Here’s my first SEC basketball power rankings, and Kentucky remains the lone undefeated team as we get closer to entering conference play.
1. Kentucky, 13-0, RPI 1
Kentucky is getting closer to an undefeated season after beating #4 Louisville on the road. The Wildcats are beating opponents by an average of 27 points, to put that in perspective the 1972 UCLA Bruins (consider by most the greatest team of all time) beat teams by an average of 32 points.
2. Arkansas, 9-2, RPI 14
Two top 50 RPI wins over SMU and Dayton are looking better by the day. The Razorbacks did struggle at home against 4-6 Northwestern State on Sunday, but have been sound for the most part this week beating Milwaukee by 30.
3. LSU, 9-2, RPI 22
The Tigers have won six straight since losing to Clemson on November 24 and that streak should continue with their next three games coming against Southern Miss, Savannah State, and Missouri.
4. Alabama, 9-3, RPI 42
Alabama beat UCLA on Sunday to win their third straight game. They did struggle against Appalachian State, beating them by one at home. Alabama doesn’t have a bad lose yet and could be a real player in conference play this season.
5. Georgia, 7-3, RPI 21
Georgia improved their RPI by beating Seton Hall last week, but went to triple overtime against 6-7 Mercer, winning the game 86-77.
6. Ole Miss, 8-3, RPI 71
Ole Miss most credible win came against Creighton, who isn’t the same team they’ve been the last few years. The Rebels will have an opportunity to make a statement against Dayton this week.
7. Texas A&M, 7-3, RPI 59
Texas A&M has lost two of their last three and needs a quality win if they want to have a chance at playing in March Madness.
8. Vanderbilt, 8-3, RPI 106
Vanderbilt has lost all three games by less than five points this season, but haven’t played against any impressive competition. The Commodores will need more than a few upsets to have any chance at the tourney.
9. South Carolina, 7-3, RPI 82
The Gamecocks have won five straight since starting the season 2-3. They’ll get a chance to prove themselves this week when they take on #12 Iowa State.
10. Tennessee, 7-4, RPI 92
Tennessee has been great at home, but has a tough time away from Thompson-Boling Arena. The Vols are too inconsistent to be ranked higher up on my list, they can beat Butler by 12 one day and beat Tennessee Tech by three the next.
11. Florida, 7-4, RPI 103
Florida doesn’t have a bad lose yet and have looked great since losing to Kansas, but too bad all of those wins have come against weak opponents.
12. Auburn, 6-5, RPI 131
The Tigers had an impressive win over Xavier, but turned around and beat Texas Southern by one point.
13. Mississippi State, 6-5, RPI 159
The Bulldogs finally ended their five game losing streak by beating Jacksonville, congrats Bulldogs.
14. Missouri, 5-6, RPI 163
By far the worst team in the SEC, it’s hard to believe that the Tigers went 30-5 just three years ago.
