The SEC is a mess this year. Just when you think you have a team figured out, they come out and surprise you — either positively or negatively.

Take Texas A&M for example. The Aggies were No. 13 in last week’s power rankings, but picked up a win in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge over a Kansas State squad that made it to the Elite Eight last season.

Yes, the top team (Tennessee) and the bottom team (Vanderbilt) remained the same in this week’s rankings, but other than that, every other team moved around a bit from last week. Here’s how things stand in the last SEC power rankings before the calendar flips over to February:

1. Tennessee (18-1 overall, 6-0 SEC, Last week: 1)

The Vols narrowly avoided a major upset at Vanderbilt on Wednesday, but Grant Williams refused to let his team lose. While scoring a career-high 43 points, he also went a perfect 23-for-23 from the free-throw line and made some clutch plays like this:

Jordan Bowden also had a big impact, but none was bigger than this impressive alley-oop off an inbounds play late in the second half:

Things were much easier against West Virginia on Saturday, so the Vols remain at No. 1 in these rankings and in the AP Top 25 Poll. It’s the first time in program history they’ve been No. 1 nationally in consecutive weeks.

2. Kentucky (16-3, 5-1, Last week: 3)

There aren’t many teams hotter than Kentucky. The Wildcats have won 6 consecutive games and picked up an impressive win over then-No. 9 Kansas on Saturday.

That followed an absolute destruction of No. 22 Mississippi State on Tuesday, during which the Wildcats put together this incredible fast-break highlight:

Against Kansas, big men Reid Travis and PJ Washington led the way, while freshman PG Ashton Hagans continues to dominate. This team seems to be firing on all cylinders now and looks like it can compete with anyone in the country.

3. LSU (16-3, 6-0, Last week: 2)

Kudos to the Tigers for putting together an incredible comeback to beat Mizzou after trailing by 14 points with just over 2 minutes left. However, needing such an outstanding comeback to beat a struggling Mizzou team hurts the Tigers in these rankings.

Still, Skylar Mays is on fire, and his one-man scoring barrage was a big reason the Tigers were able to force overtime at Mizzou:

With games at Texas A&M and vs. Arkansas this week, the Tigers are poised to bounce back up to No. 2 if the Wildcats slip up at all.

4. South Carolina (10-9, 5-1, Last week: 8)

The Gamecocks continue to dominate in SEC play while disappointing in nonconference games. They knocked off a ranked Auburn squad, then went on the road and lost in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge to a sub-.500 Oklahoma State team.

This week will be a doozy for Frank Martin’s squad, though, as No. 1 Tennessee comes to town on Tuesday night and then a tough road test against an improving Georgia team loom large.

5. Mississippi State (15-4, 3-3, Last week: 7)

The Bulldogs had an up-and-down week, getting blown out at Kentucky and then turning around and picking up a big home win over Auburn. It’s still tough to get a good read on the Bulldogs, but when Lamar Peters is on his game, he’s really good:

https://twitter.com/LamarPetersFan/status/1089702631478579205

Peters had 16 points (including that nasty step-back jumper) and 10 assists to help the Bulldogs beat Auburn. This week, Mississippi State has two tough road games at Alabama and at Ole Miss in what could be a make-or-break portion of the Bulldogs’ SEC schedule.

6. Ole Miss (14-5, 4-2, Last week: 4)

The Rebels took a huge step backward, getting blown out at Alabama and at home against a tough Iowa State squad. The two losses were by a combined 35 points and weren’t even that close.

A road trip to Florida and a home game against Mississippi State (a team the Rebels already beat in Starkville) provide Kermit Davis’ Rebels with a chance to right the ship. We’ll see if they can improve on defense and get back on track.

7. Alabama (12-7, 3-3, Last week: 6)

The Crimson Tide would have liked to have ended the week a little better, but they did pick up a huge win against Ole Miss before losing at Baylor on Saturday. However, this week provides big-time opportunities for a team that is still solidly in the mix for an NCAA Tournament berth.

With a game at home against Mississippi State on Tuesday night and at Auburn on Saturday night, the Tide have a chance to make a statement by going 2-0 against ranked teams this week.

8. Auburn (13-6, 2-4, Last week: 5)

The Tigers are a mess, having lost 3 consecutive games (vs. Kentucky, at South Carolina and at Mississippi State). This team still has plenty of talent, but it’s clear they’re having trouble on defense without big man Austin Wiley protecting the paint.

Home games against Mizzou and Alabama this week loom large as borderline must-wins, as Auburn is running out of time to improve its record and stay in the top tier of the SEC.

9. Arkansas (11-8, 2-4, Last week: 11)

The Razorbacks drew one of the toughest assignments in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, having to go on the road to take on No. 14 Texas Tech. However, the Hogs nearly pulled off a major upset, losing to the Red Raiders 67-64 in Lubbock.

Coming off a 12-point win over Mizzou earlier in the week, there are some sparks of life from Arkansas, and the Hogs will need to continue to play well to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

10. Florida (11-8, 3-3, Last week: 9)

The Gators lost a hard-fought game on the road at TCU on Saturday, but prior to that, they’d been playing some better basketball. Still, their next four games are brutal.

This week, they host Ole Miss and Kentucky. Then, next week, they hit the road to take on Auburn and Tennessee. If they can avoid going 0-4 in those games, they might be able to build momentum for a late-season run.

11. Georgia (10-9, 1-5, Last week: 12)

The Bulldogs avenged their Sugar Bowl loss to Texas, beating the Longhorns 98-88 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Scoring 98 points was incredible considering the Dawgs had 26 turnovers.

The Bulldogs have an interesting week coming up, with a trip to Fayetteville to take on Arkansas and a home game against South Carolina. Both should be winnable, so we’ll see how Tom Crean’s crew builds off a big win over the Longhorns.

12. Texas A&M (8-10, 1-5, Last week: 13)

No one would have expected the Aggies to pick up the SEC’s first victory in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday, especially since they were playing host to a Kansas State team that went to the Elite Eight last season. However, they did just that, beating the Wildcats in convincing fashion, 65-53.

This week will be another tough one for Billy Kennedy’s squad, though, as the Aggies play host to No. 19 LSU and No. 1 Tennessee.

13. Mizzou (10-8, 1-5, Last week: 10)

Ouch. In a long line of brutal Mizzou losses, Saturday’s epic collapse against LSU might be one of the worst. The Tigers led by 14 with just over 2 minutes left and still allowed the game to get to overtime.

Add in a loss at Arkansas earlier in the week, and this program is cratering after a somewhat surprising start to the season. A road game at Auburn on Wednesday night won’t be easy, either.

14. Vanderbilt (9-10, 0-6, Last week: 14)

Vanderbilt nearly pulled off the unthinkable, going to overtime against No. 1 Tennessee before ultimately losing. They weren’t able to bounce back in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, either, getting blown out at Oklahoma on Saturday.

This week, the Commodores might have their best opportunity for an SEC victory. After hosting No. 7 Kentucky on Tuesday, they travel to Mizzou to take on a struggling Tigers squad.