When Louisville curtailed the most successful winter in Tennessee men's basketball history Thursday night, it also turned out the lights on the SEC season.

Well, not completely.

The Vols were the last SEC team standing in the NCAA tournament. However, there are several stories afoot that will affect the 2008-09 season and beyond.

Florida and Ole Miss both play Tuesday in the NIT Final Four in Madison Square Garden. That's the least important item on the agenda.

Story one: South Carolina and LSU still have to hire coaches. South Carolina reportedly likes Western Kentucky's Darrin Horn and might be waiting to talk to Bob McKillop when Davidson's Cinderella run ends. LSU doesn't appear to be near a hire.

Story two: Top players such as Tyler Smith of Tennessee, Richard Hendrix of Alabama and Anthony Randolph of LSU must decide whether to opt for the NBA draft or return to college. Randolph is the highest rated in mock drafts but all three could be first-rounders.

Story three: A fierce recruiting battle over guard Scotty Hopson, a McDonald's All-American from Hopkinsville, Ky., involves Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi State.

While those plots play out, here's a look back and a look ahead.

Old business

Tennessee was the season-long standard-bearer for the SEC and did the league proud.

The Vols were projected to win the SEC regular-season and delivered at 14-2, the program's first outright title since 1967. A small victory, they even made the SEC tournament semifinals for the first time since 1991.

The win at Memphis on Feb. 23 earned Tennessee its first No. 1 ranking, though it lasted only a week. The 31 wins were a school-record (by five!). Back-to-back Sweet 16s was a first.

Florida not only didn't defend its NCAA tournament title, it didn't even earn the chance. The Gators can still make history as the first team to win NCAA and NIT titles back-to-back.

Kentucky rallied from a horrible start to keep its NCAA tournament streak alive. However, the streak of first-round wins ended at 17.

Vanderbilt saw Shan Foster win SEC player of the year, then gagged in the NCAA tourney against Siena.

South Carolina's uninspired start led to Dave Odom's January retirement announcement. The Gamecocks are looking for the next Bruce Pearl.

Georgia's forgettable season ended with a near-miraculous SEC tournament title that saved Dennis Felton's job.

Mississippi State won the SEC West and gave Memphis a good game in the NCAA round of 32.

Arkansas under-achieved with six seniors but at least ended an NCAA tournament victory drought dating to 1999.

Ole Miss's red-hot pre-conference start fizzled. The Rebels, though, are in the NIT Final Four for the first time.

LSU lost its best player, Tasmin Mitchell, to a season-ending knee injury then got coach John Brady fired. Interim replacement Butch Pierre did well enough to at least merit consideration.

Alabama coach Mark Gottfried sweated his job but got a reprieve, perhaps based on the absence of injured point guard Ronald Steele.

Auburn plodded along unnoticed for another year.

New business

On paper, Florida is positioned for a run at the 2008-09 SEC title. The Gators return everybody (assuming Marreese Speights doesn't jump to the NBA) and Billy Donovan has a pair of top-20 big men in yet another impressive recruiting class.

Tennessee will be a contender, especially if Tyler Smith returns. Wayne Chism's strong finish was encouraging.

The Vols, however, must retool on the perimeter and figure out where J.P. Prince will play. Redshirted Cameron Tatum should help and Hopson would be an impact addition.

Kentucky brings in blue-chip guards DeAndre Liggins and Darius Miller to replace Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford. Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks will be healthy and ready to go.

Vanderbilt will be hard-pressed to approach its 24 wins. A.J. Ogilvy and Jermaine Beal are quality starters but the Commodores lost a lot of offense.

South Carolina has an impressive nucleus, but not much help on the way. The right coach could produce good results.

Georgia has a stud recruit in Howard Thompkins. Felton loses do-it-all Sundiata Gaines but the Bulldogs should be competitive.

In the West, Mississippi State has four starters back although forward Charles Rhodes will be tough to replace.

Alabama should compete for the title if Hendrix returns and Steele regains his old form at the point. Gottfried has recruited well and McDonald's All-American Jamychal Evans could even fill Hendrix' shoes.

LSU is a point guard away from making some noise. Even if Randolph opts to leave early incoming freshman center J'Mison Morgan is highly regarded. So far, however, LSU has signed neither a new coach nor a point guard.

Ole Miss loses the beef from its front line. Auburn loses its top two scorers but gets big men Josh Dollard and Korvotney Barber back from injuries.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knoxnews.com.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.