Helena Frye
The SEC men's basketball tournament is the conference tournament for the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The tournament has been held annually since 1979, except in 2020 when it was cancelled. Before 1979, the SEC did not hold a conference tournament and instead awarded its championship to the team with the best conference winning percentage. The tournament is a single-elimination format involving all 16 league schools, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First SEC Tournament | 1933 |
| Years without a tournament | 1935, 1953-1978 |
| First year of the renewed tournament | 1979 |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Format | Single-elimination tournament |
| MVP Selection | No MVP selection from 1933 to 1952 |
| Location | Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN |
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What You'll Learn
The tournament was cancelled between 1953 and 1978
The SEC men's basketball tournament is the conference tournament in basketball for the Southeastern Conference (SEC). It is a single-elimination tournament involving all league schools (16, at present). The winner is awarded the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA men's basketball tournament, although the official conference championship is bestowed upon the team with the best regular-season record.
The SEC men's basketball tournament was renewed in 1979, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. However, the official league champion remained the team with the best regular-season record. Since the renewal of the tournament, the winner has been declared the SEC Tournament Champion, in addition to receiving the conference's berth in the NCAA Tournament.
The cancellation of the tournament between 1953 and 1978 was a significant break in the competition's history. During this time, the focus was solely on the regular-season performance, with the championship awarded based on winning percentage. This break from the tournament format lasted for over two decades before the SEC decided to reinstate it, adding an extra layer of competition and excitement to the men's basketball scene in the Southeastern Conference.
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The 1985 champions
The SEC men's basketball tournament is the conference tournament for the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The winner receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA men's basketball tournament. However, the official conference championship is awarded to the team with the best regular-season record.
The SEC tournament was not held annually before 1979. Between 1953 and 1978, no tournaments were held, and the official league champion was the team with the best regular-season record. In 1979, the tournament was renewed, and the winner received the SEC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. However, the official league champion remained the team with the best regular-season record.
Since the SEC expanded to 14 schools in 2012 with the addition of Missouri and Texas A&M, the tournament format has changed. The top four teams in the conference standings receive first-round byes, and the seeding is based on regular-season records.
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The 2023 tournament
The SEC men's basketball tournament is the conference tournament for the Southeastern Conference (SEC). It is a single-elimination tournament involving all 16 league schools. The winner receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
The 2023 SEC tournament for men's basketball started on Wednesday, March 8, and ended on Sunday, March 12. Alabama, the top seed, defeated Texas A&M to win the title. This was Alabama's first SEC tournament win since 1991. Tennessee beat Texas A&M in the 2022 championship game, making them the defending champions going into 2023.
- Game 1: No. 13 Ole Miss 67, No. 12 South Carolina 61
- Game 2: No. 14 LSU 72, No. 11 Georgia 69
- Game 3: No. 9 Mississippi State 69, No. 8 Florida 68 (OT)
- Game 4: No. 5 Tennessee 70, No. 13 Ole Miss 55
- Game 5: No. 10 Arkansas 76, No. 7 Auburn 73
- Game 6: No. 6 Vanderbilt 77, No. 14 LSU 68
- Game 7: No. 1 Alabama 72, No. 9 Mississippi State 49
- Game 8: No. 4 Missouri 79, No. 5 Tennessee 71
- Game 9: No. 2 Texas A&M 67, No. 10 Arkansas 61
- Game 10: No. 6 Vanderbilt 80, No. 3 Kentucky 73
- Final: No. 1 Alabama 72, No. 4 Missouri 61
Kentucky has won the most SEC tournament titles, with 31 or 32.
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The 2024 tournament
The SEC men's basketball tournament is the conference tournament for the Southeastern Conference (SEC). It is a single-elimination tournament involving all 16 league schools. The winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA men's basketball tournament, although the official conference championship goes to the team with the best regular-season record.
In 2024, Auburn won the SEC tournament title for the first time in five years, beating Florida 86-67 in the championship game. This was the first time Auburn had won the title since 2019, when they defeated Missouri, South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee.
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The most successful team
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) men's basketball tournament is a single-elimination tournament involving all league schools (16 at present). The winner of the tournament is awarded a place in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, but the official championship is given to the team with the best regular-season record.
Kentucky has won the most SEC tournament titles, with 32. Auburn is the defending champion, having beaten Florida in the 2024 final. The Florida Gators won the 2025 SEC tournament, their fifth title, and their first since 2014.
Auburn was the first SEC team to win the tournament in 1985, defeating Ole Miss, LSU, Florida, and Alabama. Since then, only three other teams have accomplished this feat: Georgia in 2008, Mississippi State in 2009, and Auburn again in 2019.
The SEC has become the most dominant conference in college basketball. In the 2024-25 season, the league sent 13 teams to the NCAA tournament, breaking the previous record of 11 bids. The SEC has also matched its all-time high of eight NCAA bids in 2023 and 2018.
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Frequently asked questions
The SEC basketball tournament first started in 1933. However, there were no tournaments held in 1935 and between 1953 and 1978.
Currently, the SEC basketball tournament involves all 16 league schools.
The SEC basketball tournament is a single-elimination tournament. The seeding is based on regular-season records.
Kentucky has won the most SEC tournament titles, with 32.
The winner of the SEC basketball tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA men's basketball tournament. However, the official conference championship is awarded to the team with the best regular-season record.
