Power of Caring
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SEC Preview: 'Cat scratch fever

Kentucky's versatile Padgett is back to lead the champs.   (David E. Klutho)   Projected Order of Finish Team (East) Comment 1. Kentucky* Defending champs still loaded. 2. Tennessee* Starting five matches up with anybody's. 3. Georgia** Jumaine Jones is country's next superstar. 4. South Carolina** Deep squad led by BJ McKie. 5. Florida** Young Gators will make major push next year. 6. Vanderbilt** UConn transfer Michael LeBlanc must make impact. Team (West) Comment 1. Arkansas* Great recruiting class to complement backcourt. 2. Auburn* Chris Porter should be the difference. 3. Mississippi** No Rob Evans, no Ansu Sesay, no Joezon Darby—watch Keith Carter. 4. Alabama Mark Gottfried has Tide fans optimistic. 5. Mississippi State C Tyrone Washington will draw NBA attention. 6. Louisiana State Will super-recruit Stromile Swift qualify? *NCAA Tournament lock; **NCAA Tournament bubble team/NIT bound.

All-Conference Team Tony Harris, G, 6' 0", Soph., Tennessee 1997-98 Stats: 14.2 ppg, 3.9 apg Jumaine Jones, F, 6' 7", Soph., Georgia 1997-98 Stats: 14.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg Jamaal Magloire, C, 6' 10", Jr., Kentucky 1997-98 Stats: 5.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg BJ McKie, G, 6' 3", Sr., South Carolina 1997-98 Stats: 18.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg Scott Padgett, F, 6' 9", Sr., Kentucky 1997-98 Stats: 11.6 ppg, 37.4% 3-pt

Player of the Year BJ McKie, South Carolina McKie is the best pure scorer in the SEC, but he'll be counted on heavily at both guard spots to bring the Gamecocks back to the NCAAs for the third straight season.

Coach on the Hot Seat Eddie Fogler, South Carolina 6th year, '97-98 record: 23-8 (Lost to Richmond in NCAA East first round) Fogler has raised expectations, but back-to-back NCAA first-round upset losses—to No. 14 and No. 15 seeds—have stirred Gamecocks fans' anxieties.

Newcomer of the Year Chris Porter, F, 6'7", Jr., Auburn An All-America from Chipola (Fla.) JC, Porter should be a critical piece of the Tigers' first NCAA team since 1988.

Top Three Storylines to Watch My Blue Heaven Sure, Kentucky lost three starters from last season's national title team, but there is more than enough talent on the roster for the Wildcats to challenge for a third championship in four years. It's Not Just a Football School With four starters returning, including a healthy Charles Hathaway at center, and top recruit Vincent Yarbrough suiting up, Tennessee has a great chance not only to make the NCAAs for the second straight year, but to do some damage this time around. In With the New Having gone just 9-18 in his first season in the Bayou, LSU coach John Brady has brought in 12 new players. The best of the bunch is top recruit Swift, who opted not to declare himself eligible for the NBA draft as a Shreveport, La., prepster to instead turn around the Tigers.

The Bandwagon Tennessee But men still won't outdraw Lady Vols New coaches Three new suits debut Goin' South Carolina 14, 15 seeds have 'Cocks' NCAA number

Games to Watch Kentucky vs. Kansas (in Chicago), Dec. 1 Best of SEC takes on best of Big 12 for bragging rights. Clemson at South Carolina, Dec. 16 Throw out the records. It's an in-state brawl worthy of WCW. Kentucky vs. Duke (in East Rutherford, N.J.), Dec. 22 A potential Final Four preview. Florida vs. Michigan (in Miami), Dec. 27 Michigan's down, but if young Gators beat the "name," it would be a huge boost.