It was a fun week in SEC basketball, as several teams earned emphatic wins while others suffering disappointing defeats.
This week’s power rankings feature a familiar team at the top and a few surprises that are making huge strides.
As always, there is no science involved in these rankings, and they are based purely on where teams stand as of right now.
There’s not much that separates the middle of the pack at this point, so you could mix and match several of those teams.
Let’s get to the newest set of SEC basketball power rankings.
1. Tennessee Volunteers (14-1, 3-0)
Duh.
2. Ole Miss Rebels (13-2, 3-0)
The Rebels are the surprise of the SEC, and with wins over two top 25 teams already, this is where they belong.
3. Auburn Tigers (12-3, 1-1)
Bruce Pearl’s group plays three of their next four on the road, so this is a crucial stretch when it comes to staying near the top of the pack.
4. Kentucky Wildcats (12-3, 2-1)
It’s not always pretty, but the Wildcats are better defensively than they were a month ago.
5. LSU Tigers (12-3, 2-0)
I’m not sure why people soured on LSU after a few non-conference losses, because this is still one of the most talented teams in the league.
6. South Carolina Gamecocks (8-7, 3-0)
Welcome to Frank Martin teams exceeding expectations, Volume 374.
7. Mississippi State Bulldogs (12-3, 0-2)
Just when we felt convinced that the Bulldogs were for real, they lose their first two SEC games and start forcing us to have concerns again.
8. Florida Gators (9-6, 1-2)
The Gators didn’t play bad at all against Tennessee, but two straight road games are on the way this week against Mississippi State and Georgia.
9. Alabama Crimson Tide (10-5, 1-2)
I jokingly said on Twitter that watching the final two minutes of an Alabama basketball game had become an addiction, and shortly after, TJ Starks banked in a runner to beat the Crimson Tide at the buzzer.
10. Arkansas Razorbacks (10-5, 1-2)
Even in losses, the Hogs played well against both Florida and LSU, but now they prepare to go on the road to face the top two teams in this week’s rankings.
11. Missouri Tigers (9-5, 0-2)
I could have Missouri up a few spots and not be all that concerned, as I think the Tigers have a chance to get back on track this week with two winnable games against Alabama and Texas A&M.
12. Texas A&M Aggies (7-7, 1-2)
The Aggies are starting to show improvement after struggling in non-conference play, and the stunning win over Alabama may gave Billy Kennedy’s group a big boost ahead of two huge home games this week against Auburn and Missouri.
13. Georgia Bulldogs (9-6, 1-2)
As if playing at Auburn and at Tennessee wasn’t tough enough, the Bulldogs will now prepare for home games against Kentucky and Florida.
14. Vanderbilt Commodores (9-6, 0-3)
I’d be surprised if the Commodores are in this spot a month from now, but at this point, I’m not sure where you else you put them considering that they are 0-3 in league play and lost by 19 at Georgia.
For more SEC basketball coverage, follow me on Twitter @theblakelovell.