by Paul Jordan
EAST
Kentucky 16-0 (1-0)
Vanderbilt 12-3 (1-0)
South Carolina 10-5 (1-0)
Tennessee 12-2
Florida 11-4 (0-1)
Georgia 8-6 (0-1)
WEST
Mississippi State 13-3 (1-0)
Alabama 11-4 (1-0)
Arkansas 7-8
Mississippi 12-3 (0-1)
LSU 9-6 (0-1)
Auburn 9-7 (0-1)
A couple of off the court situations got a little more resolved for two SEC teams. Courtney Fortson made his first appearance for the Arkansas Razorbacks as his season long suspension is over. As for the other situation, All SEC guard Tyler Smith was dismissed from the Tennessee Volunteers for drug and weapon charges and the fates of three other Vols still hang in the balance.
Speaking of Tennessee, they pulled off the upset of the week when they knocked off #1 Kansas 76-68 on Sunday afternoon. There were not the only SEC team to pull off a big out of conference upset this week as the Georgia Bulldogs knocked off then #17 Georgia Tech 73-66.
Thanks to the Volunteers, Kentucky now occupies the #2 spot in both the AP Top 25 and the ESPN/USA Today polls. Tennessee, for their effort did creep back into the top 10 at #9 in the AP Top 25 and #10 in the ESPN/USA Today poll. Ole Miss continues to represent as the third SEC team in the Top 25 — #21st in AP Top 25 and 23rd for ESPN/USA Today. Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, and Florida continue to swim in the “receiving votes pool”.
Tennessee’s Bobby Maze was named SEC Player of the Week after averaging 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in wins over Charlotte and No. 1 Kansas. Vanderbilt’s John Jenkins named SEC Freshman of the Week after he averaged 13.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in wins over Middle Tennessee and Florida .
WHAT TO LOOK FOR THIS WEEK:
1/12 – #2 Kentucky (16-0) @ Florida (11-4) – 9 PM – ESPN
1/13 – LSU (9-6) @ South Carolina (11-5) – 8 PM – ESPN 360
1/13 – Vanderbilt (12-3) @ Alabama (11-4) – 9 PM – ESPN 360
1/14 – Auburn (9-7) @ #9 Tennessee (12-2) – 7 PM – ESPN2
1/16 – #21 Mississippi (12-3) @ #9 Tennessee (12-2) – 1:30 PM – ESPN 360
1/16 – Vanderbilt (12-3) @ South Carolina (10-5) – 6:30 PM – ESPN 360
1/16 – LSU (9-6) @ Florida (11-4) – 8 PM
TEAM UPDATES (ratings are AP, ESPN/USA Today)
EAST
Kentucky (#2, #2) – DeMarcus Cousins scored seven of his 16 points in the final 3 minutes as the Wildcats stayed unbeaten with a gritty 76-68 win over Georgia. UK jumped out to a 21-10 lead and the Bulldogs responded with a 21-5 run and it was nip/tuck the rest of the way. Patrick Patterson and John Wall also scored 17 points for the Wildcats.
To read the rest of this article and check in on the rest of the SEC, go to:
http://rushthecourt.net/category/checking-in-on/cio-sec/
We know that today’s UK/Florida matchup is a very big game for both teams, and since half the writers on this site reside in Florida … we have treated it with the same respect as a Louisville or Tennessee game, so there has been lots of pre-game analysis and pure Gator hate on the site. Here is some links in case you missed it:
Paul’s preview of the game
Paul’s “What I hate about you: Florida Gators edition“
Alan’s A sea of orange turned blue: The changing of the tide
Corey’s “Inside the Numbers” analysis of UK/Florida
Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans