NBCSports.com · Jun 29, 2015
New coaches, talented freshmen to add intrigue to SEC hoops
Southeastern Conference basketball coaches are confident their league won't take a step back in the post-Billy Donovan era.
Donovan left for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder in April after leading Florida to two national titles and four Final Four appearances in his 19-year tenure. Donovan was replaced by Louisiana Tech's Michael White, one of four new coaches in the league.
The other newcomers are Tennessee's Rick Barnes, Mississippi State's Ben Howland and Alabama's Avery Johnson. Barnes reached the NCAA Tournament 16 times in his 17 seasons at Texas, Howland reached three straight Final Fours at UCLA and Johnson coached in an NBA Finals with the Dallas Mavericks.
