Florida honored by media in preseason SEC poll

The Florida Gators were predicted by members of the media on Monday to win the 2011 Southeastern Conference Championship in men’s basketball.

Florida earned eight first-place votes for the overall title and 13 first-place votes for the East division crown. Mississippi State, which received 18 votes to win the West, followed them in championship polling with three votes. Kentucky was tabbed as second in the East with three votes.

The Gators return all five starters from a year ago and have significantly beefed up their bench with a young but talented freshman class. The media elected two starters, senior forward Chandler Parsons and sophomore guard Kenny Boynton, to the preseason All-SEC second team. Boynton was named SEC Freshman of the Year last season.