Busting Brackets
Fansided

SEC Power Rankings: Kentucky slips, Tennessee takes top spot

By Dakota Cox

LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 06: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates during the 61-59 win against the Kentucky Wildcats in the game at Rupp Arena on February 6, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - FEBRUARY 06: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates during the 61-59 win against the Kentucky Wildcats in the game at Rupp Arena on February 6, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 15
Next
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 25: Naz Reid #0 of the LSU Tigers attempts a shot during the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at HP Field House on November 25, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 25: Naz Reid #0 of the LSU Tigers attempts a shot during the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at HP Field House on November 25, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

5. LSU Tigers

Last Week: 5th (↔)

LSU remains in the middle-tier of SEC basketball. They haven’t done anything to move ahead past Kentucky or Mississippi State, but they don’t deserve to fall. A nail-biting loss early to Florida State followed by another loss to Oklahoma State definitely hurt this team, but they haven’t lost their two games since.

This is being written before the Houston game, but that game will be a great way to see how this team fits on the rankings board. At fifth, they are at what I call the “Margin of Ballers.” Every team in front of them is really good. Every team behind them has had disappointing seasons. Right now, they are on the fence. With this game, they can finally take a step on either side of the MoB.

The Tigers will have another shot against Furman in the coming weeks, so the rest of 2018 will be important for LSU. They need to know who they are, and two games against AP top-25 teams will be a great way to learn.

Junior guard Skylar Mays is leading the team with 13.9 points, but Tremont waters is the true focus of defensive game plans. He was one of the best returning players coming back from last year, and he has been doing relatively well. I’ll never look away from 11.4 points and 5.4 assists, but both of those numbers are down from his averages last season. He is taking less shots, and the supporting cast is helping more than last year, but he needs to become the alpha in more games.

Home/SEC