SEC Basketball Power Rankings: A new No. 1, LSU beats Arkansas, Mizzou dominates Kentucky

SEC play has formally begun!

Of the 14 groups, 10 have performed their convention openers, whereas the opposite 4 groups (Texas A&M, Georgia, South Carolina and Vanderbilt) will open SEC motion on both Tuesday or Wednesday evening.

The primary league motion was fascinating, with LSU beating Arkansas, Mizzou thumping Kentucky and far more.

So how did that influence our weekly energy rankings? Listed below are our first rankings of all 14 SEC males’s hoops groups of the 2023 calendar yr:

14. Vanderbilt (7-6 general, 0-0 in SEC, Final week: 14)

It feels unusual to say this, however Tuesday evening’s sport in Nashville between South Carolina and Vanderbilt is must-see TV. If the Commodores can’t win this one, they won’t win an SEC sport all yr. After Tuesday evening’s house sport, the Commodores go to No. 20 Mizzou and No. 8 Tennessee. Then, house video games towards No. 13 Arkansas and No. 7 Alabama await. Brutal.

13. South Carolina (7-6, 0-0, LW: 13)

Can South Carolina begin SEC play with a bang? As talked about above, the Gamecocks head to Nashville on Tuesday evening to tackle the Commodores in a sport that might resolve the worst group within the convention. GG Jackson might want to have an enormous evening to win on the highway. We’ll see what occurs for the Gamecocks, however this is able to be a very nice win to construct confidence shifting ahead.

12. Ole Miss (8-5, 0-1, LW: 12)

Ole Miss performed nice protection and led by 6 towards Tennessee at halftime within the SEC opener, however issues went south within the second half of the Rebels’ 63-59 loss. Ole Miss made solely 37.3% of its photographs from the ground, regardless that Jaemyn Brakefield’s 18-point effort was a brilliant spot. Matthew Murrell went 1-for-11 from the ground, and that damage the Rebels in an enormous means. We’ll see if they’ll get their main scorer going at Alabama on Tuesday evening.

11. Florida (7-6, 0-1, LW: 11)

It’s loopy to suppose that the second sport in SEC play might be a must-win contest, however that’s mainly the place the Gators are at this level. They’ll host Texas A&M on Wednesday evening, and falling to 0-2 in league motion after an unsightly loss at Auburn final week gained’t sit nicely with followers. The Gators made solely 3 of their 19 3-point makes an attempt (15.8%) towards the Tigers. If they’ll’t shoot the deep ball extra constantly, they’re not going to win many video games, even when Colin Castleton has a superb evening.

10. Kentucky (9-4, 0-1, LW: 9)

Lastly, the Kentucky Wildcats aren’t ranked within the AP Ballot. Primarily based on outcomes this season, this group shouldn’t have been within the prime 25 for a few weeks now. After a blowout loss at Mizzou to open SEC play, voters lastly seemed previous the identify on the entrance of the jersey and dropped the Wildcats out of the highest 25. Will this spark John Calipari to make some much-needed modifications to Kentucky’s offense? Primarily based on latest historical past, most likely not. And that’s solely going to harm the Wildcats shifting ahead. There’s loads of expertise on this roster, however a brand new offensive system is required to unlock Kentucky’s full potential.

9. Texas A&M (8-5, 0-0, LW: 10)

Texas A&M heads to Gainesville to play a determined Florida group (as talked about above) to start out SEC play on Wednesday evening. This can be a huge probability for Buzz Williams and firm to make an announcement and rating a highway win in convention play towards a struggling Gators squad. Perimeter protection goes to be a key to this sport. If the Aggies can hold Florida’s 3-point struggles going, they’ll have an amazing probability to win.

8. Georgia (10-3, 0-0, LW: 8)

Ought to the Bulldogs actually be No. 8 in these rankings? I don’t know. Perhaps I’m simply impressed with the job Mike White has already accomplished at Georgia, digging this program out of unimaginable depths. Nonetheless, the Dawgs haven’t actually overwhelmed anybody of word exterior of Notre Dame. That’ll change this week, as they play No. 22 Auburn in Athens on Wednesday evening. Auburn has seemed flawed at instances this yr, so it’s an enormous sport for Georgia!

