The Auburn Tigers are returning several names you are already familiar with this season. While they may be a long shot to win it all, trends and talent may be propelling them toward a class of elite teams nationally. Johni Broome, Chad Baker- Mazara, and others are back and two four star freshmen are joining the roster as well. The SEC title may come down to the last game of the season in Neville. Let's take a look at the year ahead for Bruce Pearl.

The Georgia Bulldogs have not heard their name called on Selection Sunday in what will be 10 years in March. Is this year different? One thing Georgia has done well is recruit talent under Mike White. While this team is young and has great NBA prospects like Asa Newell and Somto Cyril, do they have what they need to break into the tournament? Coming off an NIT run last year with Blue Cain and Silas DeMary Jr. and bringing in transfers like Lawrence, the window might be opening in Athens.

Jonas Aidoo, Clifford Omoruyi, Johni Broome, Alex Condon, the SEC is loaded with big guys with big talent in the frontcourt this season. But who has the best frontcourt in the SEC this year. Auburn has the experience. Arkansas has the transfers. Alabama made the moves. Missouri has the recruits. Here's our top 5 list. Plus, this week the SEC regular season conference schedule has been released and there are some huge games on the way. Arkansas v. Kentucky in Rupp Arena. The Iron Bowl of Basketball could decided the SEC. Rick Barnes is coming back to Texas. And Texas A&M finally plays the Longhorns again.

Here we go again, it's our annual Top 5 lists. Today we're counting down the top 5 backcourts in the SEC for this coming season. Does Mark Sears and Alabama have the backcourt to lead the country on offense? Where do Kentucky and Arkansas fit with new coaches? Should newcomer Texas make the list? And what about Auburn, Tennessee, or Florida? Let's work through it and find out. Also we get you caught up on everything you missed this offseason in what was a wild time after March. John Calipari goes to Arkansas, Pope comes to Kentucky, Byington is in Vanderbilt, and the transfer portal was incredible. We're back at it from now to the end of the season. Let's talk SEC basketball.

“The Future starts today, not tomorrow.” And over the last few weeks we got a look at the future of college basketball. Big games ahead, a record breaking player, and changes to the NCAA Tournament. The match-ups for the ACC/ SEC Challenge have been announced, Florida has a really, really tall new player that went viral on social media, and yes, Dan Gavitt was talking about NCAA Tournament expansion. You might be excited or skeptical of what the future might hold, but we’re talking about it today on the Hoops Southbound Show!

There’s a new MTE on the way and it's making a ton of noise across college basketball and college sports! Could the new Players Era Festival be a game changer in college sports? Could it forever change Feast Week Basketball, could it save bowl games in college football, could college baseball model their MTE’s after this new event? Time will tell. But what we do know is two SEC teams will be competing in Las Vegas in the inaugural event! Also the sport of basketball says good-bye to one of the legendary figures of the game, Jerry West. Plus, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team is playing in Copa America this week. We’re going to give you a road map to understanding the tournament, by comparing every team to an SEC basketball team.

The SEC continues to bring in top talent in the transfer portal. Since our last episode, Arkansas is bringing in DJ Wagner, Tennessee got Chaz Lanier, and so many other big names made big moves. Plus, Basketball lost one of its biggest icons this weekend. Bill Walton passes away at 71.

Dalton Knecht, Rob Dillingham, Reed Sheppard, Justin Edwards and Trevon Brazile are all SEC players trying to earn a pick in the NBA Draft. We take our first good look at this year's draft. Rumors are swirling about Coleman Hawkins, Chaz Lanier and Achor Achor heading to SEC teams. Meanwhile, Arkansas adds Adou Thiero to John Calipari''s growing roster. Speaking of Cal, are you curious how he ended up in Fayetteville? We spoke the creator of the new YouTube documentary "Calipari & The Chicken Man" ‪@TriceOfficial‬ about the making of the film. Check it out for yourself here: https://youtu.be/MKCl-TbzbUQ?si=RgYAv... Finally, how would you feel about the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Kansas Jayhawks joining the SEC? Well, the rumors never stop in the offseason and the Kansas City Star published an article on the subject.