Feeling down about the Tide’s loss to Michigan and the premature end of SEC football? No worries, the hoops game is running strong. With 2 teams in the top 10 and 4 in the Top 25, the SEC seems certain to remain a factor in the NCAA Tournament title hunt.

And while the gridiron got the glory, here are 10 hoops stories you might have missed as we count down to the start of conference play on Saturday.

1. Tennessee is good. Really good

The Vols weathered a 3-game losing streak — which can happen when you play Purdue and Kansas and then give up 100 points to North Carolina. But there’s a reason they’re ranked No. 5. They beat a ranked Illinois squad and have generally succeeded in an old fashioned way — with defense. UT is holding opponents to just over 37% shooting, 6th-best in the nation.

Meanwhile, North Colorado transfer Dalton Knecht has come up big for the Vols. Knecht has a team high 15.6 points per game and has led a veteran squad which has seen Zakai Zeigler and Santiago Vescovi play a bit below form early in the season. If Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka can hold up in the post, the Vols are dangerous.

2. Kentucky might be really good, too — depending on the day

With a top-flight group of freshmen and a solid performance from Antonio Reeves (19 points per game), UK just might be back. On a given day, the No. 6-ranked Wildcats can look tough — they beat North Carolina, thumped Miami and gave Kansas all it could handle in an overtime loss. But UK also lost at home to UNC Wilmington and went to overtime with St. Joseph’s. Reinvention for John Calipari has taken the form of an offensive shift — UK is 3rd in the nation in 3-point percentage and has turned the ball over just 9.4 times per game. UK is weak on the glass and a little thin inside, but on a given day, the Wildcats just might be back to Cal’s Lexington glory days.

3. The freshman to watch is UK’s Reed Sheppard

Kentucky’s home-state guard Reed Sheppard has been one of the stories of the season. As a humble 4-star recruit, Sheppard, whose parents both starred at UK, might have slid under the radar compared to DJ Wagner or Justin Edwards. But Sheppard, who has started just 1 game, leads the SEC in steals and is shooting 56% from 3-point range. He’s also 6th in the league in assists, scores just over 12 points a game, and is quietly making noise in Lexington.

4. Ole Miss has thrived early

If choosing an SEC team likely to be unbeaten and ranked in the Top 25, Ole Miss wouldn’t have been a likely suspect. But Chris Beard’s team runs with three veteran guards who have torn up all foes. Senior Matthew Murrell has gone from shooting 37% to shooting 48% and is 2nd in the league in steals while averaging 17 points per game. Allen Flanigan is seeing the rewards of being a scorer in Oxford after being a component part at Auburn and is topping 16 points and 7 boards per game. St. Peter’s transfer Jaylen Murray is scoring just under 15 per game while connecting on 46% of his 3-point tries. If the 7-5 (yes, you read that right) WKU transfer Jamarion Sharp can hold up in the post, the No. 22 Rebels well continue to surprise.

5. Auburn is rolling

An 11-2 Auburn team has also snuck into the Top 25, with Johnni Broome having an all-SEC season. The 6-10 Morehead State transfer is averaging just under 16 points and 9 boards per game. Add in 6-8 forward Jaylin Williams and Auburn has one of the best big man tandems in the league. The Tigers are tough on the glass, but might lack consistency in the backcourt. Other than a season-opening loss to Baylor and an upset loss to Appalachian State, Auburn has overwhelmed its competition, blasting Indiana, Notre Dame and Southern Cal, among others. Don’t sleep on Bruce Pearl’s guys.

6. Alabama has a great offense — and not much else

The Crimson Tide lead the nation in scoring at 92.8 points per game. They play fast, they shoot a bunch of 3s, and they’re hitting 39% on those shots. Mark Sears leads the SEC in scoring in his second year back from Ohio University, and North Dakota State transfer Grant Nelson has made himself at home.

But the Tide are 288th in the nation in scoring defense and are 8-5. They’ve given up 85 points 6 times and are 1-5 in those games. Can Nate Oats get them to guard anybody?

7. South Carolina is the league’s most improved team

Granted, Lamont Paris left plenty of room for improvement with his first team, but Carolina has opened 12-1 and won’t be an easy out in league play. Meechie Johnson is averaging just under 18 points per game and Wofford transfer BJ Mack has been solid in the post. Given some substandard competition, it’s fair to wonder if this start can hold up. But a 20-win season looks plausible for USC, and that’s massive.

8. Like Bama, the Muss Bus needs some defense

Defense will define Arkansas’ ceiling. The Hogs score over 82 points per game and still believe in running. They’re also one of the top shot-blocking teams in the nation but have struggled with guarding the perimeter, as opponents are shooting a solid 33% from long range. When the opponent shoots 44% or better overall, the Hogs are 0-4. When not, they’re 9-0.

9. Don’t sleep on State plus Tolu

Mississippi State is 11-2, which is positively impressive in light of Tolu Smith having just made his season debut after a foot injury had sidelined him for a dozen games. Chris Jans’ team has held opponents under 63 points per game, in part based on them shooting 26% from distance, which is the 7th-best 3-point defense in the nation. With Smith, Cameron Matthews and Jimmy Bell, State will challenge Auburn for the toughest post players in the league. If State can shoot — and with a 32% 3-point performance so far, that is a fair question — they’ll be in the SEC hunt.

10. The league’s hottest seat is probably in Nashville

Poor Jerry Stackhouse has the league’s only team with a losing pre-conference mark. Vandy is 5-8 and can’t score — their 68.5 points per game is 308th in the NCAA. Losses to Presbyterian, San Francisco and Western Carolina suggest that it’s going to be a long season, and a 5th year without an NCAA Tournament bid might finish Stackhouse’s time in Nashville.