As the 2024-2025 SEC basketball regular season concludes and the SEC Tournament is in full swing in Nashville, it’s time to break down the most impressive wins and crushing losses for each of the 16 teams. From stunning upsets to inexplicable collapses, this season has had it all. Here’s a look at the defining moments for every squad, with a special focus on the Kentucky Wildcats under first-year head coach Mark Pope.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Best Win: @ #1Auburn – Alabama handed top-ranked Auburn a rare overtime loss, 93-91, showcasing their resilience and Mark Sears’ clutch scoring.
Worst Loss: #23 Oregon – A 2 point misstep early in the season proved to be the worst loss Alabama would take all year long.
Arkansas Razorbacks
Best Win: vs #15 Missouri – John Calipari’s squad stunned Missouri 92-85 at Bud Walton Arena, using the home crowd's energy to topple a top-15 opponent.
Worst Loss: @ South Carolina – A lethargic 72-53 road defeat to the Gamecocks raised questions about Arkansas’ focus and ability to make the tournament.
Auburn Tigers
Best Win: #4 Houston – Auburn’s early season was a juggernaut of a team rolling through ranked oppenents and none bigger than Houston.
Worst Loss: at Texas A&M (March 2025) – A 83-72 upset by the Aggies marked their worst defensive showing since December and knocked them off the top spot after the loss to Bama.
Florida Gators
Best Win: at Auburn – Florida’s 90-81 road win over No. 1 Auburn was one of the season’s biggest surprises.
Worst Loss: at Georgia– A brutal 5 point loss to Georgia showcased Florida’s inconsistent defense.
Georgia Bulldogs
Best Win: #23 St Johns- A 66-63 early season win helps the Bulldogs when looking for a reason they should get an at-large bid even with last night's loss.
Worst Loss: Oklahoma- The opening round SEC tournament loss is probably the worst one Georgia has suffered, and that's not a bad loss.
Kentucky Wildcats
Best Win: #6 Duke- The early season surprise showed the Wildcats were for real. Many people remember Mark Pope discussing the Cooper Flag spin move before 2 straight turnovers, but seldom remember the offensive effort that brought them back. There was a plethora of wins to choose from though.
Worst Loss: vs. Ohio State – The Wildcats were embarrassed 85-65 by Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden. Nothing went right and nearly everything went wrong for the Cats in a brutal showing.
Kentucky finished the regular season at 21-10 (10-8 SEC) after a 91-83 road win at Missouri. Pope’s squad earned a No. 6 seed in the SEC Tournament, with ESPN’s Bracketology projecting them as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky will play Oklahoma later tonight.
LSU Tigers
Best Win: @Oklahoma- A surprise road win sparked a brief surge for the Tigers but they never could find their footing.
Worst Loss: Pittsburgh- The Panthers showed the fault in the blueprint for the Tigers early in the season.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Best Win: Texas A&M- A beatdown of the Aggies 70-54 is by far the best win MSU has had this season, and it shows how dangerous of a team they can be.
Worst Loss: Butler – An early season loss to a team that finished under .500 is a big blemish on the Bulldogs.
Missouri Tigers
Best Win: vs. Florida- An 83-82 classic at Missouri Arena was the Tigers showing they were indeed for real.
Worst Loss: Illinois- An 80-77 loss to the Illini is the worst loss for the Tigers.
Oklahoma Sooners
Best Win: Missouri- A 96 point outburst helped lift the Sooners back in to NCAA contention.
Worst Loss: LSU- A 3 point loss to one of the bottom teams in the SEC is a big time loss for a team on the bubble.
Ole Miss Rebels
Best Win: @Alabama- A road win over a top 5 opponent in conference was a big boon for the Rebels.
Worst Loss: Memphis- A 87-70 beatown from the Tigers was the worst loss of the year.
South Carolina Gamecocks
Best Win: Clemson- An in-state rivalry win over a ranked ACC team was having the Gamecocks dream of the tourney.
Worst Loss: at LSU- A road loss to fellow bottom dweller LSU was bad, but the fact that it was 14 points was worse.
Tennessee Volunteers
Best Win: vs. Florida- A 20 point win in Knoxville over the Gators was the highlight of the SEC season for the Vols.
Worst Loss: at at Vanderbilt- A 1 point loss to in-state rival Vandy was the worst loss the Vols had all year.
Texas Longhorns
Best Win: vs. Kentucky – Texas outlasted Kentucky 82-78 in Austin, exploiting the Wildcats’ injury woes.
Worst Loss: @ South Carolina- A 15 point loss to the Gamecocks came at the wrong time for the Longhorns.
Texas A&M Aggies
Best Win: vs. Auburn– A 83-72 upset of Auburn was Texas A&M’s crowning moment.
Worst Loss: @ UCF- A rare non conference loss for the SEC as the Aggies lost their season opener to UCF.
Vanderbilt Commodores
Best Win: vs. Tennessee (January 25, 2025) – A thrilling one point upset of Tennessee brought the Memorial Gymnasium crowd to its feet and the floor.
Worst Loss: vs Drake- A home loss to a non-SEC team will be the worst loss for most of the SEC as it was for the Commodores.
Closing Thoughts
The 2024-2025 SEC season has been a rollercoaster of memorable victories and crushing defeats. As the SEC Tournament continues in Nashville, teams are battling to turn their seasons’ high points into something more lasting. Kentucky’s wild ride under Mark Pope exemplifies the excitement and unpredictability of SEC basketball.