WBN SEC Basketball Power Rankings: 2/6 Edition
By Paul Jordan
SEC STANDINGS
SEC EAST
Florida 7-2
Tennessee 5-3
Georgia 5-4
Kentucky 4-4
South Carolina 4-4
Vanderbilt 4-4
SEC WEST
Alabama 7-1
Mississippi 4-4
Arkansas 4-5
Mississippi 3-5
LSU 2-6
Auburn 1-8
TOURNAMENT WATCH:
NCAA BOUND (6): Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Vanderbilt
ON THE BUBBLE (2): South Carolina, Mississippi
NIT OR OTHER TOURNEY (2): Arkansas, Mississippi State
HOME FOR SPRING BREAK (2): LSU, Auburn
WBN SEC POWER RANKINGS:
1. (1) Florida (18-5) (defeated Vanderbilt 65-61, defeated Kentucky 70-68): Hail to the Gators who took advantage of some home court officiating to steal a couple of very close wins over Kentucky and Vanderbilt. The Gators knocked off ranked teams back to back for the first time since the title years and did what they needed to do this week – defend the home court. THIS WEEK: 2/9 @ South Carolina, 2/12 vs Tennessee
2. (2) Alabama (15-7) (defeated Mississippi State 75-61, defeated Tennessee 65-60): The Crimson Tide are starting to prove that they are not only going to win the SEC West, they could win the whole darn SEC as they have now knocked off Kentucky and Tennessee. This team is tough defensively and can win the close game. (THIS WEEK: 2/10 @ Vanderbilt, 2/12 vs Mississippi)
3. (4) Tennessee (15-8) (beat Auburn 69-56, lost to Alabama 65-60): True, the Vols lost to Alabama, but right now, they are in the number two seed in the SEC Tourney position and they can put an end to Kentucky’s title hopes with a win at Rupp this week. Bruce Pearl has to have his team to be road warriors this week, but they are in control if they can pull off two wins. THIS WEEK: 2/8 @ Kentucky, 2/12 @ Florida
4. (7) Georgia (16-6) (beat Arkansas 60-59, beat Auburn 81-72 OT): I left the Bulldogs for dead a couple of weeks ago, but they have have zoomed back into contention this week. True, they still play down to the level of their competition, but they are winning the close games, which is key to being a contender. THIS WEEK: 2/8 vs Xavier, 2/12 @ South Carolina
5. (3) Kentucky (16-6) (lost to Ole Miss 71-69, lost to Florida 70-68): Yes, I am a Kentucky homer, but I am not going to drop them all the way down because of two two-point losses on the road. Fact is, Kentucky is not getting blown out and embarrassed. They just are not getting the bounces right now. Kentucky has five of eight games left at Rupp, and trust me, they will get this road thing figured out. THIS WEEK: 2/8 vs Tennessee, 2/12 @ Vanderbilt
6. (5) Vanderbilt (16-6) (lost to Florida 65-61, defeated South Carolina 78-60): Like Kentucky, you can not count Vandy out at this stretch. They have lost some games they should have won thus far, but six of their last eight games are very key matchups. Either they are going to contend or be a spoiler, but Vandy has a huge say in who wins the East. THIS WEEK: 2/10 vs Alabama, 2/12 vs Kentucky
7. (8) South Carolina (13-8) (beat LSU 64-56, lost to Vanderbilt 78-60): Somehow, the Gamecocks are still tied with Kentucky and Vandy in the SEC race and for that reason they are over performing a bit. You have to give them props for still hanging tough this late and not fading into oblivion, but a bad week this week can start pushing them that way: THIS WEEK: 2/9 vs Florida, 2/12 @ Georgia
8. (10) Mississippi (15-8) (beat Kentucky 71-69, beat Arkansas 69-60): They probably can not catch Alabama, bu look for the Rebels to be a prime contender for that second seed in the SEC Tourney spot. They have won three of four now and finally starting to play the way we expected all season. THIS WEEK: 2/9 vs LSU, 2/12 @ Alabama
9. (9) Mississippi State (12-10) (lost to Alabama 75-61, beat LSU 58-57) mathematically they may be in the race in the West, but getting drilled by Bama this week shows there is a large talent gap between them and the top and they are better suited to hang with the LSU’s and Auburn. THIS WEEK: 2/9 vs Arkansas, 2/12 @ Auburn
10. (6) Arkansas (14-8) (lost to Georgia 60-59, lost to Mississippi 69-60): Tough week for the Hawgs as they lost a couple of winnable games. Arkansas still has a decent overall record, but they just are not showing any spark or life after upsetting Vandy. THIS WEEK: 2/9 @ Mississippi State, 2/12 versus LSU
11. (11) LSU (10-13) (lost to South Carolina 64-56, lost to Mississippi State 58-57): Move on here, nothing to see. THIS WEEK: 2/9 @ Ole Miss, 2/12 @ Arkansas
12. (12) Auburn (8-15) (lost to Tennessee 69-56, lost to Georgia 81-72 OT): Well, at least the Tigers are putting up a fight in most of their games now, but not a lot to talk about here. THIS WEEK: vs Mississippi State
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