Conference play has started and the separation has begun between the best teams and the rest of the pack. But this year's SEC is as good as it has ever been. There are no easy wins, no matter who you are playing. Auburn found that out this weekend with a close win over the lowest-rated SEC team, South Carolina, albeit a road game.
13 of the SEC's 16 teams are ranked inside the KenPom Top 50, including four teams ranked inside the Top 10.
We are three games into SEC play for every team and we are starting to get a good indication of which teams are serious contenders for the league title and which teams are in deep trouble following a rough start to their conference schedule.
SEC Basketball Power Rankings
16. South Carolina Gamecocks: 10-6 (0-3)
The Gamecocks had a chance for a marquee win on its home floor on Saturday, but came up just short against Auburn in a three-point loss. South Carolina's lack of a difference maker at guard and its offensive struggles came back to haunt them as they managed just 23 second-half points against the Tigers.
It was a difficult stretch to open conference play with South Carolina going on the road to face Mississippi State before facing Alabama and Auburn at home back to back. This week, South Carolina goes on the road to face Vanderbilt and Oklahoma.
15. LSU Tigers: 11-5 (0-3)
LSU is off to a rough start at 0-3 in conference play with a home loss to Vanderbilt and road losses to Missouri and Ole Miss. The home loss to Vanderbilt in particular stings and likely will push the Tigers near the bottom of the SEC standings this season.
Matt McMahon had a tough rebuild ahead of him in Baton Rouge and year two isn't looking much better than year one so far. They'll host Arkansas and travel to Texas A&M this week.
14. Vanderbilt Commodores: 13-3 (1-2)
Vanderbilt has a nice record on the surface, but the 'Dores didn't play much of an out of conference schedule and its best win is over Nevada, the 61st-ranked team in KenPom. It did earn a nice road win over LSU to kick off SEC play, but Vanderbilt then lost at home to Mississippi State and on the road to Missouri.
Vanderbilt has a pair of big home games this week, hosting South Carolina and Tennessee. They probably need both to get back into NCAA Tournament consideration.
13. Arkansas Razorbacks: 11-5 (0-3)
Despite an 0-3 start to conference play, Arkansas stays ahead of Vanderbilt because the Hogs banked a non-conference win over Michigan that is far more impressive than any win on Vandy's resume. But it's probably time to hit the panic button in Fayetteville after a brutal start to conference play that probably has them on the outside looking in for the NCAA Tournament.
A road loss to Tennessee is understandable, but Arkansas dropped back-to-back home games to Ole Miss and Florida. Arkansas faces two must-win road games this week against LSU and Missouri to get back on track.
12. Texas Longhorns: 11-5 (0-3)
Texas is off to an 0-3 start in SEC play, too, but it was a rough schedule to open things up for them. They lost on the road to Texas A&M, and though they had back-to-back home games after that, it was against No. 2 Auburn and No. 1 Tennessee. The Longhorns were competitive in both games, losing by a combined nine points.
Unfortunately, Texas now has consecutive road games ahead of them, traveling to Oklahoma and Florida. The 'Horns will have to get one of those to avoid an 0-5 start in SEC play.
11. Oklahoma Sooners: 13-3 (0-3)
Oklahoma is probably the toughest team to rank. They ran through non-conference with a 13-0 record and earned wins over Arizona, Louisville, and Michigan on neutral floors. But they're 0-3 in the SEC, losing road games to Alabama and Georgia, and blowing an 18-point lead and losing at home to Texas A&M.
They get two home games this week against Texas and South Carolina. Porter Moser's club needs to win both to get back on track.
10. Missouri Tigers: 13-3 (2-1)
Missouri is 2-1 to start SEC play. They lost on the road to Auburn before winning home games against LSU and Vanderbilt. Missouri's three losses are all against teams ranked higher than them in KenPom, and they earned a big win over Kansas in non-conference play.
Missouri has a tough road tilt against Florida and a home matchup with Arkansas this week.
