The SEC this year is officially chaos. Last week, we had undefeated teams; this week, everyone has a blemish. The bottom of the league decided to wake up, with Texas and Ole Miss having massive weeks, while the "elites" took some lumps.
Kentucky sits at 2-2 after a massive rebound week, obliterating Mississippi State and surviving a thriller in Baton Rouge.
Last Week: W vs #21 Tennessee (91-67), W vs Oklahoma (96-79)
Don't look now, but the defending national champs look like the team to beat again. They absolutely dismantled a good Tennessee team by 24 and then crushed Oklahoma by 17. Todd Golden has them playing with a killer instinct right now after starting the season with a brutal schedule.
Last Week: W vs LSU (84-73), L vs Texas (80-64)
The undefeated dream died in Austin in a blowout loss. After dispatching LSU, Mark Byington’s crew ran into a buzzsaw against Texas, losing by 16. They are still 16-1 and having an incredible season, but the invincibility cloak has been ripped off. If you had Vandy at 16-1, I tip my hat to you.
Last Week: W vs Oklahoma (83-76), L vs #24 Tennessee (87-82 2OT)
"Bucky Ball" is still rolling, even with the heartbreaking loss in Knoxville, where they just couldn't put the Vols away. They took a Top 25 team to double overtime on the road and handled business against Oklahoma. Sitting at 3-1, they are still one of the toughest outs in the league.
Last Week: L vs Auburn (95-73), W vs South Carolina (108-74)
Vintage Cal showed up in the South Carolina game, dropping 108 points, then hitting the eject button on the press conference when he found out their next opponent, Auburn, lost. The same Auburn that just ran them out of the gym by 22. They are dangerous, but that inconsistency keeps them just outside the top 3.
Last Week: L vs Ole Miss (76-69), W vs Auburn (84-74)
Dennis Gates has the Tigers sitting pretty at 3-1, a result that few had predicted going into the season. They stumbled against a desperate Ole Missm but bounced back with a solid 10-point win over an Auburn team that just crushed Arkansas. They are quietly taking care of business.
Last Week: L vs #19 Florida (91-67), W vs Texas A&M (87-82 2OT)
Rick Barnes saved his week in double overtime against a tough Aggies team. After getting run off the floor by Florida, the Vols showed serious grit to survive Texas A&M. Nate Ament and the defense did just enough to avoid a home court disaster and get back to .500 in league play.
Last Week: W vs #13 Alabama (92-88), W vs #10 Vanderbilt (80-64)
One of the biggest risers of the week, and honestly, I had a hard time keeping them this low. Sean Miller’s team looked dead in the water at 0-2, then they went out and beat two Top 15 teams in four days. Jordan Pope dropped 28 on Bama. Do not let the record fool you; the Longhorns have finally woken up.
Last Week: W vs Mississippi State (92-68), W vs LSU (75-74)
What a week for Mark Pope. After a 0-2 start, they returned to Rupp Arena and absolutely destroyed Mississippi State by 24 points in a 2nd half turnaround, a theme of this team. Then, they survived a scare in Baton Rouge with a buzzer-beating miracle from Malachi Moreno. They are back to .500, and the arrow is pointing straight up. They are heading to Knoxville for a showdown with the Vols.
Last Week: W vs Missouri (76-69), W vs #21 Georgia (97-95 OT)
Another team rising from the grave. Chris Beard rallied the troops for a huge 2-0 week. They handed Mizzou a loss and then pulled off a shocker in Athens with a buzzer-beater tip-in. Travis Perry and the Rebels are suddenly right back in the mix in the middle of the SEC.
Last Week: L vs Texas (92-88), W vs Mississippi State (97-82)
Nate Oats called other offenses "fraudulent," but his defense gave up 92 to Texas. They bounced back by torching Mississippi State for 97, but this team is incredibly volatile. If the 3-ball isn't falling, they are vulnerable.
Last Week: W vs South Carolina (75-70), L vs Ole Miss (97-95 OT)
The Dawgs are going to be a problem all year long, but they let one slip away against Ole Miss. Jeremiah Wilkinson dropped 32, but giving up a tip-in at the buzzer to lose at home stings. They fall to the middle of the pack at 2-2.
Last Week: L vs Kentucky (92-68), L vs #18 Alabama (97-82)
A nightmare week for Chris Jans after a 6-game winning streak. They went to Lexington and got run out of the building, losing by 24, and then gave up 97 points to Alabama. They surrendered 189 points in two games. The defense has vanished just when it looked like the Bulldogs had turned it around.
Last Week: W vs #15 Arkansas (95-73), L vs Missouri (84-74)
They finally got on the board with a massive blowout of Arkansas, and maybe the best 10-7 team in the country. Keyshawn Hall went for 32, but they followed it up with a loss to Mizzou. At 1-3, they are digging out of a hole, but that win over the Hogs showed the potential is there. Now they have to do it again.
Last Week: L vs #18 Georgia (75-70), L vs #17 Arkansas (108-74)
Cocky had another rough week going up against two ranked teams. They competed with Georgia but got absolutely nuked by Arkansas in a game that wasn't really that close. The defense that was their calling card has vanished, and Lamont Paris has his work cut out for him.
Last Week: L vs Texas A&M (83-76), L vs #19 Florida (96-79)
A rough week for the Sooners and embattled coach Porter Moser. They battled A&M but got crushed by Florida, losing both games. Moser needs to find some offense quickly, or this season is going to slip away fast, and he may be out of a job.
Last Week: L vs #11 Vanderbilt (84-73), L vs Kentucky (75-74)
The only winless team left in the league, and their best player, Dedan Thomas, remains day-to-day. They played Vandy tough and had Kentucky beaten until the final second. It is heartbreak city in Baton Rouge right now. They have talent, but they simply cannot close.
Keep it tuned to WBN all year long as we bring you all the action from the SEC.