Once again, Florida seems to be peaking at the perfect time.
Last year, the Gators didn’t look like a top team when February began. They had just gotten routed by 20 at Tennessee and started 5-3 in SEC play. They looked like a decent team, but not one capable of making the Final Four.
But over their final 19 games, Florida lost just once. And now the Gators are doing it again. Over their past 12 games, Florida has lost just once. They hold a two-game lead in a deep SEC and have a chance to push even further toward the top.
Here’s a look at this week’s SEC power rankings.
1. Florida Gators (21–6)
Florida had a breather week with South Carolina and Mississippi and took care of business with two double-digit wins. The Gators now project around the No. 3 seed line for the NCAA tournament. This week brings two Quad 1 opportunities, at Texas and at home against Arkansas, and a sweep could push Florida toward a No. 2 seed.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide (20–7)
Getting thumped at Florida might have been the wake-up call Alabama needed. The Crimson Tide have won six straight since their trip to Gainesville and are now trending toward a top-16 seed. If they can handle an equally hot Tennessee team this weekend in Knoxville, they will likely crack the top tier.
3. Arkansas Razorbacks (20–7)
The Razorbacks hold the head-to-head over Tennessee, so they sit above the Volunteers for now. Arkansas lost a thriller at Alabama, but John Calipari’s squad is largely where it wants to be. Now comes a huge week: Texas A&M at home, with the Aggies needing one more big win to feel safe, and Florida in Gainesville. This is a stretch where the Razorbacks will prove themselves, one way or another.
4. Tennessee Volunteers (20–7)
Sometimes the schedule giveth in the SEC. The Vols got a favorable stretch and took full advantage, beating Mississippi State, LSU, and Oklahoma before handling Vanderbilt on the road. That last one was a significant win and showed Tennessee has shrugged off its earlier struggles.
Rick Barnes’ team still has work to do to reach the top 16, but the fact Tennessee is even in range shows how far it has come.
5. Texas A&M Aggies (19–8)
The Aggies were on the “schedule taketh away” side of the equation until last week. Texas A&M picked up two solid wins and is back where it wants to be. A top-four finish in the SEC would be huge for two reasons. First, the double bye is a major advantage. Second, it reduces the chances of drawing a weaker opponent in the SEC tournament and suffering a damaging loss. As long as the Aggies avoid a misstep, they should be safe.
6. Vanderbilt Commodores (21–6)
There really aren’t bad weeks in the SEC, but Vanderbilt didn’t have a good one. The Commodores lost by a point at Missouri and by four at home to Tennessee. Those aren’t damaging losses, but they don’t help the résumé.
Vandy is still in good shape overall, but trending closer to a No. 5 or No. 6 seed. A sweep this week against Georgia and Kentucky would make a big difference.
7. Georgia Bulldogs (19–8)
Georgia basketball wins at Kentucky about as often as Georgia football loses to Kentucky. The Bulldogs snapped that drought with their first win in Lexington in 17 years, then followed it up by beating Texas at home. Georgia is trending toward another NCAA tournament appearance and could be a tough out once it gets there.
8. Kentucky Wildcats (17–10)
Things are starting to go sideways in Lexington, and there are rumblings that Mark Pope could be headed for the hot seat. Kentucky has now lost three in a row, and the Wildcats don’t have much on the résumé beyond a sweep of Tennessee.
That, along with a win over Arkansas, still has Kentucky in position to make the tournament. But sitting on the 7 or 8 line isn’t what Big Blue Nation is used to seeing. Kentucky needs to get itself together.
9. Texas Longhorns (17–10)
It’s hard to get a read on Texas right now. The Longhorns had been winning, but they hadn’t faced many strong opponents. When they finally did against Georgia, they came up 11 points short.
They get a major opportunity Wednesday with Florida coming to Austin.
10. Auburn Tigers (15–12)
If Auburn had lost to Kentucky, it would likely be on the wrong side of the bubble right now. As it stands, the Tigers are barely in the field. They had dropped five straight before that game, which raised real questions about Steven Pearl’s job status. The win helps, but Auburn still has plenty of work to do.
11. Missouri Tigers (18–9)
Missouri missed a big opportunity with the loss at Arkansas. The Tigers are still in the mix, but they need at least one more quality win before the SEC tournament.
They have four Quad 1 or Quad 2 chances remaining and need to capitalize, starting Tuesday against Tennessee.
12. South Carolina Gamecocks (12–15)
South Carolina’s home win over Mississippi might end up being its last of the season. The Gamecocks simply haven’t been good enough, and the record reflects it. They played better this past week, but the hole they’ve dug is far too deep.
13. Mississippi State Bulldogs (13–14)
This could be a rough finish for Mississippi State. Their remaining road trips are to the two best teams in the SEC, and their home games against Georgia and Missouri come against bubble teams in need of a win. This will likely be Chris Jans’ first losing season as a head coach.
14. Oklahoma Sooners (13–14)
Porter Moser said the Sooners’ loss to Texas A&M was the first time he had been “pissed” with his team’s performance. Oklahoma fans would argue that moment should have come when the Sooners dropped nine straight earlier this year. This situation isn’t working out, and Moser will likely exit at season’s end.
15. LSU Tigers (14–13)
The effort was better against Texas and Alabama, but LSU still dropped its fifth straight. Matt McMahon has just five SEC wins over the past two seasons, and that likely won’t be enough to earn him a fifth year in Baton Rouge.
16. Mississippi Rebels (11–16)
Make it nine straight losses for the Rebels, who have driven off a cliff this season. As good as Chris Beard has been in his first two years in Oxford, this team just hasn’t come together, and the results make that clear.
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