Deeper SEC ready to make statement this weekend

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Southeastern Conference is making a convincing case that it’s even stronger and deeper than usual this season.

It has a chance to make an even bigger statement this weekend.

The SEC has five teams in the Top 25, three ranked in the top 10: No. 3 Tennessee, No. 5 Kentucky and No. 10 South Carolina. No. 12 LSU and No. 16 Georgia are the other SEC teams in the Top 25. Arkansas is unranked but unbeaten.

This weekend represents a showcase for the SEC, which hasn’t produced a Final Four team since 2008.

Tennessee (10-0), off to its fastest start since its 2008 national championship, plays at No. 6 Stanford on Saturday. Kentucky (11-0), which has matched its best start ever, hosts No. 2 Duke on Sunday.