Only Arkansas and Bama make the tourny from the west. In the east UGA, UT and Vandy will fight for the two remaining spots. We lost this weekend to Ole Miss.... but it was on the road. If Ole Miss wins at Coleman then I will sing a different tune... like "We're going to the N.I.T."

I think Florida and Kentucky are certain to go. Alabama Tennessee and Vanderbilt I am almost certain would go. The rest is anyones guess. Ole Miss looks pretty good in the west right now as does Arkansas.

LSU won't make the tourney. I don't pay attention to basketball when they're not doin good, so i don't know anything about the rest of the conference.

If Ole Miss wins the West, Alabama and Arkansas will both be booking tickets to NIT matchups. Of course Ole Miss might be as well.

i think bama is pretty much in. Who did ole miss beat in non conf, and what is there rpi?

The Rebs are flying high. If they beat LSU this week, watch out!

Not sure about Ole Miss's rpi but they lost to Uconn, Memphis, and Saint Louis as far as non conference games goes.
The only ranked opponent they have defeated was #19 Alabama. So I dont think their rpi is terribly good.

Teams that should be in: Tennessee
Work left to do: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Mississippi

Still the wackiest major conference in the land. Is it possible that no one from the West division will make the NCAAs?
Should be in:

Tennessee [17-8 (5-5), RPI: 13, SOS: 6] The Vols bludgeoned Vandy at home to continue to move toward a bid. Still only 5-5 and with a daunting schedule ahead, the Vols will need to be careful, but Chris Lofton's continued return to health is a big plus. Tennessee needs to bank some home wins in the next three before a tough final three games. Computer numbers remain very strong.

Work left to do:

Alabama [18-6 (5-5), RPI: 30, SOS: 56] As hinted at on Wednesday, Ole Miss wasn't easy and the Tide ate a loss they really couldn't afford -- not with at Florida, Kentucky and at Tennessee up next. If they can't get at least one of those, the heat will be extremely high entering the last three.

Arkansas [15-9 (4-6), RPI: 38, SOS: 10] Arkansas picked a bad time to be the team that LSU finally beat. 8-8 very well could win the SEC West, but can the Hogs get there? They have beaten Southern Illinois on a neutral court in nonconference play, but this profile looks dicey right now, as does the entire rest of their division.

Georgia [13-9 (6-5), RPI: 43, SOS: 12] Important win at South Carolina after losing to Florida at home. The Bulldogs have a favorable next three in league play (Auburn, at Ole Miss, Miss. State) with which to compile some currency before the last two at UK and vs. Tennessee.

Vanderbilt [15-8 (6-4), RPI: 49, SOS: 33] The 'Dores got slammed at Tennessee but still remain in decent position. The home game against South Carolina is pivotal before the home game with Florida. Vandy still can smell 10 conference wins, even playing in the much tougher East.

Mississippi [16-8 (5-5), RPI: 55, SOS: 75] Big win over Alabama at home moved the Rebels into a tie for first in the West. Now they have to handle LSU at home. They avoid Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee in their last six, so why couldn't the Rebels get to 10-6? Someone has to win these games.

One thing Arkansas has going for them is good SOS/RPI. Those wins over Southern Illinois and West Virginia are starting too look good too.

Don't get it twisted.... two from the west will get bids. Four from the east get in. The only road wins Ole Miss has are: Fairfield, South Alabama (quality) and Auburn. You have to win on the road.

Arkansas road wins: So. Illinois (quality) and Alabama (quality). I think those two wins are better than the three Ole Miss wins.

Alabama road/neutral wins: Iowa, Xavier, So. Miss, NC State and LSU. I can't point out a major quality win. They do get the benifit of being ranked most of the year as well.

UGA: Wake Forest (quality), Gonzaga (quality), Arkansas and South Carolina.

UT: Louisianna Laf. (horrid team). The rest were home wins. This has to be the cupcake schedule of the conf. with all those home games.

Vandy: PR Mayaquez (?), Rice, UK (good) and LSU.

UK: In no need to go through.

UF: pffft. In.

USC: USCal (quality), Baylor and Miss. St.

MSU: Miami fl. and Auburn

LSU: Tulane and Oregon St.

Really the conf will get in 6. It will come down to road wins. It always does.