When ranking SEC schools by football, men’s basketball coaches, is Georgia or Alabama No. 1?

Can we agree that Kirby Smart should be the No. 1-ranked SEC football coach, especially after Nick Saban’s retirement?

A better debate: How to rank SEC schools when evaluating their football coach plus their men’s basketball coach. Would Georgia remain No. 1 in such a ranking, fueled by Smart? What about Alabama? Where does Tennessee factor into the mix?

On this edition of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams rank their top eight SEC schools in terms of football plus men’s basketball coaches.

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In some instances, the school’s football and basketball coach each rank near the top of the SEC. In other cases, one coach does the heavy lifting.

Here are the schools featured in their top eight. Remember, these rankings are based on the combination of football coach and men’s basketball coach.

Alabama

Coaches: Kalen DeBoer (football); Nate Oats (basketball)

Toppmeyer’s ranking: No. 1

Adams’ ranking: No. 2

Analysis: Alabama’s run to the Final Four gives Oats a case for being the SEC’s best men’s basketball coach. Alabama is not a traditional basketball power, but Oats has taken the Tide to the Sweet 16 or beyond in three of the past four seasons. DeBoer’s an SEC rookie, but his reputation sparkles. He’s fresh off a national runner-up finish.

Georgia

Coaches: Kirby Smart (football); Mike White (basketball)

Toppmeyer’s ranking: No. 3

Adams’ ranking: No. 1

Analysis: Smart obviously does the heavy lifting here, as the nation’s premier coach in the SEC’s marquee sport. He’s positioned Georgia to be a perennial national championship contender. White is not elite, but solid. He’s got Georgia hoops trending up.

Tennessee

Coaches: Josh Heupel (football); Rick Barnes (men’s…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-sec-schools-football-mens-110455914.html

Author : The Tennessean

Publish date : 2024-04-03 11:04:55

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