Alabama Basketball: SEC standings shakeup and Big 12 Saturday

For Alabama Basketball and nine other SEC teams, the regular season is nearly split in half with Saturday’s SEC vs. Big 12 challenge. Going into the final year of the event, the Big 12 leads with a 48-41 record. The SEC has won the last two years.

There are more details on the challenge below, but first, let’s review how all 14 SEC teams are fairing at the almost midpoint of the SEC regular season.

Except for one game, the Tuesday and Wednesday slate of SEC games saw favorites win. The one exception delighted Alabama basketball fans with the Auburn Tigers losing at home to Texas A&M. The Aggies’ road win was a resounding 79-63 defeat for Bruce Pearl’s team.

After the Wednesday night upset on the Plains, it is hard to call Auburn one of the SEC’s top four teams. Auburn plummeted in the NET rankings, after the loss, dropping from No. 23 to No. 33.

SEC Basketball Standings and NET Rankings

• Alabama Crimson Tide; 18-2 Overall, 8-0 in SEC; NET rank, No. 3
• Tennessee Vols; 17-3, 7-1; NET No. 2
• Texas A&M Aggies; 14-6, 6-1; NET No. 43
• Auburn Tigers; 16-4, 6-2; NET No. 33
• Kentucky Wildcats; 14-6. 5-3; NET No. 32
• Florida Gators; 12-8, 5-3; NET No. 46
• Georgia Bulldogs; 13-7, 3-4; NET No. 111
• Vanderbilt Commodores; 10-10, 3-4; NET No. 92
• Arkansas Razorbacks; 14-6, 3-5; NET No. 26
• Missouri Tigers; 15-5, 4-5; NET No. 49
• South Carolina Gamecocks; 8-12, 1-6; NET No. 278
• Mississippi State Bulldogs; 12-8, 1-7; NET No. 59
• LSU Bengal Tigers; 12-8, 1-7; NET No. 133
• Ole Miss Rebels; 9-11, 1-7; NET No. 115

Note: All the Challenge games are on an ESPN channel.

See all the current NCAA NET rankings here.

The top half of the SEC, led by Alabama Basketball and Tennessee is pretty strong. The bottom half is so weak, a fair conclusion is overall the SEC is down this season.

An SEC split with the Big 12 on Saturday would be a pleasant surprise. It is possible SEC teams will win four, and maybe just three of the games.

SEC vs. Big 12 Challenge Saturday Schedule

• Auburn at West Virginia – 11:00 AM
• Alabama at Oklahoma – 1:00 PM
• Iowa State at Missouri – 1:00 PM
• Texas Tech at LSU – 1:00 PM
• TCU at Mississippi State – 3:00 PM
• Arkansas at Baylor – 3:00 PM
• Texas at Tennessee – 5:00 PM
• Florida at Kansas State – 5:00 PM
• Kansas at Kentucky – 7:00 PM
• Ole Miss at Oklahoma State – 7:00 PM

Also on Saturday, South Carolina plays at Georgia and Vanderbilt will be in College Station to take on the hot Texas A&M Aggies.

Wednesday night’s close Alabama Basketball win over Mississippi State was an example that never in a college basketball game is a win guaranteed. Even so, it would shock the college basketball world for Mississippi State to upset TCU on Saturday. The Horned Frogs are one of Jamie Dixon’s best-ever teams. Alabama is favored to win over the Sooners, but it is far from a lock.