Greg Sankey used the best defense Wednesday after Danny Kanell questioned whether the SEC is overrated in basketball.

The SEC commissioner went with facts.

Kanell, a sports analyst for CBS Sports, posted a link to Ken Pomeroy, who asked why is no one asking if the SEC is overrated?

“The smartest man in basketball is saying out loud what I have been thinking for the past 3 months,” the former Florida State quarterback posted.

Perhaps had Kanell read what Pomeroy had written he would have thought twice about posting.

KenPom, as he is known, suggested people might be asking the question because the same question was asked of the Big 12 last season.

“The reason there isn’t the same backlash is because most of the Big 12 haters were ACC boosters,” he wrote.

Interesting.

Furthermore, KenPom wrote, “Based on non-conference play, the SEC has been one of the best leagues of the internet era, and therefore, possibly ever. The conference produced the best non-conference winning percentage over that time and the best scoring margin since the 1997 ACC.”

Amazing what you can learn if you actually read what is written.

However, just to further prove the point, Sankey posted what KenPom and others not named Kanell already know.

“Just helping explain why the SEC is “overrated,” Sankey posted.

“30 Ws/4 Ls vs ACC (wow)—14 Ws/2 Ls vs Big 12 (oh my)—10 W/9 Ls vs Big Ten (thumbs up)—185 Ws/23 Ls in non-conf games (smiley face).”

He did admit one thing, though.

“I confess SEC teams have a .500 record in games after 1/4/25,” he posted about league play. “Sure, let’s go with “overrated!”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.