Florida basketball was again picked as the preseason favorite to win the SEC.
The latest selection comes from the USA Today Sports Network, which was compiled by reporters who cover the conference. A day earlier, the Gators were picked to win the conference with the SEC’s preseason poll.
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Florida received six first-place votes, while Kentucky earned four.
Two Gators landed on the preseason all-conference team. Forward Alex Condon was chosen as an unanimous first-team pick, with Thomas Haugh selected to the second team. Condon averaged 10.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season, while Haugh put up 9.8 points and 6.1 rebounds.
Condon received votes as the Preseason Player of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year. Instead, Kentucky’s Otega Oweh was picked as the POY, with Missouri’s Anthony Robinson II chosen as the Defensive POY.
Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee, who recorded 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists last year, picked up votes as Newcomer of the Year, which went to Tennessee’s Nate Ament.
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Kentucky’s Mark Pope was named the Preseason Coach of the Year, but Florida’s Todd Golden received votes for the honor.
Predicted Order of Finish:
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10. Mississippi State
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at aabadie@gannett.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida basketball picked to finish first in USA TODAY Network’s SEC preseason poll
