johnnyroadtrip.com - SEC Basketball Tournament Information

The SEC Tournament - This Conference Can Play Hoops, Too

The Southeastern Conference is well known as a football power, but its schools play some pretty solid basketball as well, and we're not just talking about Kentucky. Top to bottom, the SEC has become as good as any conference in the country over the last several years.

The first SEC tournament was held in Atlanta in 1933. The tournament was discontinued after the 1952 event, but was revived in 1979. Since then, the tournament has drawn huge crowds and featured great, competitive basketball.

All 12 SEC teams compete in the tournament. The league is split into two divisions, East and West, and the divisions meet in Thursday's opening round. The 3rd-place team in each division plays the 6th-place team in the other division, while the 4th-place teams take on the 5th-place teams from the opposite division. Tip-off for the first round doubleheaders is 12 noon and 6:30 pm.

On Friday, the East's top finisher meets the West 4/East 5 winner, while the West's top team faces the East 4/West 5 winner. The 2nd-place East team meets the West 3/East 6 winner, and the 2nd-place West school meets the East 3/West 6 winner. Thursday's doubleheaders also begin at 12 noon and 6:30 pm.

The quarterfinal winners meet in the semifinals on Saturday beginning at 12 pm. On Sunday, the championship is decided at 12 pm.

SEC Tournament Tickets

When the tournament is played in the cavernous Superdome or Georgia Dome, tickets to the event are not too tough to find. The earlier you get tickets, however, the better your seats will be. At smaller arenas such as the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, ticket prices on the street will be higher.

Tickets are sold in booklets that contain a ticket to each of the six tournament sessions. To buy SEC Tournament tickets, click here.

SEC Travel Information

The SEC consists of huge schools with rabid fans who are more than willing to travel to support their favorite team. With the tournament so wide open, many schools legitimately have a chance to win, which increases the demand for hotels. Please book your hotels well in advance; click here for Atlanta hotels.

Check out our Atlanta page for all the info you need about the city!!

Future SEC Tournament Sites and Dates

The SEC Tournament is always held in early March, and runs from Thursday through Sunday. The tournament is usually held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, with some other sites hosting every few years.

2009 - March 12-15, St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL

2010 - March 11-14, Gaylord Entertainment Center, Nashville

2011 - March 10-13, Georgia Dome, Atlanta

2012 - March 8-11, New Orleans Arena, New Orleans