WBN SEC Basketball Power Rankings: 2/27 Edition
By Paul Jordan
SEC STANDINGS
SEC EAST
Florida 11-3
Vanderbilt 9-5
Kentucky 8-6
Georgia 8-6
Tennessee 7-5
South Carolina 5-9
SEC WEST
Alabama 11-3*
Arkansas 7-7
Mississippi 7-7
Mississippi 6-8
LSU 3-11
Auburn 2-12
*clinched division title
TOURNAMENT WATCH
NCAA BOUND (4): #13 Florida, #18 Vanderbilt, #22 Kentucky, Georgia
ON THE BUBBLE (2): Tennessee, Alabama
NIT (or other tourney) BOUND (3): Arkansas, Mississippi, Mississippi State
HOME FOR SPRING BREAK (3): South Carolina, LSU, Auburn
SEC BASKETBALL POWER RANKINGS:
1. (1) #13 Florida (22-6) (defeated Georgia 71-62, lost to #22 Kentucky 76-68): Despite the loss to Kentucky, the Gators are still in very good shape as everyone else lost as well. Gators should win the SEC East outright, but have a couple of tough games this week and realistically need to win out to stay a top #3-4 seed in the NCAA. THIS WEEK: 3/1 vs Alabama, 3/5 @ #18 Vanderbilt
2. (2) Alabama (19-9) (beat Auburn 51-49, lost to Mississippi 68-63): There are signs that the Tide is slumping and the Ole Miss loss put them right on the bubble again. They have won the SEC West however but you get the feeling they need to win out this week to clinch a NCAA bid before heading into the SEC Tournament. THIS WEEK: 3/1 @ #13 Florida, 3/5 vs Georgia
3. (3) #18 Vanderbilt (21-7) (lost to Tennessee 60-51, beat LSU 90-69): The loss to the Vols was a killer as they could have been just one game out of first and virtually locked up the #2 SEC seed. Regardless, they are still in the leaders seat for that #2 seed, but face a very tough week ahead. The Commodores need to win at least one game this week. THIS WEEK: 3/1 @ #22 Kentucky, 3/5 vs #13 Florida
4. (4) #22 Kentucky (20-8) (lost to Arkansas 77-76, beat #13 Florida 76-68): Like everyone else in the SEC East, Kentucky is kicking themselves for the missed opportunities this week, but the Florida win was huge and made a statement. Kentucky needs a sweep this week to get in the proper frame of mind heading into the tournaments. THIS WEEK: 3/1 vs #18 Vanderbilt, 3/5 @ Tennessee
5. (5) Georgia (19-9) (lost to #13 Florida 71-62, defeated South Carolina 64-48): The Bulldogs should be a lock for the NCAA due to no bad losses on the year, but they still have an outside shot at the #2 SEC seed and can better their NCAA seed if they can win out this week. THIS WEEK 3/2 vs LSU, 3/5 @ Alabama
6. (9) Arkansas (18-10) (beat #22 Kentucky 77-76, beat Auburn 57-55): Look who is making a big move in the SEC West as they were the only team to win both their games this week. In doing so, the Hawgs are now tied for the second spot in the SEC West. If Arkansas can win out and win 1-2 games in the SEC Tournament, this may be a NCAA team. Maybe. THIS WEEK: 3/2 vs Mississippi State, 3/5 @ Mississippi
7. (7) Mississippi State (15-13) (lost to LSU 84-82, beat Tennessee 70-69): Normally the loss to LSU would be devastating, but the Bulldogs rebounded with a nice win over Tennessee on the road. Plus they are still tied for the #2 spot in the West and have their fate in their own hands with a win over Arkansas. THIS WEEK: 3/2 @ Arkansas, 3/5 vs South Carolina
8. (6) Tennessee (17-12) (defeated #18 Vanderbilt 60-51, lost to Mississippi State 70-69) Yes, for some reason, some pundits have the Vols in the tournament due to their quality wins, but I don’t buy that. They are 17-12, have the same number of bad losses as good wins and are 2-5 their last seven games. So as of right now, the Vols are on the bubble in my opinion. THIS WEEK: 3/3 @ South Carolina, 3/5 vs #22 Kentucky
9. (8) Mississippi (18-11) (lost to South Carolina 79-73, Beat Alabama 68-63): It’s the story of the week as the Rebels blew a golden opportunity to move into the second seed by losing to the Gamecocks, but the win over Alabama proves they can still be a dangerous team. Unfortunately, it looks like they will have to win out and win three games to make the SEC Tourney Finals to be a valid bubble team. THIS WEEK: 3/2 @ Auburn, 3/5 vs Arkansas
10. (10) South Carolina (14-13) (beat Mississippi 79-73, lost to Georgia 64-48): The Gamecocks are simply playing the season out, looking to play the spoiler role now and would like nothing more than to pop the Vol’s bubble. THIS WEEK: 3/3 vs Tennessee, 3/5 @ Mississippi State
11. (11) 
; LSU (11-18) (defeated Mississippi State 84-82, lost to #18 Vanderbilt 90-69): The Tigers showed some signs of being a capable spoiler against the Bulldogs but fell apart vs the Commodores. They still have a chance to wreck Georgia’s season however. THIS WEEK: 3/2 @ Georgia, 3/5 vs Auburn
12. (12) Auburn (9-19) (lost to Alabama 51-49, lost to Arkansas 57-55): Well, at least the Tigers are making the games close. THIS WEEK: 3/2 vs Mississippi, 3/5 @ LSU
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