And thus concludes the SEC portion of the NCAA tourney

As expected, the SEC experienced its most disappointing NCAA Tournament in two decades, failing to place even a single team in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1989. Only LSU managed to win a single game, with Tennessee and that other school bowing out in the first round.

It marks the end of one of the most spectacularly unspectacular seasons of basketball in SEC history. Not to sell the Rebels short - rallying together like they did was impressive - but most years, losing half your team should not equate to winning nearly half your conference games. It also puts it into perspective just how bad Arkansas and Georgia were once the calendar flipped. To beat only 2 SEC foes this year is inexcusable.

Fortunately, the Rebels turned down a bid to the ridiculously irrelevant CBI Tournament. There was no sense in taking a hobbled team and cheapening what they had accomplished by playing in such a pointless tournament. We've got 4 knees to get healthy and get ready for next year. The 2009-10 Rebels could be the most talented team from 1-12 that we've ever had, certainly in recent memory. If everyone comes back healthy and focused, it could be a fun year for hoops.