Alabama Basketball: Pre-SEC Tournament Power Rankings
By Ronald Evans
No. 10 (also 10-seed) – Georgia Bulldogs
The Dawgs have a tremendous player in Sahvir Wheeler. He is listed generously at 5-feet-10 and might the best small guy in college basketball. His best skill is penetration, but as Alabama basketball defenders showed Saturday, he is stoppable. The Bulldogs have enough other talents to win against higher-rated teams. They beat Missouri and LSU in February. They draw Missouri again in Nashville.
No. 9 (also 9-seed) – Mississippi State Bulldogs
The early game Thursday in Nashville should be interesting. The Bulldogs have not beaten a top team since knocking off Florida in mid-January. They are not facing a top team in their first SEC Tournament game, but they are facing an always-talented Kentucky Wildcats roster. The Bulldogs will try to control the pace against the Wildcats.
No. 8 (also 8-seed) – Kentucky Wildcats
Short of winning the SEC Tournament, the Wildcats will not be in the Big Dance. After a horrific start, the Wildcats have staged a mini-comeback. They are 4-2 since mid-February and one of the losses was close to the Florida Gators. John Calipari has the player talent to work with, but this season the talent has not matured into a consistent team.
No. 7 (also 7-seed) – Missouri Tigers
Alabama basketball fans were disappointed with the Tigers beating the Tide in early February. Since that game, Missouri has been a perplexing team. Their capable big man, Jeremiah Tilmon missed a few games due to injury. The Tigers have been inconsistent since his return.
No. 6 (also 6-seed) – Ole Miss
Ole Miss has won seven of its last nine games. Kermit Davis’ team has been close to the NCAA Tournament ‘Bubble’ for a month. Ole Miss opens with South Carolina in Nashville and should advance.