The exact moment the SEC became a basketball conference is still up for debate. What Rick Barnes can tell you is when his league was barely known for basketball. It was 1987, the beginning of what will someday be a hall of fame career for Tennessee's current coach.

This year’s SEC has reason to crow after sending four teams to the Elite Eight, which puts it among the strongest conferences in college basketball history.

The SEC set an NCAA Tournament record Sunday with seven teams punching their tickets to this year's Sweet 16, one-upping the previous record of six set by the ACC in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Ole Miss' 91-78 win over Iowa State pushed the league past the finish line after a banner first weekend on the heels of a banner regular season.

Seven of the teams that reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament are from the same league. It’s not a coincidence.

Most underrated? Most challenging projection? Some of these guys may move up boards or warrant a closer look over the next year.

According to a post by the SEC, Sears made the most threes by an SEC player in NCAA Tournament history. He knocked down 10 threes in the game, shooting 62.5% from beyond the arc.

Auburn basketball continues to dance in the NCAA tournament after defeating Michigan 78-65 in the Sweet 16. The Tigers will advance on to the Elite 8 Round and matchup against Michigan State Sunday for a spot in the Final Four.

The SEC’s surprise Sweet 16 team is Arkansas, which only two months ago was 0-5 in league play and firmly outside the NCAA tournament picture. John Calipari’s Razorbacks have since won 12 of 17 games, culminating with Saturday’s thrilling upset of the best St. John’s team in at least two decades.

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