The SEC earned a record 14 bids to the NCAA tournament led by conference champion Florida. The previous record was set by the Big East 14 years ago when they had 11. The SEC will earn $26 million from the "Equal Conference Fund" and can earn additional money each time their teams survive and advance.
The SEC has successfully created a “college football Saturday” culture for men’s basketball. Whereas a decade ago, the SEC would send as few as three teams to the tournament. Commissioner Greg Sankey invested heavily in basketball.
“I say, within this iconic conference, that men’s basketball is still this unique growth opportunity,” SEC associate commissioner for men’s basketball, Garth Glissman, tells Front Office Sports.