Oct. 24, 2011

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s basketball team was picked by the media to win its 45th Southeastern Conference championship this season as announced by the SEC on Monday.

Each SEC school selected media members that cover their team and additional media from across the nation were selected by the conference office to form the voting panel. 

The Wildcats received 282 total points (18 first-place votes), ahead of second-place Vanderbilt’s 265 points (four first-place votes). Florida (235 points) was the only other school to receive a first place vote.

Starting with the 2011-12 season, this year marks the first time there will not be an East/West division champion since the conference split into two divisions in 1992. The regular season standings will be listed from one through 12.

UK sophomore Terrence Jones was the choice of the media for SEC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year with 12 votes. Vanderbilt junior John Jenkins finished second (nine votes) while Alabama senior JaMychal Green (one vote) and Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis (one vote) also received votes in the Player of the Year voting.

Jones is the second Wildcat to be named the media’s preseason Player of the Year in the John Calipari Era. Patrick Patterson received the honor to begin the 2009-10 season.

The Wildcats placed four players on the preseason All-SEC teams including Jones on the first team and Davis, Doron Lamb and Darius Miller on the second team.

Points were compiled on a 12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. Each media member also voted for a five-player All-SEC Team.

Fans can get a look at the 2011-12 squad on Wed., Oct., 26 in the Blue-White scrimmage held in Rupp Arena. Tickets are available by visiting the UK Ticket Office between the hours of 9:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET or by calling 1.800.928.2287. Fans can also obtain tickets by going online to UKathletics.com and TicketMaster.com.