9. Georgia Bulldogs: 14-2 (2-1)
Mike White has done an excellent job with Georgia and the Bulldogs are off to a 2-1 start in the SEC. They lost on the road to Ole Miss but scored double-digit home wins over Kentucky and Oklahoma this week. They also got a neutral site win over St. John's during their non-conference schedule and are comfortably in the NCAA Tournament field at this moment.
It'll be a tough week for Georgia ahead as they travel to Tennessee and host Auburn. If they can win one of those games, the Bulldogs will be in really good shape.
8. Mississippi State Bulldogs: 14-2 (2-1)
Mississippi State just missed a 3-0 start to league play with a close home loss to Kentucky on Saturday. The Bulldogs blew out South Carolina at home and went on the road and beat Vanderbilt in its first two SEC games. They beat three Top 50 teams in non-conference: SMU, Pitt, and Memphis.
Chris Jans-coached teams are never fun to play, and they'll muddy the waters against anyone. This week they go to Auburn and host Ole Miss.
7. Texas A&M Aggies: 13-3 (2-1)
The Aggies were without Wade Taylor IV in its last two games. They went on the road and beat Oklahoma and then lost a close home game to Alabama. It was hard not to be impressed with how they played without their star, and they figure to be a factor in the SEC race.
This week, they go to Kentucky and then host LSU.
6. Ole Miss Rebels: 14-2 (3-0)
Ole Miss is one of three teams that are 3-0 in SEC play, but they've had an easier start to league play than most. The Rebels beat Georgia and LSU at home and beat Arkansas on the road. This week will tell the tale for Chris Beard's squad and whether or not they are real contenders for the league title.
Ole Miss has back-to-back road games coming up, traveling to face Alabama on Tuesday before a rivalry matchup in Starkville against Mississippi State.
5. Tennessee Volunteers: 15-1 (2-1)
This might be an odd ranking for some considering Tennessee entered the week as the No. 1 team in both polls and have only one loss. But that one loss was eye-opening and was a microcosm of some offensive issues that always seem to creep up on Rick Barnes-coached teams.
The Vols were blown out by 30 on the road against Florida. That was sandwiched around a home win over Arkansas and then a tight road win over Texas. Tennessee will almost certainly be contenders for the league title, but I do worry about their offense when it counts. They get Georgia at home and Vanderbilt on the road this week.
4. Kentucky Wildcats: 13-3 (2-1)
Kentucky has one of the best offensive teams in the country and they overwhelmed one of the better defenses on Saturday when they scored 95 points in a road win over Mississippi State on Saturday. They might have lost on the road to Georgia, but Kentucky has two really impressive wins in the league: knocking off Mississippi State on the road and beating Florida at home.
Kentucky has a pair of tough opponents this week, but get both at Rupp Arena with Texas A&M and Alabama traveling to Lexington.
3. Florida Gators: 15-1 (2-1)
Florida looks like a legitimate national title contender and scored one of the most impressive wins of the season when they blew out Tennessee in Gainesville last week. Their one SEC loss was on the road against Kentucky, but they also scored a road win over Arkansas.
Florida has a pair of winnable home games this week with Missouri and Texas coming to town.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide: 14-2 (3-0)
Alabama is off to a 3-0 start in SEC play following an impressive road win over No. 10 Texas A&M on Saturday. It was Alabama's second straight SEC road win following a blowout of South Carolina in Columbia. The Tide handed Oklahoma its first loss of the season with a 28-point win in Tuscaloosa in its first SEC game of the season.
Alabama played one of the toughest schedules in the non-conference and was battle-tested and ready for the opening of league play. The Crimson Tide is starting to hit its stride and has another important week ahead with a home game against Ole Miss and a road trip to Kentucky.
1. Auburn Tigers: 15-1 (3-0)
The big concern for Auburn is the injury to star big man Johni Broome, who suffered an ankle sprain in the Tigers' road win over South Carolina. Auburn is deep enough to withstand the injury for a period of time, but their ceiling is much lower without him.
Auburn will host Mississippi State on Tuesday before traveling to Georgia on Saturday.