1. Auburn Tigers - 11-1
The Tigers started off the season with a 51-point blowout win over Vermont to get on the national radar. Then wins over Houston and sweeping the Maui Invitational gave them plenty of top-tier wins early on.
Even more important has been the domination of the other teams, with the metrics having this roster on a historical level. Their only blemish is a road loss to Duke in the SEC/ACC Challenge, which is very forgivable.
Auburn is led by Johni Broome, who is averaging 18.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg, and 3.3 apg. He’s also one of the top shot-blockers in the country at 2.6 blocks per game. He’s one of five double-digit scorers, with GT transfer Miles Kelly just behind at 9.8 ppg. They’re one of the more efficient teams both ways on the floor, with the new-look backcourt a clear upgrade from the prior seasons.
The Tigers end non-con play with Monmouth at home on Monday before taking on Missouri, Texas, and South Carolina to open SEC play. It’s probably the easiest slate possible in a historically good conference, so there’s a chance Auburn can remain at the top for a while before a future date with Tennessee in January.