What You Should Know About The SEC Tournament

This year, the Southeastern Conference Tournament will be held in College Station at the home of Texas A&M.

The tournament itself dates back to 1997 and for the first four years, it was held in Columbus, Ga. After moving to Chattanooga for two years, the tournament began traveling around and hosted by member schools.

This year's tournament begins on Wednesday, May 8 and the Championship Game will be Saturday, May 11.

Here is what you need to know about next week’s tournament entering the final weekend of SEC play.

Standings

All 13 Are In

Following last season, the SEC coaches voted to expand the bracket to include all 13 teams. The change was then approved by the Athletic Directors.

The No. 12 and No. 13 seeds will compete in a play-in game at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8. One of those teams is guaranteed to be Texas A&M.

The winner will move on to play the No. 5 seed later that night at 8 p.m.

Mizzou Is Eligible

In late January, the NCAA banned Missouri softball, baseball and football from the postseason for a year and placed the athletic department on probation. On Feb. 14, 2019, Missouri filed a notice of appeal with the NCAA’s committee on infractions.

While the appeal process is ongoing, any penalties are put on hold meaning the programs retain their postseason eligibility.

The Tigers currently sit in eighth place with a 10-11 conference record and host South Carolina this weekend. At least one win will solidify the avoidance of the play-in game.

Top Four Seeds

Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss are fighting for the regular season title this weekend.

The Crimson Tide will clinch the crown with a series win at LSU.

If LSU wins the series and Ole Miss doesn’t sweep Georgia then the Tigers would be champs.

The Rebels would need to sweep Georgia in Athens and LSU would have to win exactly two of three against Alabama in order for Ole Miss to be the regular season champion.

Also, keep in mind that Ole Miss will have one less game due to a rain out at South Carolina. The Rebels were winning 2-0 in the fourth inning and due to the Commissioner's Regulations, "if the game begins and is postponed (Monday game), it must resume by 9 p.m. local time to avoid a rain out of the game." So, Ole Miss will have played one less game and it will be determined by winning percentage.

Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida all have shot at being the No. 4 seed. Kentucky is finished with conference play so the Wildcats are in a wait-and-see scenario. Kentucky would clinch a bye if Tennessee loses its series. If there is a tie, it would depend on the highest-seeded common opponent. Kentucky wins if it’s Auburn.

If the Lady Vols sweep Texas A&M they would clinch a first-round bye. If they win two, they tie with Kentucky and it would depend on the highest-seeded common opponent, which as of right now is Missouri. Tennessee would win if it’s Missouri.

The preseason favorite, Florida, still has a chance to clinch a first-round bye but it would require a lot of help. First, the Gators have to sweep Mississippi State and Ole Miss would have to be swept by Georgia and Tennessee would have to lose two of three to Texas A&M.

Instant Replay

DVSport will be providing all the equipment that will be used during the SEC Tournament.

Here is a breakdown of the instant replay system that will be used.

The Crew Chief may initiate a review of designated plays at his or her discretion any time during any game. Additionally, each head coach has one challenge to initiate a review, which must be indicated before the next pitch, before the pitcher all infielders have clearly vacated their field position and left fair territory, or before the umpires have left the field of play.

The following are the plays that shall be subject to review via initiation by the Crew Chief or via a head coach’s challenge:
A. Deciding if a batted ball called fair is fair or foul.
B. Deciding if a batted ball called a ground rule double or home run is fair or foul.
C. Deciding if a batted ball called foul that could result in a ground rule double or home run is fair or foul.
D. Spectator interference.
E. Deciding scoring plays at home plate inclusive of collisions (illegal and/or malicious slides), obstruction by a defensive player or time plays.
F. Force/Tag Play Calls: Plays involving all runners acquiring the base before the defensive player’s attempt to put the runner out at any base.
G. Hit-by-Pitch Calls: Those plays for which there is a possibility that a pitched ball touches a batter or her clothing, which shall incorporate a review on whether the batter is inside or outside the batter’s box if it is determined upon review that a pitched ball has touched a batter or her clothing.
H. Placement of Runners: An umpire’s placement of all runners (per the rules/case book) after any blocked ball call.

The following criteria shall be used by conferences using Instant Replay during the conference tournament:
A. All equipment should be tested by appropriate personnel before each game.
B. A ruling on the field will only be changed if there is indisputable video evidence to reverse the call. Absent that evidence, the original ruling on the field will stand.
C. A review must be verbally or visually indicated before the next pitch, before the pitcher and all infielders have clearly vacated their normal fielding position and left fair territory, or the umpires leave the field of play.
D. The video review area shall not require an umpire to walk through spectators or dugouts to view the coverage. At least one umpire must remain on the field.
E. During the video review, the defensive team shall maintain their position on the field and may warm-up if desired. Offensive base runners and the on-deck hitter shall maintain their position. Other personnel shall remain in the dugout. Any defensive or offensive conferences will be charged as during any other part of the game.
F. Once the review is completed, the crew chief will communicate the ruling to both head coaches and the official scorer using the following criteria. This should also be communicated to the broadcasting booth, if applicable, via the umpire who has a microphone.
1. Ruling on the field is confirmed;
2. Ruling on the field is reversed; or
3. Ruling stands due to no indisputable evidence to reverse it.
G. If the reversing of a call results in the need for decisions on the placement of base runners, the crew chief shall use his/her best judgment and/or the appropriate rule to determine their locations as if the call had been made correctly.
H. The final decision may not be argued by either coach. A coach who argues the final decision shall be immediately ejected.

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