SEC Basketball: Kentucky and LSU rise in latest power rankings.

03. Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama suffered its first loss of the season 87-78 against a very good Purdue team. The game was played on the road at Mackey Arena which turned out to be one of the best games of the season. The offense has slowed since putting up 110 points in the first game of the season, but Alabama still has more than enough offensive firepower to take down most teams in the country. The Tide hasn’t been making the three as often as last season, which explains away some of the offensive issues for Alabama. 

I still think Alabama is one of the top teams in college basketball. The defense has improved over last season, and the offense isn’t even at full strength yet. Houston Mallette and Chris Youngblood both shot 41 percent from three last season and have yet to play a game this season for the Crimson Tide due to injury. 

02. Kentucky Wildcats

Kentucky improved to 3-0 on the season when the Wildcats took down an extremely talented Duke team in the Champions Classic. It was the first time this season that Kentucky failed to score at least 100 points, but there are few teams in the county with a bigger win this season. The Wildcats have been great from three this season, making at least 10 threes in every game this season. 

Mark Pope has done a great job getting a team filled with transfers ready to play this season. I wouldn’t have been surprised if Kentucky needed some time for the team to mesh, but from the jump, the Wildcats have exceeded all expectations. Kentucky has a great offense and very good defense this season. It’s easy to see why the Wildcats were able to take down Duke. Kentucky is very much one of the favorites to win the SEC after its early season play. 

01. Auburn Tigers

Auburn has looked like one of the best teams in college basketball this season. The win over Houston last week is arguably the best win of the season by any team, and the Tigers have been absolutely bullying mid-major opponents. Auburn has scored at least 74 points in all three games this season and hasn’t given up more than 69 points. On the season, Auburn is holding opponents to 56 points per game. 

Johni Broome (16.7 ppg, 9.3 rpg) has been impressive through these early games and is averaging nearly a double-double. On the defensive end, Broome is averaging more than three blocks per game to anchor this suffocating defense. Ranking Auburn atop the SEC power rankings was an easy choice. The offense has been great and the defense has been devastating to opponents. There aren’t many teams in the country who can dominate both ends of the court like the Tigers.