SEC Power Rankings – 2/15

THE ELITE

1. Kentucky – 24-1 (9-1)
Last Week: Alabama – W, Tennessee – W
This Week: @ Mississippi State, @ Vanderbilt

Aside from a slip up against South Carolina, UK has pretty much had its way with the rest of the SEC. Since that loss, UK has five double digit wins in five tries, three of which came against top 25 opponents. However, the ‘Cats now enter the toughest stretch of the season, beginning with trips to play in two of the tougher road environments in the conference against Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.

UK then hosts South Carolina before two more road trips against Tennessee and Georgia. It’s difficult to imagine making it through that stretch without a loss, but if UK does, they will be well positioned for the number one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

VERY GOOD, BUT NOT QUITE ELITE

2. Vanderbilt – 19-5 (8-2)
Last Week: Tennessee – W, LSU – W
This Week: @ Ole Miss, Kentucky

Vandy will also be sternly tested this week. Ole Miss is playing for its March life right now and is in desperate need of a quality win and despite their recent success, a visit from UK is very tough.

Each week, though, Vandy keeps distancing itself from the rest of pack in the SEC. Tennessee is, by most accounts, the third best team in the conference, and Vandy just completed a VERY convincing sweep of the Vols with a romp in Nashville over Bruce Pearl’s squad.

SOLID, BUT NOT WITHOUT HOLES

3. Tennessee – 18-6 (6-4)
Last Week: @ Vanderbilt, @ Kentucky
This Week: Georgia, @ South Carolina

UT made the two tougest road trips in the SEC this season…and failed to capitalize on the opportunity to insert themselves into the conference title discussion.

I think the Volunteers know what they are now: a good team with some talent, but not enough to challenge in the conference or make a long run in March. They got a short term boost after Tyler Smith was suspended and booted from the team, but the book is out on how to limit them offensively now.

THE MIDDLING BUBBLE

4. Mississippi State – 18-7 (6-4)
Last Week: Ole Miss – W, Auburn – W
This Week: Kentucky, @ LSU

5. Ole Miss – 17-7 (5-5)
Last Week: @ Mississippi State – L
This Week: Vanderbilt, Florida

6. Florida – 17-8 (6-4)
Last Week: @ South Carolina – L, Xavier – L
This Week: Auburn, @ Ole Miss

It was a rough week for SEC bubble teams. The top three in the conference are looking good for March, but none of the next three can feel comfortable at all about their bubble status. Mississippi State was in the worst shape of the three entering this week, but they went 2-0, while Ole Miss and Florida went 0-3. The Bulldogs now may be best positioned to make it to March. If they can hold home court on Tuesday against Kentucky, they will be looking pretty good.

Ole Miss dropped a tough one to their in state rivals, which was their third loss in four games. They have a showdown with fellow SEC bubbler Florida this weekend, which could go a long way to determining the fates of the two teams.

It was a week of missed opportunities for the Gators, as they dropped a game in Columbia to the troublesome Gamecocks, then missed out on a chance to stengthen their out of conference resume by dropping a home game against Xavier.

THE OVERACHIEVERS

7. South Carolina – 14-10 (5-5)
Last Week: Florida – W, @ Georgia – L
This Week: @ Arkansas, Tennessee

8. Arkansas – 13-12 (6-4)
Last Week: LSU – W, @ Alabama – L
This Week: Arkansas, Tennessee

South Carolina and Arkansas have turned themselves into tough outs for pretty much anybody. I don’t think there’s any way either of these teams can rally enough to make the NCAA’s without winning the SEC Tournament, but that doesn’t mean they will be an easy win for anybody.

They both defend their homecourts and they both have point guards that are very difficult matchups.

TOUGH OUTS

9. Georgia – 11-12 (3-7)
Last Week: @ Auburn – L, South Carolina – W
This Week: @ Tennessee, Alabama

10. Alabama – 14-11 (4-7)
Last Week: @ Kentucky – L, Arkansas – W
This Week: @ Georgia

11. Auburn – 12-13 (3-7)
Last Week: Georgia – W, @ Mississippi State – L
This Week: @ Florida, Arkansas

I guess this is becoming a weekly thing. It seems like once a week, Georgia knocks somebody off that it doesn’t seem like they shouldn’t beat. This week it was South Carolina. Georgia has athletes, particularly Trey Thompkins and Travis Leslie, two sophomores who will a foundation of Mark Fox’s rebuilding.

Alabama pulled off a bit of a surprise this week, knocking off Arkansas, spoiling the Razorbacks five game winning streak. Alabama has trouble on offense, but Anthony Grant’s Tide get after you on defense. They rank 47th in the country in defensive efficiency.

Auburn actually played some pretty good basketball this week. They played maybe their best game of the season in beating Georgia by 19 points. They then followed it up by taking Mississippi State to overtime in Starkville. Over the past two week, the Tigers are 2-2, but their two losses have both come in overtime.

UNSPEAKABLY BAD

12. LSU – 9-16 (0-11)
Last Week: @ Arkansas – L, @ Vanderbilt – L
This Week: Mississippi State, Arkansas

Not much to say here.