Paul Finebaum has responded to criticism of the SEC after the conference secured a record 14 bids to the 2025 NCAA Tournament. CBS Sports analyst and longtime SEC skeptic Danny Kanell called the achievement “absurd” and suggested that the conference was overrated.
Finebaum, speaking on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, dismissed Kanell’s comments, stating, “It’s really sad… that somebody like Danny Kanell would make a fool of himself by doubting the SEC.” He praised SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey for quickly shutting down criticism, adding, “There’s just a lot of resentment toward the SEC.”
The SEC’s success in basketball marks a dramatic rise from years past. The conference landed two No. 1 seeds (Auburn and Florida), two No. 2 seeds (Alabama and Tennessee), and multiple other bids, surpassing the previous record of 11 teams from the Big East in 2011.
Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy celebrated the moment, stating he was even prouder of the SEC’s basketball growth than its dominance in football. “To be dominant in basketball is hilarious, and it makes me very, very happy,” McElroy said.
Finebaum emphasized that whether the critics accept it or not, the SEC’s success is undeniable.
