As we enter a new week in SEC basketball, there are just a few changes to the power rankings, as Mizzou entered the picture at 10. Let’s break down the Top 10 and look at the outsiders for the week ahead.
Auburn stays at No.1 with the win over South Carolina. Auburn had to do this without Johni Broome, who got injured in yesterday’s game. We don’t know the recovery time and such, but without Broome, Auburn needs to find others to step up.
Next up: A home game against Mississippi State on Tuesday.
Tide hold strong at No. 2 this week after victories over Texas A&M and South Carolina. This week looks exciting for the Tide as they welcome Ole Miss to town, followed by a trip to Kentucky next week. That matchup has the potential to be a high-scoring affair, with both offenses currently performing at an elite level.
Next up: Ole Miss at home on Tuesday.
Zakai Zeigler was the big hero in this game, hitting some crucial shots and stepping up as a leader when the Vols needed him most. On the other hand, Chaz Lanier faced some struggles during the game. Coach Rick Barnes even took him out, which might motivate Lanier to improve as they progress further in the Conference.
Up next: Home game against Georgia on Wednesday
Kentucky stays at No. 4 with the win over Mississippi State. The Cats did lose to Georgia earlier in the week, but they made up for it with their performance in Starkville.
Cats have some of the best wins on the season over Duke, Gonzaga, Florida, Louisville, and Mississippi State. In Mark Pope’s first season? Impressive.
Up next: Texas A&M at home on Tuesday.
After an impressive stretch, Florida sticks at No. 5 this week, defeating Tennessee at home and Arkansas on the road. They are currently playing at an elite level, and if they maintain this strong performance, their chances for a deep run in both the SEC and tournament become even more promising.
Up next: Home game against Missouri.
Hail State stays here at No. 6, and rightfully so. Right now, this is one of the best teams in this conference, and I don’t see them moving much during the season, if at all. Even on a down-shooting night where State shot 12-42 from three against Kentucky, they still had a chance to win the game and all that had to do with Cam Matthews, a very great player for the Bulldogs.
Up next: Auburn on the road.
What a week for Georgia! SEC basketball is going to be tough for them this month, but they’ve started strong, going 2-0 with impressive wins over Kentucky and Oklahoma in back-to-back games. Mike White has the Dawgs playing well right now. However, the schedule is about to get tougher as they travel to Knoxville and then face Auburn at home this week.
If Georgia can manage to go 1-1 this week, it would be a significant accomplishment for them. I also expect Georgia to receive some votes in the polls, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see them ranked this week.
Up next: Road against Tennessee on Wednesday.
Ole Miss is playing at a high clip right now and all of that has to do with the way Chris Beard coaches this team. From defense to rebounding and aggressiveness, they truly take on the role of the coach. That’s why I’ve put them in the 8th spot this week. As the season progresses, offense will be crucial, but defense is reliable and at this moment, I have confidence in this Rebels team.
Up next: At Alabama.
This ranking is subpar for Texas A&M; however, the SEC is extremely challenging, and it will not get any easier as the Aggies travel to Rupp Arena on Tuesday to face Kentucky.
Wade Taylor has missed the last two due to injury and could return to the lineup on Tuesday, depending on the results of the shoot-around, workouts, and other preparations to get him in shape for the game. The Aggies defeated Oklahoma earlier in the week and lost to Alabama on Saturday.
Even without Taylor, the Aggies competed, and in my opinion, this is a team that can play defense and will be a contender in March.
Welcome to the Top 10 Missouri.
Mizzou won its 13th straight home game Saturday by defeating Vanderbilt. This has been a big bounce-back year for the Tigers, as last year was not fun for the fans or the team; they struggled to win games. Yet this year, they’ve already secured two wins in the SEC, and jumping into the ten slot says a lot about how coach Dennis Gates has turned around this season.
Next up for Missouri: A road trip to Florida on Tuesday.
As we move into another week of conference play in SEC basketball, it’s just another week on the road/home filled with battle-tested games as we approach February soon.
Some of the teams I haven’t mentioned still have a long way to go, including Arkansas, Texas, LSU, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt. I also had Oklahoma in my top ten, but after their loss to Georgia, they exited with a 0-3 record in the SEC.
SEC Basketball. Elite league.
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