Since the Southeastern Conference expanded from 10 teams to 12 in 1991, it has never sent less than four teams to the NCAA tournament. That is until last year when they sent only three teams, and conference champion – Louisiana State – only receiving an eight seed, with none of the three teams advancing to the Sweet 16.

And it could have been worse if LSU or Tennessee were to have won the conference tournament and earned the automatic bid into the Big Dance instead of Mississippi State.

The crux of the SEC’s problems last season was inexperience, with eight of the SEC’s 12 teams ranking among the 90 youngest teams of the 344 in Division 1 basketball, according to KenPom.com.

But those players have now been battle tested after undergoing the rigors of the conference, and eight teams returning four or more starters this season, including five teams that return every starter, SEC basketball’s return to national prominence is coming sooner than later.

“Obviously, the league was very young last year and many coaches, including myself, made that comment last year, but it is still very young,” LSU coach Trent Johnson said at SEC Basketball Media Day. “But, it is going to be a very tough conference this year.”

Throw in the fact that one of the game’s best coaches – John Calipari – now has the reins to one of the country’s most storied programs in Kentucky, bringing the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class with him, there is definitely reason for great optimism surrounding the conference. In fact, Calipari says he envisions seven or eight teams could make the NCAA tournament.

“Kentucky is the most historic program in college basketball and Calipari brings instant credibility for what he has done,” Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said. “I think there is a buzz in the league and rightfully so.”

The strengthened SEC has Georgia coach Mark Fox excited for the challenge, as his team faces the difficult task of competing against a division so loaded that Florida, winner of back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, is picked to finish fifth in the division.

“The SEC is loaded, and that’s awesome. We realize the immense challenges in this division, teams are great,” Fox said. “But if you can compete in this division, then you can compete for all the marbles and how many divisions can say that?”

Though many conferences were hit with early attrition after players left for the draft early, the SEC got incredibly lucky in that regard, with Kentucky’s Patrick Patterson, Devan Downey of South Carolina, Tyler Smith of Tennessee, Tasmin Mitchell, and Jarvis Vernado of Miss. State all entering the NBA Draft before withdrawing their names to return to school.

That returning firepower has 25 of the top 30 scorers in the SEC from last season returning, leaving SEC coaches believing the conference’s fall from national prominence was only short lived.

“The league is going to be a lot better and part of the reason is because of all of the returning players,” Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl said of the league’s strength. “This league is going to beat up on each other, and I think the team that handles adversity and handles success the best is the team that is going to win the championship.”