SEC Basketball power rankings: Alabama rises, Kentucky and Arkansas drops

Mississippi State would be lower than No. 8 if this were a set of rankings based purely on their current resume. The Bulldogs have lost arguably their three most difficult games against No. 23 Colorado State, Louisville, and Minnesota. The Colorado State game, in particular, must sting as Mississippi State led for the majority of that game before eventually coming up short.

That said, the Bulldogs’ overall talent is evident, with intimidating size and one of the best guards in the SEC in Iverson Molinar (16.6 PPG, 4.9 APG). UNC transfer F Garrison Brooks (11.4 PPG, 7.1 RPG) and NC State transfer G Shakeel Moore (10.8 PPG) have also made major contributions to start the season.

One player of note is starting center Tolu Smith, who underwent surgery in September to repair a stress fracture in his foot. This caused him to miss the first four games of the season. Smith returned for four games in which he averaged 13.3 PPG and 8.3 RPG before fracturing his pinky toe and missing the game against Colorado State. Smith is expected to miss several weeks but the hope is that he is able to return in time for the team’s SEC opener against Arkansas on December 29.

The Bulldogs have three dangerous mid-major teams left before the start of SEC play in Georgia State, Furman, and Winthrop, arguably the favorites in the Sun Belt, SoCon, and Big South, respectively.

Mississippi State has wasted several good opportunities for quality wins to start the season, but has still been excellent offensively and will only improve once Tolu Smith returns. This is a team that should be in the running for an at-large bid come March.