Myron Medcalf, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Bruce Pearl's promise: Five SEC teams in tourney

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Bruce Pearl is ready for his return to college basketball with Auburn. And he's ready for his return to the SEC, a league that he believes doesn't get enough praise.

That will change this season because the SEC will send multiple programs to the NCAA tournament, he said.

The former Tennessee coach guaranteed that five or more SEC squads will be dancing in March.

Three teams -- Kentucky, Florida and Tennessee -- represented the conference in last year's NCAA tourney.

"We're going to have five, at least five teams in the tournament this year," Pearl told ESPN.com Wednesday. "At least five. ... So I'm just telling you. Jump on the bandwagon now."

His colleagues in the league supported that notion.

Asked to respond to Pearl's guarantee, Kentucky's John Calipari said, "It should be [a five-bid league]. It should be."

Florida coach Billy Donovan said that the SEC should send five teams or more to the NCAA tournament each season.

"I think the same thing could have been said last year," Donovan said. "I think if you look at the fact that Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky are in, but you know what? Arkansas is right there on the bubble. Missouri is right there on the bubble. Georgia is hovering. They close well. That would have made it five or six teams right there. I don't think there's any reason why this league can't be anywhere from five to seven teams year in and year out."

Four other observations from SEC Media Day:

  • Calipari's platoon substitution system will allow him to use his unrivaled depth and talent this season. However, he told ESPN.com that he's not afraid to switch from the five-in, five-out concept when necessary. He's confident that the strategy will work because Tyler Ulis will lead the second unit. "If you don't have that confident guy running that other group ... problems," Calipari said. "It'll be interesting. I'm committed to it."

  • Chris Walker didn't play much last season after dealing with academic issues and an NCAA reprimand stemming from impermissible benefits he received in high school. But he'll play a larger role this season for Florida now that Patric Young has graduated. But Donovan cautioned that Walker is still raw. "He was crawling when he got there," Donovan said. "Now he's up, walking. He's walking around now. We need him running and moving. ... I don't want to add added expectations on a kid that's not prepared to handle that." Donovan said two areas that need work are Walker's all-around offensive game and his pick-and-roll defense.

  • Arkansas' Bobby Portis, a potential lottery pick in next summer's NBA draft who grew nearly two inches this summer, said he doesn't feel any pressure over his future. And coach Mike Anderson said Portis hasn't allowed the buzz to bother him. He said he's still leading with his work ethic and commitment. He appears to be a humble young man who's not putting his goals above his team's.

  • Kentucky has Drake. Memphis has Rick Ross. LSU coach Johnny Jones can turn to Shaq, the legendary center who also dropped a few rap albums, whenever he wants to promote his program. Then again, MC Johnny Jones doesn't really need the help, he said. "Well, unfortunately those guys have to call people but I can do a little [rapping] myself," Jones joked. "Any time Shaq and those guys can come around, I think it's always a positive. We feel like we have a lot to sell but that's good for those other programs."

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