NCAA LOCKS

1. Florida

Head coach: Billy Donovan (17th year at Florida).

Record: 24-6 overall, 14-4 SEC.

Top players: G Kenny Boynton (12.5 points, 88 assists), G Scottie Wilbekin (6.5 points, 143 assists), F Erik Murphy (12.5 points, 5.2 rebounds), F Patric Young (9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds).

Season series vs. possible opponents: 2-0 vs. Georgia, 1-0 vs. LSU.

Comment: The Gators are the clear favorites in the tournament and are playing to be at least a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament.

6. Missouri

Head coach: Frank Haith (second year).

Record: 22-9 overall, 11-7.

Top players: F Laurence Bowers (14.8 points, 6.3 rebounds), F Jabari Brown (14.0 points, 3.5 rebounds), G Phil Pressey (11.9 points, 221 assists).

Season series vs. possible opponents: 0-1 vs. Texas A&M, 1-0 vs. Auburn.

Comment: Mizzou slid in SEC seeding, but it’s still safe as far as the NCAA tournament thanks to a good RPI (No. 34 as of Tuesday). The Tigers have the talent to get hot and make a deep run in Nashville.

BUBBLE TEAMS

2. Kentucky

Head coach: John Calipari (fourth year).

Record: 21-10 overall, 12-6.

Top players: F Archie Goodwin (14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds), F Alex Poythress (11.6 points, 6.2 rebounds), F Kyle Wiltjer (10.5 points, 4.3 rebounds), F Willie Cauley-Stein (8.4 points, 6.1 rebounds).

Season series vs. possible opponents: 2-0 vs. Vanderbilt, 0-1 vs. Arkansas.

Comment: The Wildcats’ probably need at least one win in Nashville to make the NCAA, and a semifinal win would probably cement it. And they’ll have the home crowd in every game.

3. Mississippi

Head coach: Andy Kennedy (seventh year).

Record: 23-8 overall, 12-6.

Top players: G Marshall Henderson (19.7 points), F Murphy Holloway (14.6 points, 9.6 rebounds), F Reginald Bucker (9.4 points, 7.5 rebounds).

Season series vs. possible opponents: 1-0 vs. Missouri, 1-0 vs. Texas A&M, 2-0 vs. Auburn.

Comment: The Rebels lack quality wins, unless Tennessee and Alabama count. If they don’t get further than the SEC semifinals, they’ll need some help from the rest of the bubble.

4. Alabama

Head coach: Anthony Grant.

Record: 20-11 overall, 12-6.

Top players: G Trevor Releford (15.6 points, 77 assists), G Trevor Lacey (11.9 points, 98 assists), F Rodney Cooper (10.7 points, 4.7 rebounds).

Season series vs. possible opponents: 1-1 vs. Tennessee, 1-0 vs. South Carolina, 2-0 vs. Mississippi State.

Comment: The Crimson Tide have a very low RPI rank (63 as of Tuesday), so a long run in Nashville looks to be necessary to get an NCAA bid.

5. Tennessee

Head coach: Cuonzo Martin (second year).

Record: 19-11 overall, 11-7.

Top players: F Jordan McRae (16.2 points, 4.2 rebounds), C Jarnell Stokes (12.4 points, 9.4 rebounds), G Trae Golden (12.1 points, 115 assists).

Season series possible opponents: 1-0 vs. South Carolina, 1-0 vs. Mississippi State.

Comment: The Vols are playing better for the second straight year at the end of the season but need some help.

7. Arkansas

Head coach: Mike Anderson (second year).

Record: 19-12 overall, 10-8.

Top players: G B.J. Young (15.1 points, 102 assists), F Marshawn Powell (14.5 points, 5.3 rebounds), F Coty Clarke (7.6 points, 5.2 rebounds).

Season series vs. first-round opponent: 1-1 vs. Vanderbilt

Comment: Thanks to a low RPI (79) and some bad losses (South Carolina, Vanderbilt, LSU), the Razorbacks probably need to get all the way to Sunday to be on the selection committee’s radar screen.

PLAYING FOR NIT (OR a MIRACLE)

9. LSU

Head coach: Johnny Jones (first year).

Record: 18-11 overall, 9-9.

Top players: F Johnny O’Bryant (13.8 points, 8.8 rebounds), G Anthony Hickey (11.8 points, 103 assists), G Charles Carmouche (10.8 points, 100 assists), G Andre Stinger (10.3 points, 62 assists.)

Season series vs. first-round opponent: 0-1 vs. Georgia.

Comment: LSU is almost as surprising a .500 team (in SEC play) as Georgia, as the Tigers recovered from an 0-4 start in SEC play, getting wins over Missouri, Alabama and Arkansas.

11. Texas A&M

Head coach: Billy Kennedy (second year).

Record: 17-14 overall, 7-11.

Top players: F Elston Turner (17.7 points, 72 assists), G Fabyon Harris (11.9 points), G Alex Caruso (5.3 points, 106 assists).

Season series vs. first-round opponent: 1-0 vs. Auburn.

Comment: The Aggies might have the most disappointing team in the SEC. They started the season 12-3 overall and with wins over Arkansas and Kentucky to open SEC play.

PLAYING FOR PRIDE (OR A MIRACLE)

8. Georgia

Head coach: Mark Fox (fourth year).

Record: 15-16 overall, 9-9.

Top players: G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (18.0 points, 6.9 rebounds), F Nemanja Djurisic (8.1 points, 4.1 rebounds), G Charles Mann (6.5 points, 87 assists)

Season series vs. first-round opponent: 1-0 vs. LSU.

Comment: The Bulldogs are still longshots for the NIT, thanks to the terrible start to their season. But the way they’ve finished, knocking off Kentucky and Tennessee, they have a team that can do some damage, with the potential quarterfinal matchup with Florida the biggest hurdle.

10. Vanderbilt

Head coach: Kevin Stallings (13th year).

Record: 14-16 overall, 8-10.

Top players: G Kedren Johnson (13.6 points, 108 assists), F Rod Odom (10.2 points, 4.4 rebounds), F Kevin Bright (6.7 points, 5.6 rebounds).

Season series vs. first-round opponent: 1-1 vs. Arkansas.

Comment: The Commodores, who finished the regular season with wins in four of their final five games -- the exception being at Florida -- could be darkhorses this weekend. It doesn’t hurt they’re playing in their home town, although not their home arena.

12. South Carolina

Head coach: Frank Martin (first year).

Record: 14-17 overall, 4-14.

Top players: G Brenton Williams (11.1 points, 38 assists), F Michael Carrera (10.0 points, 7.3 rebounds), G Bruce Ellington (9.7 points, 61 assists).

Season series vs. first-round opponent: 1-1 vs. Mississippi State.

Comment: The Gamecocks struggled as expected in SEC play, and even if they get past the first round, not much should be expected beyond that.

13. Mississippi State

Head coach: Rick Ray (first year).

Record: 9-21, 4-14.

Top players: G Craig Sword (10.3 points, 69 assists), F Fred Thomas (9.3 points, 3.5 rebounds).

Season series vs. first-round opponent: 1-1 vs. South Carolina.

Comment: The Bulldogs are down to just eight players after guard Jalen Steele’s season-ending knee injury last week. Like the Gamecocks, a short run is expected in Nashville.

14. Auburn

Head coach: Tony Barbee (third year).

Record: 9-22 overall, 3-15.

Top players: G Frankie Sullivan (14.4 points, 88 assists), F Rob Chubb (9.0 points, 6.7 rebounds).

Season series: 0-1 vs. Mississippi State.

Comment: Auburn enters the tournament on a nine-game losing streak and has lost 15 of its past 16.