Top-ranked Florida, bubble madness at SEC tourney

ATLANTA (AP) — For No. 1 Florida, it’s nothing more than a warm-up for the bigger games to come.

For struggling Kentucky, it’s a chance to regain a little swagger.

For everyone else, the Southeastern Conference tournament looks like the last chance to earn a spot in the NCAAs.

The Gators (29-2) roll into Atlanta as a huge favorite after becoming the first team in SEC history to go 18-0 in league play. The tournament begins Wednesday night with a doubleheader among the four lowest-seeded teams: Auburn vs. South Carolina, followed by Vanderbilt vs. Mississippi State.

Much of the attention will be on Tennessee (20-11), Arkansas (21-10), Missouri (21-10) and Georgia (18-12), who are all firmly on the NCAA bubble and need to shine during the final SEC tournament at the Georgia Dome.