Alabama Basketball: SEC Hoops headed in right direction and not

Alabama Basketball and nine other SEC teams have played two conference games. Four SEC basketball teams have played just one conference game. Despite the fact it is WAY too early to predict any end-of-season outcomes, predictions are available in abundance.

I could do the same in this post, but instead, not yet 40% into the 2022-23 Alabama Basketball season, let’s consider which SEC teams are heading in the right direction and which ones are not.

Based on a framework that follows the NCAA NET rankings, the 14 SEC basketball teams are placed in four tiers. The tiers are: Top Teams; Potentially Top Teams; In the Middle Teams and Maybe in for a Long Season Teams.

A summary of the NCCA’s NET Rankings calculations is available here. Basically, tracking a team’s season is primarily a byproduct of the number of Quad 1 wins, balanced against Quad 3 and Quad 4 losses.

Alabama Basketball and other SEC Top Teams

• Alabama Crimson Tide 12-2 (2-0 in SEC); NET Ranking No. 8; Division One Strength of Schedule (SOS, as calculated by RPI), No. 2; three Quad 1 wins; zero Quad 3 or Quad 4 losses
• Tennessee Vols 12-2 (2-0); NET Ranking No. 2; SOS No. 14; one Quad 1 win; zero Quad 3 and Quad 4 losses
• Arkansas Razorbacks 12-2 (1-1); NET Ranking No. 10; one Quad 1 win; zero Quad 3 and Quad 4 losses

Potentially Top SEC Teams

• Kentucky Wildcats 10-4 (1-1); NET Ranking No. 36; SOS No. 82; zero Quad 1 wins and zero Quad 3 or Quad 4 losses
• Missouri Tigers 12-2 (1-1); NET Ranking No. 32; SOS No. 98; two Quad 1 wins; zero Quad 3 or Quad 4 losses
• LSU Bengal Tigers 12-2 (1-1); NET Ranking No. 80; SOS No. 161; one Quad 1 win; zero Quad 2 or Quad 3 losses

In the Middle SEC Teams

• Auburn Tigers 11-3 (1-1); NET Ranking No. 48; SOS; zero Quad 1 wins; zero Quad 2 or Quad 3 losses
• Mississippi State Bulldogs 11-3 (0-2); NET Ranking No. 46; SOS No. 178; two Quad 1 wins; one Quad 3 loss and zero Quad 4 losses

Maybe in for a long season SEC Teams

• Florida Gators 7-7 (0-2); NET Ranking No. 75; SOS No. 44; zero Quad 1 wins; one Quad 3 loss and zero Quad 4 losses
• Texas A&M Aggies 9-5 (1-0); NET Ranking No. 92; SOS No. 177; one Quad 1 win; one Quad 3 loss and one Quad 4 loss
• Ole Miss Rebels 8-6 (0-0); NET Ranking No. 93; SOS No. 17; one Quad 1 win; zero Quad 3 losses and one Quad 4 loss
• Georgia Bulldogs 11-3 (1-0); NET Ranking No. 106; SIS No. 230; zero Quad 1 wins; zero Quad 3 losses and zero Quad 4 losses
• Vanderbilt Commodores 8-6 (1-0); NET Ranking No. 116; SOS No. 70; zero Quad 1 wins; zero Quad 3 losses and one Quad 4 loss
• South Carolina Gamecocks 7-7 (0-1); NET Ranking No. 255; SOS No. 213; zero Quad 1 wins; five Quad 3 losses and zero Quad 4 losses

Note: Data was provided by warrennolan.com

Auburn fans will bristle at the Tigers being placed in the ‘middle’ of the SEC pack. Auburn hosting Arkansas on Saturday will be an indicator of whether the Tigers deserve to be grouped higher.