SEC Basketball: Auburn rises, Texas A&M falls in latest power rankings

06. Arkansas Razorbacks

A 16-point win against Lipscomb might have been a little closer than some thought it should be to open the season. But since Arkansas was one of the only SEC schools to take on a ranked opponent, I didn’t move the Razorbacks down the rankings too much. Arkansas fell to Baylor 72-67 on a neutral court on Saturday, in one of the better games so far this season. 

Although Arkansas hasn’t been great on offense this season, Freshman Boogie Fland has been the team's leading scorer averaging 17 points per game. I have faith that Coach Calipari can get the offense going, but until that point, Arkansas will need to rely on its defense to win games. 

The Razorbacks have a couple of easier games this week, so I expect Arkansas will put up some big numbers. If not, then Arkansas’s floor might be lower than I initially thought. I might have been a little too bought in on Arkansas to start the year with how much of the roster had to be replaced from last year. But losing to a tough Baylor team is a loss that many teams will take this early in the season. 

05. Florida Gators

Florida is 2-0 on the season after taking down South Florida 98-83 in a high-scoring game. And beating Jacksonville easily by a score of 81-60. I thought entering the season that Florida would have one of the best offenses in the country, and through two games that has proven to be true. Florida has been super efficient from two making nearly 73 percent of those shots. Four Gators are averaging at least 14 points per game so far this season, and Walter Clayton Jr is the team's leading scorer with 19 points per game. 

The defense on the other hand was a point of great concern. In game one it looked like the defense of old, but the defense looked much better against Jacksonville in the second game last week. If the Gators defend better moving forward, then this might be a special Florida team.

Obviously, there is a major off-court distraction for Florida moving forward. Right now it hasn’t impacted any games, but it will be interesting to see if Florida regresses at all moving forward with the focus being on its coach's alleged off-court issues. 

04. Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee is 2-0 so far this season with big wins against Gardner-Webb and Louisville. The 22-point drubbing of Louisville was a huge win for the Volunteers, against a much improved Cardinals team. Tennessee is averaging more than 78 points per game this season and holding opponents to under 60 points per game. I know this is only through two games but early indications are that Tennessee will once against be a really good defense. 

One of the big questions this offseason was who would replace Dalton Knecht’s scoring from last season. The early answer has been Chaz Lanier and Zakai Zeigler. Lanier is averaging 18.5 points and Zeigler is adding 16 points. I don’t know if this will continue all season, but Zeigler upping his offensive game can only lead to good things for the Volunteers. 

Tennessee has been really good defensively and solid offensively. The Volunteers have been one of the better teams overall and should be one of the contenders for the conference title at the end of the season. But until Tennessee faces a little better competition they slide slightly in the rankings.