WBN SEC Basketball Power Rankings: 12/26 Edition
By Paul Jordan
1. (1) Kentucky (9-2) (defeated Winthrop 89-52) John Calipari’s Wildcats had perhaps their most complete game of the season with their dismantling of Winthrop. Doron Lamb is staking claim to the best sixth man in the country and Josh Harrellson is averaging over 9 rebounds a game. And this team can still get a lot better. THIS WEEK: 12/28 vs Coppin State, 12/31 @ Louisville
2. (3) Vanderbilt (9-2) (defeated MTSU 72-53) The Commodores were not expected to be this good in the offseason, but in reality, they are just eight points from being 11-0. John Jenkins and Jeffrey Taylor provide a solid inside-outside combination and Jenkins is hitting 42% of his treys. This team is going to be a tough win once SEC play heats up. THIS WEEK: 12/29 vs Marquette, 1/2 vs Davidson
3. (4) Georgia (9-2) (defeated High Point 85-38, defeated Mercer 56-53) Don’t look now but the Bulldogs have won six games in a row. The Bulldogs finally blew someone out, albeit it was High Point, but then slipped back into their pattern of playing to the level of their competition, narrowly beating Mercer. It will be interesting to see how the Dawgs fare against SEC competition. THIS WEEK: vs Charleston Southern, 12/31 vs Eastern Kentucky
4. (7) Arkansas (8-2) (defeated Texas Southern 67-59) It was ugly but the razorbacks managed to beat Texas Southern this wek. Arkansas is another team that has feasted on cupcakes and lack any real quality wins. Rotnei Clark is hitting 41% of his treys and leads the team in scoring, but it will be interesting to see how the Hogs fare off the cupcake schedule soon. THIS WEEK: 12/29 vs North Carolina A&T, 12/31 vs Texas Arlington
5. (2) Florida (9-3) (lost to Jacksonville 71-68 OT, defeated Radford 66-55) Florida seemed to make a statement after knocking off Pitt, but them lost to unheralded Jacksonville just two days later. The headscratching in Gainesville continued as the Gators defeated 2-8 Radford by just 11. I know the Gators were supposed to contend this year, but to be honest, they don’t look much better than last season’s team that stumbled into the NCAA. THIS WEEK: 12/28 vs Fairfield, 12/31 @ Xavier
6. (5) Tennessee (8-3) (lost to USC 65-65, defeated Belmont 66-65) Mediocrity, thy name is Tennessee. the Vols had another rough week but ended their three game losing streak with a win over Belmont. I know the Vols are a much better team than this but have not really shown any life in a couple of weeks. I am starting to wonder if the Vols can turn it around as the Bruce Pearl suspension looms. THIS WEEK: 12/29: vs Tennessee Martin, 12/31 vs College of Charleston
7. (6) Mississippi (9-3) (defeated Texas State 83-72, lost to Colorado State 68-61, defeated St Louis 69-61) And now we enter the section of the SEC where the decent teams end and the bad teams start. Ole Miss won two out of three this week, but at least Colorado State is a decent team. Chris Warren is having yet another very solid season averaging 17.1 a game. THIS WEEK: 12/30 vs Alcorn State, 12/2 vs SE Louisiana
8. (11) Alabama (6-6) (defeated Lipscomb 71-51) No, I don’t think that beating Lipscomb is worth a three point jump in the power rankings, but the Crimson Tide is my bet as a team that may actually have a better conference record than out of conference. Some of the bad teams in the West are not much better (if they are better than) Lipscomb, so watch out for the Tide. THIS WEEK: 12/28 vs Pepperdine
9. (8) South Carolina (lost to Furman 91-75) The Gamecocks were fooling us early in the season, but their ugliness has started to show off with two straight blowout losses. The Gamecocks are a thin team and well, I guess it was a good run while it lasted but wins will be few and far between in the SEC. THIS WEEK: 12/29 vs Jacksonville State, 1/1 @ Boston College
10. (9) Mississippi State (8-5) (lost to Washington State 83-57, defeated San Diego 69-52, lost to Hawaii 68-57) This week, the Bulldogs went from being a merely average SEC team to being the black eye of the conference as Renardo Sidney and Elgin Bailey were caught brawling in the stands. Now both are suspended and there is a rumor that Bailey has been kicked off the squad. Trainwreck anyone? THIS WEEK: 12/29 @ St Mary’s
11. (10) LSU (7-5) (lost to North Texas 75-55) Wow. Another embarrassing loss for Trent Johnson and his charges. You have to wonder how hot the water is getting in Baton Rogue as this team seems no better than last season. THIS WEEK: 12/27 vs Southern, 12/29 @ Rice, 1/2 @ Virginia
12. (12) Auburn (4-7) (defeated USC Upstate 68-54) Hail to the Auburn Tigers who pulled away from USC Upstate after leading by just three at the half. I’m sorry but if they had lost that game, succession from the SEC would be mandatory. It’s going to be interesting to see who is actually worse …. LSU or Auburn. THIS WEEK: 12/29 vs Georgia Southern, 12/31 vs Grambling
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