Yes they were.Pete Maravich won SEC POY 3 times,so.,jr. and sr. years.Bernard King 3 time SEC POY fr.,so.,and junior years they are the only 2."Pistol Pete's 44ppg without the 3.Bernard King 26ppg and 13 rpg for 3 years.
The story from Knoxville on Rodney Woods recruitment in the 1970-71 season was that Coach Rupp who was 1 year from retirement couldn't ride in a car that distance to see him.Ray Mears and his 3 assistants rotated and 1of those 4 saw every game his senior season except 2.