DESTIN, Fla. — Georgia basketball coach Tom Crean hit the SEC Spring Meetings with a full-court press on the press Tuesday afternoon.

The Bulldogs’ new basketball coach said the most important things for him coming out of the gate will be “leaning the league” and “setting the foundation” of what he wants Georgia to be.

In short, a winner.

SEC basketball, however, is on such an upswing that Crean knows his work is cut out for him.

“If this was a stock, it would have already split, when you look at what’s going on with the league,” Crean said. “Three years ago, three teams [get in NCAA tourney], two years ago, five times. This past year it was eight teams.

“It’s on such an upward trajectory, and a lot of that is there’s great teams, there’s young and older players, there’s always gonna be stars in this league, and you’ve got tremendous coaches.”

Crean recently raised eyebrows when he said he on the Pardon My Take podcast that he could compete with John Calipari on the recruiting trail.

Confidence will not be a problem, nor will enthusiasm, based on Crean’s presentation in the Sandestin Hilton Theater.

“They are very hungry to learn, there’s no question about that,” Crean said, asked about his first impression of his Georgia basketball team. “Mark [Fox] did a great job of bringing in young people that care and are hard workers, and that’s been really good.

“It’s been exciting to watch how much they are around. Being in the office late at night, we’re seeing guys going in and out of the practice gym.”

Crean said it’s too early to get much more of a read, as to this point they haven’t conducted any 5-on-5 action.

“I’m not sure I could assess the talent, I think there’s versatility,” Crean said. “We’re trying to build on that versatility.”

Crean touched on several other topics at the SEC Spring Meetings in the video posted below.

Georgia coach Tom Crean, 5-29-18

This story was written by SEC Country’s Mike Griffith.