Last year, the SEC set what may go down as an unbreakable record – they put 14 teams into the NCAA Tournament. Given the results in non-conference play this season, particularly the ACC/SEC Challenge, I don’t think that’s going to be a possibility this season. But they could still end up as the best conference in the land when everything is said and done.
NCAA Basketball: SEC Rankings
1. Alabama
I give so much credit to Nate Oats for playing the non-conference schedule that he has played. Alabama has taken on St. John’s, Purdue, Illinois, Maryland, and Clemson, and still has to play Arizona and South Florida. The crazy part is that this team has rarely been at full strength – they’ve dealt with multiple injuries, and they legitimately go 10 deep.
2. Vanderbilt
I know, right? Who would have thought back in October that Vanderbilt would be the highest-ranked SEC team in the AP poll at the start of December? Certainly not me. But credit to Mark Byington – he’s gotten a lot of players to play the best ball of their career, whether that career started at Vanderbilt or anywhere else.
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3. Tennessee
I really like freshman Nate Ament, but he’s showing a discouraging trend. He’s playing considerably worse against good competition than he was at the start of the season against Quadrant 3 and 4 opponents. It’s concerning because there are no Quad 3 or 4 opponents in SEC play, and Ament getting right would make this team a legitimate Final Four contender.
4. Florida
The Gators are still the defending champs and boast one of the best and deepest frontcourt units in the country, but this team has a guard problem right now. They are going to have to get more out of Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland if they want to repeat as National Champions.
5. Arkansas
John Calipari’s Razorbacks are feeling a lot like his Kentucky teams used to. They have played a very difficult non-conference schedule and have represented themselves fairly well. If the freshman class, including Acuff and Thomas, continues to develop, they may make it back to the Sweet Sixteen and even further.
6. Auburn
It has been a fairly rough start for Steven Pearl in his first season as Auburn Head Coach. They’ve played an incredibly difficult schedule, and it won’t get any easier in SEC play. Still, the pieces are there for a great season – Keyshawn Hall is playing great, and Kamari Murphy is a problem. They need Tahaad Pettiford to start playing like 2024-2025 Tahaad Pettiford.
7. Georgia
The Bulldogs have been a pleasant surprise to start the season, as no one has beaten them over 40 minutes of basketball to this point. Jeremiah Wilkinson has been a revelation, and Blue Cain is showing the country that he is more than just a shooter. Look out for the Bulldogs.
8. Kentucky
It goes to show just how high the standard is for Kentucky that they are considered one of the biggest disappointments in the entire country, but still projected to finish in the top half of this league. Yes, Mark Pope’s group has disappointed, but they’ve dealt with a ton of injuries and just reek of a team that hasn’t practiced together all that much. Give it time.
9. Ole Miss
The Rebels sit here in the 9 spot – for now. They are currently in the midst of a four-game slide, but every game was competitive and none of which were bad losses. International recruit Ilias Kamardine has been carrying the offense, and it will be interesting to see what he does over the course of the season
10. Texas
Man, the bottom half of the SEC really does not have a lot of quality non-conference wins. The best one? It might be Texas’ win over NC State in Maui. But Sean Miller’s roster construction certainly has some questions – this team lacks a true point guard. Yet, they rarely turn it over. Will this haunt them in SEC play?
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