SEC Basketball Power Rankings: Your guess is as good as mine

In SEC Basketball by Blake Lovell

Before we get started: This is undoubtedly the toughest set of SEC basketball power rankings I’ve done the entire season.

So, if your team is somewhere you don’t think they should be, just know that this is the SEC and everything will likely be flipped upside down again this week.

If I didn’t have a spine, this is how the rankings would look:

1A, 1B, 1CKentucky, Florida, South Carolina

4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4IArkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Mississippi State

13A, 13BLSU, Missouri

As always, remember that these rankings are not based solely on overall and conference records. It’s focused more on overall strength, the eye test (this is not an RPI or advanced metrics set of rankings) and how I feel about the teams as of today.

However, this week’s formula for ranking teams looks more like this:

  • Stare at laptop + pull eyeballs out + throw laptop out window + retrieve laptop + throw laptop out window again = SEC basketball power rankings

Let’s begin.

1. South Carolina (19-4, 9-1)

Before any meltdowns begin, consider this: the Gamecocks have only lost one game this season with Sindarius Thornwell in the lineup.

That was at Kentucky, and in that game, South Carolina was without its second best player in PJ Dozier (who is a Top 5 SEC Player of the Year candidate along with Thornwell).

So, why not South Carolina at No. 1 this week? Frank Martin’s team is one of the best defensive teams in the country, and their toughness and pressure is wreaking havoc on everyone.

This ranking is well-deserved for the Gamecocks.

This week: vs. Alabama, at Mississippi State

2. Florida (18-5, 8-2)

The Gators destroyed Kentucky in Gainesville this past week. Here’s a look at Florida’s last four games:

  • 35-point win at LSU
  • 32-point win at Oklahoma
  • 39-point win vs. Missouri
  • 22-point win vs. Kentucky

Obviously, LSU/Oklahoma/Missouri aren’t world beaters. But the point is that Mike White’s squad is playing its best basketball of the season, and the victory over the Wildcats was extremely impressive.

Now watch the Gators lose at Georgia. Because isn’t that how things work in this conference?

This week: at Georgia, vs. Texas A&M

3. Kentucky (18-5, 8-2)

Do I still think Kentucky is the most talented team in the SEC? Yes.

Do I still think Kentucky has the best chance of any team in the SEC to make the Final Four? Yes.

But for the first time this season, I can actually justify not putting the Wildcats at the top. They’ve lost three of four and simply aren’t playing well right now.

The good news is that Malik Monk and company play LSU next. When teams play LSU, good things happen. If you don’t believe me, go back to the Florida section and see what it’s done since that game.

Kentucky will be back at No. 1 shortly, so everyone else can enjoy this program’s break from dominance for the time being.

This week: vs. LSU, at Alabama

4. Arkansas (17-6, 6-4)

As much as it pains me to put a team that lost to Missouri in the fourth spot, no one else did anything this past week to earn it.

The Razorbacks once again showed how inconsistent they can be in the 83-78 loss in Columbia, but luckily, Arkansas was so high in the RPI that it wasn’t too damaging.

If this team struggles again this week, what was once a safe spot in the NCAA tournament will no longer be there.

This week: vs. Vanderbilt, at LSU

5. Tennessee (13-10, 5-5)

It was all set up so perfectly for the Vols. After winning at Auburn earlier in the week, Tennessee was a victory at Mississippi State away from building a five-game winning streak.

And then this happened:

The Vols blew a 19-point lead and lost in Starkville. It was one many head-scratching moments on a Saturday to forget in the SEC.

Earning two wins this week is very important for Tennessee’s tournament chances.

This week: vs. Ole Miss, vs. Georgia

6. Georgia (13-10, 4-6)

The Bulldogs have lost four of their last five, yet still sit in the sixth spot. I’m using the eye test for my excuse on this one.

If we go to the eye test, Georgia has played well against Kentucky and South Carolina in its last two games. Of course, Mark Fox’s team lost both, but it does seem like there is hope for the Bulldogs in terms of getting back on track.

The daunting schedule continues this week with games against Florida and Tennessee.

This week: vs. Florida, at Tennessee

7. Ole Miss (14-9, 5-5)

It turns out that Ole Miss playing well against Baylor wasn’t a fluke. The Rebels have really improved over the past several games, and the win at Vanderbilt was another step in the right direction.

Andy Kennedy’s team had a tough SEC schedule out of the gate, but are finally seeing those challenging games pay off.

This week: at Tennessee, vs. Auburn

8. Vanderbilt (11-12, 4-6)

In the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, Vandy beat Iowa State. This past Saturday, Iowa State won at Kansas.

So, Vandy > Iowa State > Kansas. That was the only natural conclusion.

That is, until about a half hour later when the Commodores lost at home to Ole Miss.

I don’t get it either, Cosmo.

This week: at Arkansas, at Missouri

9. Auburn (15-8, 4-6)

When I started writing this, I had no idea where to put the Tigers. They’ve been so up and down that it’s impossible to get a read on them.

And while Auburn only has four SEC wins, the sweep of Alabama earns the Tigers the nod in this week’s rankings.

I was higher than most on Auburn entering the season, so perhaps the latest Alabama win will actually mean something and result in a big week ahead.

Some may even believe that Auburn is in the bubble picture now after that victory. However, there’s still too much basketball left to know whether that will be the case come March.

This week: vs. Mississippi State, at Ole Miss

10. Alabama (13-9, 6-4)

Regular Alabama readers will tell you that I’ve been high on the Crimson Tide all season.

New Alabama readers that are reading my work for the first time will think I’m a complete idiot for putting this team this low.

But here’s the deal: Last week’s results were extremely disappointing. Losing at Arkansas is nothing to be ashamed of (although getting blown out wasn’t ideal), but returning home to lose yet again to your in-state rival was deflating.

The six conference wins are great and all (remember that records aren’t the only factor in these rankings). However, as of today, it feels like this team has taken a discouraging step backwards over the past week or so. That’s why it has dropped to this point for now.

The Crimson Tide could certainly prove me wrong this week by beating South Carolina or Kentucky. Even with losses in those two, relief will come next week with Missouri and LSU on the schedule.

This week: at South Carolina, vs. Kentucky

11. Mississippi State (14-8, 5-5)

After losing four of five, the Bulldogs came out and beat a Tennessee team that had won four straight.

I surrender. This stuff makes no sense.

The comeback win over Tennessee showed what Mississippi State is capable of, and I’ll let you guess what the Bulldogs need more of to continue climbing the rankings.

It starts with a “c” and rhymes with funsistency.

This week: at Auburn, vs. South Carolina

12. Texas A&M  (12-10, 4-6)

I almost put the Aggies higher, but when you realize that two of their four conference wins have come against LSU, there’s reason for concern.

Texas A&M has a tough stretch of games in the second half of conference play.

This week: vs. Missouri, at Florida

13. Missouri (6-16, 1-9)

Kentucky’s streak at the top and Missouri’s streak at the bottom both end in the same week.

It’s a well-deserved climb for the Tigers after scoring the upset victory over Arkansas, and overall, they’ve been much more competitive than LSU in conference play.

This week: at Texas A&M, vs. Vanderbilt

14. LSU (9-13, 1-9)

This is how far LSU has fallen. While the Tigers do hold the head to head advantage over Missouri, there’s no way they deserve to be ahead of them at this point.

LSU has been blown out in too many SEC games, and this team is headed in the wrong direction.

This week: at Kentucky, vs. Arkansas