SEC Basketball Power Rankings, Feb. 3: Tennessee heating up, Texas A&M silences doubters
By Adam Spencer
Published:
We’ve officially arrived in February. Now it’s time for teams to make or break their seasons. Several SEC teams are in the NCAA Tournament mix, with some more secure in their bids than others.
The last 7 days gave us a 47-point beatdown by Florida, an overtime thriller in Athens, and a massive Saturday showdown in Fayetteville that shifted the balance of power in the middle of the pack. As we turn the calendar, the haves and have-nots are beginning to separate, but the race for the double-bye in Nashville is tighter than a Rick Barnes-coached defense.
Here is how the 16 SEC teams stack up as of Tuesday, Feb. 3:
16. Oklahoma (11-11 overall, 1-8 in the SEC)
Previous ranking: 16
Another week, another set of frustrating losses for Porter Moser. The Oklahoma Sooners are the only team in the league with 8 conference losses, and the offensive consistency just isn’t there to keep up with the top teams in this conference. Time could be running out on the Porter Moser era in Norman.
15. South Carolina (11-11, 2-7)
Previous ranking: 13
Losing by 47 points is utterly embarrassing. The South Carolina Gamecocks ran into a Florida team that was clicking on every cylinder, and the result was an ugly 95-48 loss. Lamont Paris’s squad looks tired. It’s going to be a long month of February.
14. LSU (14-8, 2-7)
Previous ranking: 15
LSU had a 1-1 week, winning at South Carolina in overtime and then suffering a 14-point loss to Mississippi State. Matt McMahon’s group continues to be competitive in stretches, but the depth is becoming a major issue. The Tigers are struggling to maintain defensive intensity for a full 40 minutes, and it showed as they let the Bulldogs pull away in the second half.
13. Mississippi State (11-11, 3-6)
Previous ranking: 14
The Bulldogs finally stopped the bleeding with a dominant 80-66 win over LSU. Josh Hubbard (15 points) and the rest of the backcourt looked much more comfortable than they did during the disastrous week prior. But then Mississippi State followed that up with a 5-point loss at Mizzou on Saturday. Arkansas and Tennessee come to Starkville next. One step forward, 2 steps back?
12. Ole Miss (11-10, 3-5)
Previous ranking: 12
The slide continues for Chris Beard’s Rebels. After a promising start to the SEC season, Ole Miss has now lost 3 straight. The defense, which was supposed to be the backbone of this team, was carved up this past week. AJ Storr is doing everything he can, but he needs someone else to step up and provide a spark.
11. Georgia (16-6, 4-5)
Previous ranking: 10
It was a brutal week for the Dawgs. They had Tennessee on the ropes in Athens but couldn’t close the deal in an 86-85 overtime heartbreak. Then, they hosted the top team in the league and were methodically picked apart by Texas A&M. Mike White’s Georgia team is talented, but an 0-2 week at home has them sliding toward the bubble.
10. Texas (12-9, 4-5)
Previous ranking: 9
The Texas Longhorns had a chance to make a statement against Auburn, but despite a late rally, they couldn’t overcome a 31-point outburst from Keyshawn Hall. Dailyn Swain is still a force, but the Longhorns’ defense hasn’t been consistent enough to pull off the big wins they need to climb the standings.
9. Mizzou (15-7, 5-4)
Previous ranking: 11
The Missouri Tigers move up a couple of spots in the rankings by simply taking care of business. While they aren’t the flashiest team in the league, Dennis Gates has them sitting at 5-4 in the conference. They are a tough team to play right now, but a brutal February schedule will test if they belong in the NCAA Tournament conversation.
8. Alabama (14-7, 4-4)
Previous ranking: 8
Nate Oats and the Tide are in a bit of a funk. After dropping a home game to Tennessee last week, they continue to struggle with defensive identity. That’s what Charles Bediako was supposed to help with, but allowing 72 points in the paint to Florida on Sunday was a horrible sign. Labaron Philon Jr. remains a bright spot, but Alabama is currently a dangerous team that isn’t as consistent as it needs to be. The Tide need a big week to stop the narrative that they’re falling out of the title race.
7. Auburn (14-8, 5-4)
Previous ranking: 6
A split week for the Auburn Tigers. They looked like world-beaters against Texas, with Keyshawn Hall dropping 31 and Kevin Overton adding 25 in a solid win. However, they ran into the Tennessee buzzsaw on Saturday and couldn’t crack 70 points. When the shots aren’t falling, Steven Pearl’s squad can look vulnerable.
6. Arkansas (16-6, 6-3)
Previous ranking: 4
Bud Walton Arena was rocking for the visit from Kentucky, but John Calipari’s matchup against his former team didn’t go as planned. The Hogs struggled to find a rhythm offensively, and the 77-point output wasn’t enough to stop a surging Wildcat team. Darius Acuff Jr. is still the real deal, but Arkansas needs to prove it can win these heavyweight bouts if it wants to claim a top-3 spot.
5. Kentucky (15-7, 6-3)
Previous ranking: 3
I was torched online last week for having Kentucky at No. 3 in my rankings and then watching the Wildcats get blown out by Vanderbilt in embarrassing fashion. I felt vindicated (at least a little bit) when the Wildcats went to Arkansas and won on Saturday. That was huge for this team. However, it’s too late in the season for lapses in effort to take place. That’s what happened in the blowout loss at Vanderbilt. It can’t happen again.
4. Vanderbilt (19-3, 6-3)
Previous ranking: 7
The Vanderbilt Commodores have regained their footing. After a rocky patch, Mark Byington has Vandy back on a 3-game win streak. The Commodores are quietly 19-3 overall and remain one of the most dangerous offensive teams in the country. The leak in Nashville appears to have been patched, at least for now.
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3. Tennessee (15-6, 5-3)
Previous ranking: 5
The Tennessee Volunteers are on a big-time hot streak. Rick Barnes has this squad firing on all cylinders, following up a road win at Alabama with a gritty OT win at Georgia and a dominant defensive showing against Auburn. Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament have turned the Vols into a 2-way monster. If you aren’t a believer yet, you haven’t been watching.
2. Florida (16-6, 7-2)
Previous ranking: 2
If there was any doubt about how the Florida Gators would respond to the Auburn loss, they answered it by hanging 95 points on South Carolina and winning by nearly 50. Then they followed that by putting up an insane 72 points in the paint in a 100-77 blowout win over Alabama on Sunday. Rueben Chinyelu was a force inside, and Boogie Fland is starting to look a lot more comfortable. They are just a half-game back of the top spot.
1. Texas A&M (17-4, 7-1)
Previous ranking: 1
“Bucky Ball” is still the king. The Aggies went into a hostile environment in Athens and left with a 9-point win, maintaining their sole possession of first place in the SEC. Bucky McMillan has his team playing with a level of confidence and connectivity that no one else in the league can match right now. With Alabama and Florida up next, Texas A&M has a chance to make a statement in the regular-season title race.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
