Hoops rule of three: Georgia picked third, picks up third recruit

The Georgia men’s basketball team’s season of higher expectations is starting with the Bulldogs being picked to finish third in the SEC East.

A media panel (which included myself) has voted Georgia third in the East, and Trey Thompkins as the preseason SEC player of the year.

Thompkins and Leslie each also made the All-SEC first-team.

Florida was picked to win the division, and was first on 13 of the 20 ballots. Defending champion Kentucky was second, followed by Georgia, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and South Carolina.

The Bulldogs received two first-place votes. Illustrating how competitive the division is expected to be, four of the East teams received multiple first-place votes.

(Yes, Georgia ended up a spot higher than I voted it, and I didn't have Leslie on my All-SEC team. Feel free to call me names. The only thing the media agreed on was South Carolina, which was sixth on all 20 ballots.)

Mississippi State was the overwhelming choice to win the West.

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Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have reeled in their third commitment for the 2011 class, this time a 7-foot junior college center.

John Florveus of Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla., committed after making his official visit over the weekend.