There have been some exciting games and some up-and-down starts for SEC basketball teams this year, but this week will serve as the calm before the storm.

Most teams are playing one or two final tune-up games before SEC play starts once the calendar flips to 2019. Kentucky’s win over North Carolina on Saturday was a nice perk for the SEC. Ultimately, it really doesn’t matter too much what you do in nonconference play — the games over the next three months are what will decide teams’ fates.

In these second-to-last power rankings before the start of SEC play, Tennessee holds on to the No. 1 spot, but there was plenty of shuffling behind the Vols. Here’s how things stack up as the new year approaches:

1. Tennessee (10-1, Last week: 1)

The Vols should be up to No. 2 in the new AP Poll (and they have a convincing case for being No. 1), but remained at No. 3, as Michigan jumped them to take the No. 2 spot behind top-ranked Duke. Still, there’s a lot to be happy about in Knoxville this Christmas, as big man Grant Williams continues to evolve into one of the most dominant players in the country:

With Williams and Admiral Schofield leading the way (both on and off the court), the Vols are having a lot of fun, and that makes them exciting to watch.

2. Mississippi State (11-1, Last week: 3)

A loss by Auburn (see below) opened up the No. 2 spot for the Bulldogs, and they didn’t disappoint. Mississippi State only has one non-conference test remaining, as BYU comes to town on Saturday, but a win in that game will send the Bulldogs into conference play with a lot of confidence.

3. Auburn (10-2, Last week: 2)

The Tigers had it handed to them by NC State last week, losing 78-71 in a game that wasn’t quite as close as that score indicated. You could see this loss coming, though, as Bruce Pearl’s squad hadn’t been playing its best basketball.

However, Auburn has had its wakeup call now, and that’s bad news for North Florida, Ole Miss and Georgia, who just so happen to be the Tigers’ next three opponents.

4. Kentucky (9-2, Last week: 4)

The Wildcats got their signature win this week, taking down No. 9 North Carolina 80-72 in Chicago. That was thanks in large part to 21 points by freshman Keldon Johnson, who has incredible range and hit 4-of-7 3-point attempts:

https://twitter.com/WildcatDunks/status/1076667210490413057

Coach John Calipari always wants his team hitting its stride in March, not December, so if the Wildcats continue their upward trend, he’ll be happy and they’ll move up. They play rival Louisville this weekend in a game that should bring out the best in both squads.

5. LSU (9-3, Last week: 5)

LSU trounced a ranked Furman team this week, and now have back-to-back wins against tough Saint Mary’s and Furman squads after absolutely collapsing in the second half at Houston recently. Tremont Waters continues to dominate, scoring 20 points and dishing out seven assists against Furman.

Naz Reid, Skylar Mays and Kavell Bigby-Williams give Waters plenty of passing options, and this team will be dangerous in January and beyond.

6. Alabama (9-3, Last week: 7)

Donta Hall is becoming one of the better big men in the SEC, recording 17 points and 11 rebounds in an impressive win over Penn State. He also added 3 blocks for good measure:

https://twitter.com/AlabamaMBB/status/1076328333376397312

This might not be the best team in the SEC, but none of the other 13 coaches are going to be happy when the Crimson Tide show up on their schedules.

7. Mizzou (8-3, Last week: 10)

Last week was big for the Tigers, who beat Xavier at home and Illinois in St. Louis. Both wins were huge for Cuonzo Martin’s program, and the Tigers are playing some solid basketball right now. They’ll be put to the test in their first SEC game though, as they play host to Martin’s old Tennessee team on Jan. 8.

This week, though, they have what should be an easy game against Morehead State before a bit of a break to prepare for the Vols.

8. Arkansas (8-3, Last week: 6)

A home loss to Georgia Tech was a big setback for what had been a great start to the season for the Razorbacks. This team has a lot of potential, especially with the way Isaiah Joe is playing alongside Daniel Gafford.

However, losses to Georgia Tech, Texas and Western Kentucky don’t bode well for the Hogs heading into the brutal SEC schedule.

9. Florida (7-4, Last week: 9)

Saturday’s game against a tough Butler squad will help us learn a lot more about the Gators, but they’re definitely trending in the right direction. Then, they start SEC play with winnable games against South Carolina and Arkansas, though the game against the Razorbacks is in Fayetteville, so it’ll be tougher.

10. Vanderbilt (7-3, Last week: 8)

A loss to Kansas State wasn’t unexpected, as the Wildcats were an Elite 8 team last season. The Commodores will need to regroup this week, though, as they have two more tune-ups (against Tennessee State and UNC-Asheville) before SEC play starts.

11. Ole Miss (9-2, Last week: 12)

The Rebels thumped coach Kermit Davis’s former team, Middle Tennessee, this week. At 9-2, it’s time for them to start climbing up these rankings. I haven’t been the biggest believer in Ole Miss this year, but they should improve to 10-2 against Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 29 and then we’ll see what happens in the SEC portion of their schedule.

12. Georgia (7-4, Last week: 11)

The Bulldogs falling has nothing to do with the way they played this week — in fact they looked solid in wins over Oakland and Georgia Tech. It’s just that I’ve been too low on Ole Miss all year and had to bump them up a spot.

Sophomore big man Nicolas Claxton is turning into a nice player for Tom Crean’s crew, scoring 13 points and grabbing 13 rebounds (while dishing out six assists and blocking six shots) against the Yellow Jackets.

13. Texas A&M (6-4, Last week: 13)

The Aggies have now won five-straight games, and even though they haven’t exactly been the best opponents, it’s a big step forward for A&M. Texas A&M should extend that streak to six on Dec. 29 when the Aggies take on Texas Southern in their last non-conference game.

14. South Carolina (4-7, Last week: 14)

The Gamecocks have lost four consecutive games, but Wyoming is the only bad loss of the bunch, as the others came to top-5 Virginia and Michigan teams and a Clemson squad that made a lengthy run in the NCAA Tournament last year. South Carolina takes on North Greenville on New Year’s Eve in its final tune-up before SEC play starts.