Teams are making their way through their non-conference schedule. How has that affected the rankings for SEC Basketball?
Things are slowly falling into place for SEC Basketball. As we watch more and more games, the picture is becoming even clearer for the teams in the SEC. Despite this, some questions still arise. How will Vanderbilt respond to injuries? Will Alabama turn things around? What is happening with Kentucky?
We will have to wait to get these answers, but we still have enough data to learn more about teams’ identities. Tennessee has proven that they are one of the best teams in the conference. Auburn proved that their style of play bodes well against their schedule, and they have all reasons to be optimistic looking ahead this year.
Overall, the conference has been somewhat disappointing. Injuries have plagued Missouri and Vanderbilt, and those injuries might eventually tank their seasons. Upsets have shocked Arkansas, Alabama, and Kentucky.
Kentucky will have no problem making the NCAA Tournament, but games like these might end up ruining the Razorbacks and Crimson Tide. There is plenty of season left, but Alabama needed a buzzer-beating shot to make the tournament last year, so literally every shot counts.
The clearest part of the picture after this week is that Auburn and Tennessee are separating themselves from the rest of the conference. It will be interesting to see if Kentucky and Mississippi State can keep up or if the gap will get wider and wider. For the good of the SEC, fans hope it will stay competitive in the coming months.
With all this being said, where do the teams rank against each other? Here’s where I have them as of right now.
*All stats are from Sports Reference*
*All records and scores are from ESPN*