
Thursday, March 10
- Georgia vs. Auburn, 1 pm ET
- South Carolina vs. Ole Miss, 3:30 pm ET
- Tennessee vs. Arkansas, 7:30 pm ET
- Vanderbilt vs. LSU, 9:45 pm ET
Friday, March 11
- Alabama vs. Georgia/Auburn, 1 pm ET
- Kentucky vs. South Carolina/Ole Miss, 3:30 pm ET
- Florida vs. Tennessee/Arkansas, 7:30 pm ET
- Mississippi State vs. Vanderbilt/LSU, 9:45 pm ET
Saturday, March 12
- Alabama/Georgia/Auburn vs. Kentucky/South Carolina/Ole Miss, 1 pm ET, ABC
- Florida/Tennessee/Arkansas vs. Mississippi State/Vanderbilt/LSU, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
Sunday, March 12
- Championship, 1 pm ET, ABC
Auburn is not good at basketball, so UGA kind of did earn a bye. Though the Plaigles took the Dawgs to overtime this season, the Wargers' only victory of any note at all came against the Florida St. Seminoles. Other than that, Auburn's win column is made up of a bunch of SEC West teams and schools you've never heard of.