Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina all made it to the Elite Eight in the 2017 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Of all other conferences, none had more than one.
And while not to take away from the Gators, Wildcats and Gamecocks’ current runs of success, it’s worth looking at the Elite Eight history of other SEC schools as well. Because historically and presently, the SEC is known much more for its football prowess than men’s basketball.
Here’s how current SEC schools stack up all time when it comes to the Elite Eight:
* Alabama – one appearance (2004)
* Arkansas – 10 appearances (1941, 1945, 1949, 1958, 1978, 1979, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995)
* Auburn – one appearance (1986)
* Florida – nine appearances (1994, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017)
* Georgia – one appearance (1983)
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* Kentucky – 37 appearances (1942, 1945, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017)
* LSU – six appearances (1953, 1980, 1981, 1986, 1987, 2006)
* Mississippi State – one appearance (1996)
* Missouri – five appearances (1944, 1976, 1994, 2002, 2009)
* Ole Miss – none
* South Carolina – one appearance (2017)
* Tennessee – one appearance (2010)
* Texas A&M – none
* Vanderbilt – one appearance (1965)
Of those schools, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU and Mississippi State all have made it to the Final Four.