09. Tennessee Volunteers (16-2, 3-2)
Tennessee looked unbeatable to start the season, but since SEC play started the Volunteers haven't been nearly as dominant. Tennessee battled back after a humiliating loss to Florida, knocking off Texas and Georgia, and then fell short against Vanderbilt. The Vols have turned into one of the more inconsistent teams in the conference. Tennessee has more than enough talent to win the SEC, but we just don’t know what to expect each time the team takes the court.
08. Mississippi State Bulldogs (15-3, 3-2)
What happened to Mississippi State’s defense? The Bulldogs have given up more than 80 points to their last three SEC opponents, including 95 points to Kentucky and 88 points to Auburn. Mississippi State lost both of those games but picked up a much-needed win over rival Ole Miss 84-81 in overtime. The Bulldogs are still a great team and defensive struggles might just be a blip on the radar, but it's still something to watch moving forward.
07. Missouri Tigers (15-3, 4-1)
Even Missouri fans couldn’t have predicted that through five SEC games, the Tigers would only have one loss. Since its loss to open conference play, Missouri has rattled off four straight wins, including an upset of Florida on its home court. The Tigers have turned into a great three-point shooting team in SEC play, making 41.1 percent from deep. Missouri has played its way into NCAA Tournament consideration. Now the hard part begins - keep winning.