Alabama is picked to finish third in the Southeastern Conference Western Division, and the Crimson Tide is close behind the second-place pick in the media poll released Monday by the league office.
Mississippi State is a strong favorite to win the division. Ole Miss is picked second, but Alabama is only two points behind the Rebels. Mississippi State 18 of 20 first-place votes and received 118 points in the poll, followed by Ole Miss (84) and Alabama (82). Ole Miss received the other two first-place votes.
Florida is favored to win the SEC East.
Alabama forward JaMychal Green is a second-team All-SEC selection. The 6-foot-8, 228-pound junior from Montgomery averaged 14.1 points and 7.2 rebounds last season and enters the season third among active SEC players in double-doubles with 13 the past two seasons. He earned SEC All-Freshman honors in 2008-09.
Georgia's Trey Thompkins is the preseason SEC Player of the Year.
Alabama held its first official practice Friday and is preparing for its Nov. 12 opener against Florida A&M. In a Nov. 2 exhibition game, it plays host to Talladega College.
SEC Preseason Media Poll (First-Place Votes in Parentheses)
SEC Champion:
Florida (8); Mississippi State (3); Kentucky (2); Tennessee (2); Georgia (1)
Eastern Division - Points (first-place votes in parentheses)
1. Florida (13) - 110
2. Kentucky (3) - 95
3. Georgia (2) - 72
4. Tennessee (2) - 71
5. Vanderbilt - 52
6. South Carolina - 20
Western Division - Points
1. Mississippi State (18) - 118
2. Mississippi (2) - 84
3. Alabama - 82
4. Arkansas - 72
5. LSU - 41
6. Auburn - 23
FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC
Brandon Knight, Kentucky, G
Travis Leslie, Georgia, G
Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt, F
Trey Thompkins, Georgia, F
Chris Warren, Mississippi, G
SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC
Kenny Boynton, Florida, G
JaMychal Green, Alabama
Scotty Hopson, Tennessee, G
Chandler Parsons, Florida, F
Marshawn Powell, Arkansas, F
SEC Player of the Year: Trey Thompkins, Georgia
