It was kind of a crazy week in the SEC. We’ve only made it through five games, and there are already no undefeated teams left in league play. As Vanderbilt learned this week, nobody makes it through an SEC schedule without at least one loss anymore. And while those in Nashville are reeling from their first two losses of the season, off-season favorite Florida has started to shine, winning its last four games. If this past slate of games is any indication of the type of play we’ll see for the next month and a half, we are in for some amazing basketball. With shakeups all over these rankings, here are the latest SEC basketball power rankings.
16. South Carolina Gamecocks (10-8, 1-4)
The win at LSU last week has aged a little better now that the Tigers have won an SEC game, but the Gamecocks have lost three straight and find themselves back at the bottom of these rankings. SC might have held steady had it not gotten boat-raced at Arkansas, and if it could have completed the comeback against Auburn. Much like last season, I suspect that the Gamecocks will be in most games but unable to close things out. Someone has to finish last in the conference, and unfortunately, it looks like it will be South Carolina once again.
15. LSU Tigers (13-5, 1-4)
LSU was one second away from winning both of its games this week. A Kentucky buzzer-beater left the Tigers on a four-game losing streak instead of picking up their first conference win. On Saturday, LSU held a solid Missouri offense to only 27 first-half points and held on for the victory. The Tigers aren’t necessarily a good team, but what they do well is slow games down enough to muddy the water and give themselves a fighting chance. This tactic finally worked against Mizzou. I wouldn’t be surprised if it snagged LSU a couple more SEC wins.
13. Oklahoma Sooners (11-7, 1-4)
With losses to Florida and Alabama this week, Oklahoma now holds the longest losing streak in the conference at four games. The Florida game wasn’t all that competitive, though the two-point loss at the hands of Alabama should have been a win for the Sooners. OU led for more than half the game and dominated the offensive boards, but couldn't keep the Tide at bay. With two road games next week, it looks like things could easily go from bad to worse. The Sooners are most likely barreling towards a fifth straight losing conference record under Porter Moser.
13. Mississippi State Bulldogs (10-8, 2-3)
Josh Hubbard’s nearly 25 points per game in conference games haven’t been enough to propel Mississippi State to wins. The Bulldogs had a shocking 2-0 start to SEC play but have not notched a win since then. The defense let this team down in a 15-point loss to Alabama. And it was the offense that struggled against Ole Miss. Over the past three games, the Bulldogs have looked like the bad team we saw at the start of the season. Only this time, there might not be enough time left to mount another turnaround.