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
4 of 15
Next
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 24: Sedee Keita #24 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts from the bench against the Baylor Bears in the first half during the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional at Madison Square Garden on March 24, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 24: Sedee Keita #24 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts from the bench against the Baylor Bears in the first half during the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional at Madison Square Garden on March 24, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

12. South Carolina Gamecocks

Last Week: 10th (↓ 2)

The first drop of the rankings is the South Carolina Gamecocks. Drops like this happen when a team loses 3 of their last 4 games. The only win came against Coastal Carolina, a team that isn’t necessarily in the upper echelon of the NCAA. One of their losses came in a solid competition against Michigan, one of the best teams in the NCAA, so that is a bonus, but losses are losses.

Frank Martin has been experimenting with new lineups, but the changes haven’t necessarily fixed their problems. I believe they are just trying to decide what works over the next few games, because they are still going to play some tough games. They have Virginia and Clemson in their next two games, which will probably send them on a 4 game losing streak. Gamecock fans should be ecstatic if South Carolina finds a way to split these opponents and remain close to .500. There’s still hope for the team, since they don’t have one of the toughest opening schedules in SEC play. They have a little time to right the ship, but that time is fleeting fast.

The freshman Canadian A.J. Lawson has been a bright spot for the team. Assuming he stays with South Carolina for more than just this season (which he should), he will be the piece that Martin chooses to build around. The team’s ceiling caps at what Lawson can do for them. If he continues to expand his game, it will show in the win column.

I think the Gamecocks have no chance to make the NCAA Tournament, especially if they can’t find upset wins along their path. They do have enough talent to make some noise, but there is still a lot of work to turn around their season.

Home/SEC