BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Kentucky had few issues against rival Louisville last December at Rupp Arena, beating the Cardinals 86-63 to improve to 9-4 overall.

The Wildcats, though, struggled to slow El Ellis, who transferred to Arkansas earlier this year.

Ellis finished his lone meeting with Kentucky with 23 points (6 of 10 on two-point attempts, 1 of 6 from three, 8 of 10 on free throws), 2 assists and 4 steals. He had 11 points on 5 of 11 from the field and 3 steals in the first half.

“Yeah, he’s really good,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said Wednesday at SEC Men’s Basketball Media Day. “[The Razorbacks] got a good player. He can get his own shot and he does it with distance. He can get to the rim.

“You could play through him. He’s good. He’s good.”

Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves, who scored 37 points on 12-of-17 shooting during a win at Arkansas in March, said Ellis was tough and a challenging cover defensively.

“Really good guard,” Reeves said. “I don’t remember too much of that game [against Ellis] because we had plenty more to worry about. But he can get a bucket.”

Zeigler working back

Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler suffered a season-ending knee injury three minutes into the Volunteers’ 75-57 home win over Arkansas in February.

An All-SEC second team and All-Defensive Team selection in 2022-23, Zeigler said recovery is going well. He is not quite full-go in practices, but is active.

“Our performance coaches, they’re doing a great job with me and keeping me up,” Zeigler said. “I’m feeling really well. I’m just staying with my teammates, and they have my back. Keeping my mind away from basketball, that has helped me a tremendous amount.”

Asked if he would miss games early in the season or be limited, Zeigler filibustered by taking long drinks from a bottle of water.

“It’s still up in the air,” he said. “If you ask me, I’m ready to go today. It’s just whatever the doctors say at that point.”

Santiago Vescovi, a fifth-year shooting guard for the Vols, said he has learned a lot from Zeigler in their time at Tennessee.

“His mentality has never changed,” Vescovi said. “We always feel him on the court. He’s still leading the team and pushing people. We feel his presence. We know he can’t wait to start feeling healthier. He’s been on the court with us a couple of times already and he’s looking great.

“I’m not [a doctor], but he looked great out there. I think he could play right now, but we understand things have their time and you’ve got to respect those. We’re going to be happy to have him back.”

In 30 games last season, Zeigler averaged 10.7 points, led the team with 161 assists and had 59 steals.

“I’ve just got to get out there and play and be my normal self and not be someone I’m not,” Zeigler said.

Beard in SEC

Ole Miss is entering the first year of the Chris Beard era, and coaches around the SEC spoke highly of him as a coach and his ability to build programs after doing so at Arkansas-Little Rock and Texas Tech.

His first Ole Miss roster features 11 newcomers, including former LSU guard Brandon Murray and former Auburn guard Allen Flanigan, a Little Rock native whose father Wes is an assistant coach for the Rebels.

“Coach Beard is one of the best coaches in college basketball,” Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said. “Everywhere he goes, he wins. His teams play with great toughness. You better be able to get loose balls against his teams, and you have to figure out a way to score.”

Calipari added that Beard’s teams are a challenge to defend and give great effort defensively.

“When you have those as staples, you’re not going to be far behind even if you’re just getting started,” Calipari said. “He’s good at what he does. I saw him. He looked happy. I think we’re all happy right now because none of us have lost a game yet. He’ll do fine.”

Beard, who has led three schools to the NCAA Tournament since 2016, said there are similarities in every job, but each one comes with its own unique set of challenges.

“We have a lot of optimism,” Beard said. “I think we’ve got good players. We’re early in our journey. We’re fighting time more than anything. [Tuesday] was, I think, our 15th practice.

“We’re excited. [There is] a lot of optimism in Oxford right now. I think the main source of that is we have good players.”

Devo for 3

It is no secret the Razorbacks struggled to make perimeter jump shots in 2022-23, but there was a bright spot in that area in Davonte “Devo” Davis.

Davis made a team-high 47 three-pointers and hit 34.6% of his attempts. In SEC games, he was fourth at 41.5%.

“I worked out two extra times per day,” Davis said of his offseason. “I want to continue to get better, and I want to make consistent shots.”

Davis said his routine during the offseason involved a lift, shooting, lunch, more shooting then two workouts at night around 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. He said he would at times leave the gym at 1 a.m. and return by 8 a.m.

Davis’ uptick in three-point shooting should not be lost in the additions of Temple transfer Khalif Battle, Cincinnati transfer Jeremiah Davenport and the return of Joseph Pinion.

Musselman said after the Red-White Showcase on Oct. 4 that Davis had been shooting the three at a high clip in practices.

“If [people] forgot, I can remind them,” Davis said of his jump shooting. “That’s how much I’ve been in the gym.”

Poll opinions

The first question South Carolina coach Lamont Paris fielded Wednesday centered on the predicted order of finish by media members who cover the league.

The Gamecocks, entering their second season under Paris, were picked last in the SEC in 2023-24. They finished 11-21 overall last season and 4-14 in league play, which was good for 12th place.

“Didn’t finish last,” Paris said. “Then we’re picked to finish last. Maybe the league has gotten that much better. I know my team is more experienced. I know my team is better. … It just doesn’t make that much sense to me. Hopefully to my team it will be something, a source of inspiration and disrespect, honestly, to them to come out and play.

“It’s a cool pick. I guess it’s convenient. … We’re much more significantly skilled, significantly more experienced, and we did not finish last last year. Anybody else?”

Paris also noted that no team in last season’s preseason media poll finished where it was projected.

“The only thing I can thank [media] for is they picked us last. Second to last is nothing. What does that mean? I can’t even use that as billboard material,” Paris joked. “So last it is.”

Alabama coach Nate Oats poked fun at reporters who voted in the poll. The Crimson Tide won the SEC regular-season title in 2023 after being picked to finish fifth.

“We’ve been picked…fifth three times now. Shows how smart you guys are,” he said. “I think, especially with the portal, it’s really hard to predict how good different teams are going to be.”