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Alabama Basketball: SEC Coaches Ranked From Worst To Best in 2017

By Ronald Evans

Mar 12, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Moses Kingsley (33) and Kentucky Wildcats forward Edrice Adebayo (3) compete for the opening tip of the championship game during the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks forward Moses Kingsley (33) and Kentucky Wildcats forward Edrice Adebayo (3) compete for the opening tip of the championship game during the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 14, 2017; Athens, GA, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Ben Howland on the court against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Stegeman Coliseum. Georgia defeated Mississippi 79-72. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 14, 2017; Athens, GA, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Ben Howland on the court against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at Stegeman Coliseum. Georgia defeated Mississippi 79-72. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports /

No.12 Ben Howland – Head Coach Mississippi State

If these rankings considered a coach’s body of work throughout a career Ben Howland would be nowhere near the bottom. But these ratings only measure 2017 performance and recruiting for next season.

Mississippi State’s record improved to 16-16 from 14-17 a season ago. The Bulldogs had no wins against Top 25 teams and managed only six wins in SEC conference play. In the first couple of weeks of January, Mississippi State won three consecutive SEC games.

Following that encouraging run, the Bulldogs went backward, winning only three more games in the regular season. The Bulldogs beat LSU in the opening round of the SEC Tournament giving them seven SEC wins for the season. Four of those wins were against LSU and Missouri.

Ben Howland is a good basketball coach as proven by stints with previous teams. He may yet get the Bulldogs on track for SEC respectability. Mississippi State’s 2017-18 recruiting class is ranked No. 27 by 247 Sports.

No.11 Billy Kennedy – Head Coach Texas A&M (TAMU)

In 2015-16, Billy Kennedy led the Aggies to a SEC regular season championship and an overall 28-9 record. The Aggies lost to Kentucky in the SEC Tournament title game but won twice in the NCAA tournament. The final AP Poll ranking had TAMU as No. 15 in the nation.

The Aggies 2016-17 record is 16-15, following a blow-out loss to Vandy in the second round of the SEC Tournament.

Going from 28 wins to 16 wins in one year is a precipitous fall. Billy Kennedy may lead the Aggies to a fast bounce-back next season. TAMU was a young team this season and Kennedy has good talent returning. 2017-18 recruiting is promising as 247 Sports ranks the Aggie’s class as No. 14 in the nation.

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