SEC Basketball Power Rankings: New Year

We have made it to 2022, which means SEC Basketball is about to get into full swing. The New Year marks the start of the real conference grind with two games a week from here on out. With just one SEC game having been played so far for Kentucky, now seemed like a great time to hit the reset on our SEC Basketball Power Rankings. What has changed since our preseason poll? Let’s find out!

Tier 1: Conference Title Contenders

1. Auburn Tigers

The most significant movement from the preseason poll comes right here in the number one spot. It is hard to not have Kentucky here with how they have played lately, but Coach Bruce Pearl and the Auburn Tigers have earned it. Freshman forward Jabari Smith is looking like he will be one of the best players in the SEC. The Tigers have plenty of depth which will only improve now that Allen Flanigan is back. Also, they just put a beatdown on LSU to begin their SEC Basketball schedule If you are being totally unbiased it is hard to not consider Auburn the Southeastern Conference favorites at this point in the season.

2. Kentucky Wildcats

What a difference a couple of weeks can make. After losing at Notre Dame there were some “here we go again” feelings throughout the Big Blue Nation. Now, after four consecutive blowout victories, the Wildcats are back on track and look like one of the best teams in the SEC. Kentucky came out of the gate with a 27-point win over Missouri and have a trip to LSU looming on Tuesday. We will learn a lot about the ‘Cats down in Baton Rouge.

3. Alabama Crimson Tide

Despite recent losses to Memphis and Davidson, there is no denying the fact that Coach Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide are legitimate contenders to win the Southeastern Conference. They have two excellent non-conference wins over Gonzaga and Houston along with a quality victory against Tennessee to start conference play. Do not sleep on Alabama and their potent backcourt of Jaden Shackelford, Jahvon Quinerly, and Keon Ellis.

Tier 2: NCAA Tournament Locks

4. Tennessee Volunteers

We were high on the Vols prior to the season and that hasn’t changed as we head into 2022. Tennessee doesn’t have a bad loss and also recently knocked off a very good Arizona team. Their five-point loss at Alabama doesn’t do much to discourage the feelings that Coach Rick Barnes and company can compete at the very top of the conference. There is a small gap between those top three teams and this tier, but that gap could continue to shrink quickly.

5. LSU Tigers

LSU was one of the most impressive teams nationally in the non-conference, putting together a perfect 12-0 record. There may not have been a lot of high-quality wins, but compared to expectations around Baton Rouge, the 12-0 start was still very impressive. The development of 6’8″ sophomore forward Tari Eason into a star alongside Darius Days gives Coach Will Wade one of the best frontcourts in the league. LSU was brought back down to earth some by losing to Auburn by 15 points, but this still is a team that is better than expected.

Tier 3: Need More Information

6. Mississippi State Bulldogs

We said in the preseason that there wasn’t enough buzz in Starkville. Coach Ben Howland has himself a good basketball team. That has proven to be true through the end of 2021 as the Bulldogs enter the new year at 10-3 with a conference win over Arkansas. Iverson Molinar and Tolu Smith give Mississippi State a legitimate inside-outside All-SEC level duo. As transfers Shakeel Moore, Garrison Brooks, and D.J. Jeffries continue to gel this could be a team that quickly moves up a tier.

7. Arkansas Razorbacks

This tier was essentially created for Arkansas. It is really hard to figure out what to make of them. On one hand, they have as much offensive firepower as anyone in the Southeastern Conference. However, on the other hand, their defense simply hasn’t been as good as they were last season. Losing three out of four games to Oklahoma, Hofstra, and Mississippi State has left us with more questions than answers when it comes to Coach Eric Musselman’s squad.

8. Florida Gators

Much like Arkansas, it is just hard to figure out what exactly Florida is this season. They began the season 6-0 with wins over Florida State, California, and Ohio State. However, they then immediately lost three of four to Oklahoma, Texas Southern, and Maryland. Their first SEC game was postponed due to Coronavirus concerns so we have to wait a little longer to learn more about the Gators. It looks like it could be an up-and-down season in Gainesville for Coach Mike White.

Tier 4: Solid Non-NCAA Tournament Team

9. Texas A&M Aggies

We called Texas A&M the sleeper of the SEC in our preseason power rankings. After beginning the season 11-2 it appears that our pick was accurate. Granted, the Aggies haven’t done anything outstanding aside from beating teams they are supposed to beat. However, wins against Butler, Notre Dame, and at Oregon State aren’t bad either. Coach Buzz Williams is getting the most out of the group. That won’t be good enough for the NCAA Tournament this season, but it should certainly keep them out of the conference cellar.

Tier 5: The Cellar

10. Vanderbilt Commodores

Yes, you are seeing this right, Vanderbilt is the best of the rest in SEC Basketball this season. They have some pretty bad performances to their name, but Scotty Pippen Jr. is one of the best players in the league and their recent win over BYU was impressive. The Commodores will be a frisky team that wins a home game or two against the better teams in the SEC while beating up on these teams below them.

11. Ole Miss Rebels

Jarkel Joiner has been a bright spot for the Rebels as he has taken a leap as a three-point shooter so far this season. You can also generally count on Coach Kermit Davis to have a top 50 defense which appears to be right about their level this year as well. If that continues to be the case, it’ll allow Ole Miss to win just enough games to not be at the very bottom of the standings.

12. South Carolina Gamecocks

Wins over Western Kentucky, UAB, and Florida State make you wonder if Coach Frank Martin’s team is better than we expected. A 9-3 non-conference record certainly is pretty impressive as well. However, this is more so a ranking based on the eye test. They aren’t as good offensively as Vanderbilt and they aren’t as good defensively or on the glass as Ole Miss. Over the course of conference play, that will keep the Gamecocks towards the bottom of the SEC standings.

13. Missouri Tigers

It isn’t going to be pretty in Columbia this season for Coach Cuonzo Martin and Missouri. They were just 6-6 in non-conference play and then lost by 27 to Kentucky to begin their SEC Basketball schedule. The Tigers are 356th nationally out of 358 Division I teams when it comes to three-point shooting. Their lack of size makes it hard for them around the basket as well. This is a team that simply won’t win many games.

14. Georgia Bulldogs

The Bulldogs somehow pulled off an upset against Memphis, but otherwise, there just aren’t many bright spots in Athens. Coach Tom Crean may not even make it through the season at this point with how things are going down there. Georgia has lost three out of four games to George Mason, East Tennessee State, and Gardner Webb. Now, as the schedule shifts to Southeastern Conference opponents, it will only get harder. The bottom of the league is bad enough that Georgia will probably get a win or two, but getting shut out of conference wins is certainly on the table.