7. Mississippi State (11-2, 0-1, LW: 7)

I gained’t overreact an excessive amount of to Mississippi State’s SEC-opening loss to an elite Alabama group, however I do must see extra from the Bulldogs’ protection, and shortly. Going to Knoxville for a sport towards No. 8 Tennessee on Tuesday evening seems powerful on paper, however the Vols’ offense has additionally been susceptible to struggles at instances. All I do know is that I’ll be betting the underneath for whole factors within the Mississippi State-Tennessee sport. Anticipate a rock struggle on Rocky High.

6. Auburn (11-2, 1-0, LW: 6)

Auburn didn’t look nice towards Florida to open SEC play, however a win is a win, even if you happen to shoot 3-for-14 (21.4%) from 3-point vary. Wendell Inexperienced Jr. and Johni Broome each had 14 factors, although, as they proceed to develop as group leaders. A highway journey to Georgia on Wednesday evening gained’t be as straightforward because it has been in years previous, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a sport the Tigers ought to win forward of a Saturday house sport towards No. 13 Arkansas.

5. Arkansas (11-2, 0-1, LW: 1)

Arkansas could have had a setback at LSU to open SEC play, however that is nonetheless a harmful group. Don’t count on the Hogs to go 4-for-25 (16%) from 3-point vary fairly often. It’s price noting that the Razorbacks began SEC play 0-3 final yr earlier than roaring again and occurring one other spectacular NCAA Event run. Don’t rely Eric Musselman’s group out but! Getting star freshman Nick Smith Jr. again from an harm quickly will likely be essential.

4. Mizzou (12-1, 1-0, LW: 4)

The Recreation of the Week within the SEC is probably going the Tigers’ Wednesday evening showdown towards rival Arkansas in Fayetteville. Successful at Bud Walton is not any straightforward activity, however the Tigers are enjoying some assured basketball proper now. If Arkansas can’t decelerate Kobe Brown, who has scored 61 factors mixed in his previous 2 video games towards Illinois and Kentucky, Mizzou might hold the nice instances going. Irrespective of who wins this one, although, the two faculties will meet once more in Columbia on Jan. 18.

3. LSU (12-1, 1-0, LW: 5)

LSU didn’t face the hardest nonconference schedule, so many have been hesitant concerning the Tigers’ probabilities towards Arkansas to open SEC play. Trae Hannibal and Derek Fountain stepped up, although, combining for 35 factors and 16 rebounds in LSU’s 60-57 house win. Hannibal even earned SEC Participant of the Week honors for his efforts. A win at Kentucky on Tuesday evening would get loads of folks on the LSU bandwagon shifting ahead.

2. Tennessee (11-2, 1-0, LW: 3)

The excellent news? Tennessee’s protection continues to be elite. The unhealthy information? The offense hasn’t fairly discovered its highest gear but. The Vols have time to work issues out on that finish of the ground, however Tuesday evening’s sport towards one other sturdy defensive group in Mississippi State might be a low-scoring affair. Anticipate the Vols to seek out their taking pictures stroke at South Carolina on Saturday and vs. Vanderbilt subsequent Tuesday forward of subsequent weekend’s showdown towards Kentucky on Rocky High.

1. Alabama (11-2, 1-0, LW: 2)

Alabama is again within the No. 1 spot after a convincing win at Mississippi State to start out SEC motion. Brandon Miller continues to develop right into a celebrity, recording a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double in his first ever SEC sport. Mark Sears additionally performed nicely, scoring a team-high 20 factors and making 4 of his 8 3-pointers. That is going to be a troublesome group for anybody within the SEC to cease. Ole Miss and Kentucky get the following photographs on the Crimson Tide, on Tuesday and Saturday, respectively. Each video games are in Tuscaloosa.