FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - The Southeastern Conference hasn't won a national championship in men's basketball since Florida's back-to-back titles in 2006-07.
No. 1 Kentucky hopes to change that this season, and it hopes to provide a perception boost for the league overall along the way.
The SEC has only one Final Four appearance since the Gators' last championship, and it's had as many as six teams in the NCAA tournament only once since then. Its low point came in 2009, when three teams were selected for the tournament.
The league eliminated its two divisions after last season in favor of a singular 12-team league, hoping to boost NCAA discussions.
Only the Wildcats and No. 22 Gators are currently ranked, but Kentucky coach John Calipari believes six SEC schools deserve selections to this year's tournament.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
