This weekend wrapped up the third week of SEC Basketball as we're finally getting a true sense of where each team stacks up in the Conference. As we've seen nearly every team against the top and bottom tier teams in the SEC we're seeing the emergence of a few teams as true conference contenders while other teams are going to struggle every time they face another team.
As each team prepares to start a new week jockeying in the standings, we Power Ranked each team in the SEC.
South Carolina Gamecocks
After a 10-3 start in Non-Conference Play it looked like the Gamecocks may be ready to play spoiler in the SEC. Instead, the Gamecocks have started the year off poorly as they can't find a way to close out a game. The Gamecocks offense isn't scoring enough to pull these games out which limits which teams in this Conference they can beat.
Arkansas Razorbacks
This season is not what everyone envisioned when John Calipari jumped to Arkansas as the Razorbacks are 0-5 in SEC Play. Calipari brought in a ton of talent but, this team clearly hasn't gelled while they're really struggling on the glass. The Razorbacks will need to shakeup this lineup quickly otherwise they'll have no chance at making the NCAA Tournament.
LSU Tigers
The LSU Basketball team is going to be at a talent disadvantage in most of the games they play this season after losing Jalen Reed and Tyrell Ward for the season before SEC Play. This week the LSU Basketball team got their first win in SEC Play over Arkansas but, are in the midst of an impossible stretch of SEC play. In Cam Carter the Tigers have a player that can help in beating any team but, they need monster efforts to compete.
Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners ran through Non-Conference play without losing a game which quickly raised the expectations but, SEC play hasn't been smooth sailing. The Sooners finally got off the mat beating South Carolina but, now they need to keep the positive momentum. The next three games against Arkansas, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt are all winnable games and could get Oklahoma right back into the mix.
Texas Longhorns
The transition into the SEC isn't going the way the Texas Longhorns would've hoped thus far as the Longhorns are 1-4. The Longhorns have to start picking up key wins over the next two weeks otherwise making the NCAA Tournament will be a long shot. The end of the season may judge if Rodney Terry is the right coach for Texas as his best season came with Chris Beard's players while the team has gone backwards since.
Vanderbilt Commodores
The Vanderbilt Commodores were picked to finish last in the SEC, early on this team has crushed expectations. Mark Byington has this team playing solid basketball and even in the games they've lost they're competitive knocking off Tennessee to close the week . Jason Edwards and AJ Hoggard are one of the best backcourts in the Conference powering this team. The Commodores are building a strong NCAA Tournament resume and they'll have two great chances this week against Alabama and Kentucky.
Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs had a rocky week dropping games to 6th Ranked Tennessee and Top Ranked Auburn which will likely drop them out of the Top 25 but, it's also hard to fault a team for losing to both teams. This team will go as far as True Freshman Asa Newell will take them and while he's been solid in SEC play, the Bulldogs will need him to hit the next level in order to rise into the top tier of SEC teams.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Bulldogs have lost two games in SEC play by a combined 7 points to Auburn and Kentucky, two top 8 teams in the Country. Chris Jans has done an incredible job with this team and they're dangerous against any given team. The offense has become more of a threat while the defense remains one of the toughest in the Country which has only made this team more of a threat to go on a run.
Texas A&M Aggies
The latest stretch for the Aggies has been tough as they lost 2 out of their last 3 games but, the losses came to Kentucky and Alabama while Wade Taylor IV missed both games. When Texas A&M is clicking it's impossible to find an easy shot against this defense. Wade Taylor IV and Zhuric Phelps is one of the best guard combos in the Country and can take this team on a deep run this season.
Missouri Tigers
This week was a massive week for the Missouri Tigers as they went on the road against Florida and picked up a massive win over the Florida Gators and beat Arkansas. The Tigers were picked to finish in the bottom third of the conference before the season and thus far it looks like everyone is wrong. The offense is well rounded yet, ranks 17th in the Country in points while the defense is allowing just 69.1 points per game.
Tennessee Volunteers
The Volunteers looked unbeatable in Non-Conference play but, at the start of SEC Play they've shown some cracks. The Vols offense ranks 138th in the Country and against some of the up and down teams in the SEC scoring as few as the Vols score is tough to overcome. The next four games for Tennessee are against Top 15 teams which will give everyone a better idea of where this team stands.
Kentucky Wildcats
The first season at Kentucky for Mark Pope is going much better than John Calipari's first season at Arkansas. The Wildcats are powered by the Nation's second-best offense which can keep them in any game as they're shooting 36.7% from three. As this team continues to play together and becomes more consistent, they'll only start to get better which is a scary thought.
Ole Miss Rebels
The Rebels took their first loss of SEC play to close the week but, the Rebels are arguably the most dangerous team in the Conference. While most of the SEC has adopted high powered offenses, the Rebels have won with defense. The Rebels are able to shut the best of offenses down on any given night and as long as they're playing defense at the level they have they can knock off any team in the Country.
Florida Gators
The Gators did lose a game this week to Missouri but, the Florida Gators are still one of the best teams in the Conference. In Walter Clayton Jr and Alijah Martin, the Gators have one of the best scoring duos in the Nation. The area you'd like to see this team improve is by playing consistent Basketball as when the offense and defense are clicking the Gators are a Top 5 team in the Country.
Alabama Crimson Tide
The Crimson Tide lost their first game in SEC play this week but, the Crimson Tide are clearly in the top class of the SEC. In Mark Sears, the Crimson Tide have one of the Nation's best players while Grant Nelson, Labaron Philon, and Aden Halloway are solid pieces that can go off on any given night. When everything is clicking for Alabama they're incredibly tough to beat as Nate Oats has another explosive offense.
Auburn Tigers
The Auburn Tigers entered the week as the top seed in the AP Poll and leaving the week the Tigers are even more impressive. This week without National Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome, Auburn knocked off two Top 25 opponents in Mississippi State and Georgia improving their resume. Bruce Pearl has one of the deepest teams in the Country and Auburn is on a path to being a One seed this March.