The SEC continues to be the preeminent conference in college basketball this season. There are no easy games in this league and Alabama is currently in the midst of a stretch that is as difficult as it gets.
Alabama recovered from a two-game losing streak by finishing off a season sweep of Kentucky in Coleman Coliseum on Thursday night, but was that enough to stay in second place in this week's power rankings? Or has a surging Florida squad caught up and surpassed the Crimson Tide?
SEC Basketball Power Rankings:
16. South Carolina Gamecocks: 11-16 (1-13)
You have to feel good for South Carolina finally earning the win that had escaped them. The Gamecocks lost their first 13 games in SEC play before finally getting a win on Saturday at home over Texas. They had been competitive, losing one possession games to Auburn, Vanderbilt, and Florida. They also lost by five or less to Mississippi State, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss. They just couldn't win the close games. The key on Saturday is it wasn't close as South Carolina beat Texas by 15.
They'll go to Missouri in the mid-week game and then host Arkansas next weekend.
15. LSU Tigers: 14-13 (3-11)
LSU has been playing much better basketball recently and hosted Florida on Saturday riding a two-game winning streak, which included just its second road win of the season when it knocked off Oklahoma in Norman.
The Tigers battled against the Gators and actually led by six at halftime. Florida was overwhelming in the second-half, outscoring LSU 48-28 to win by 14. Still, recent results have been encouraging for Matt McMahon's team. They'll look to carry that over in the coming week at home against Tennessee and on the road at Mississippi State.
14. Georgia Bulldogs: 16-11 (4-10)
Georgia had a week off, skipping the mid-week game this week, and sorely needed a win on Saturday. Unfortunately, they had to travel to Auburn to try and get it. The Bulldogs played well, but came up short at Neville, losing by 12. Mike White's team has now lost four games in a row and five of their last six and their NCAA Tournament hopes are tenuous at best. They've got to win some games.
Unfortunately, there's no gimme games in the SEC this year. The Bulldogs draw Florida at home on Tuesday and then travel to Austin on Saturday in what could be a bubble-bursting matchup with the Longhorns.
13. Oklahoma Sooners: 17-10 (4-10)
Speaking of a team sorely needing a win, Oklahoma came into Saturday's matchup at home against Mississippi State as the first team out of Joe Lunardi's latest bracketology. Beating the Bulldogs may have put the Sooners back on the right side of the bubble. It snapped a five-game losing streak and allowed Porter Moser's team to gain some much-needed momentum.
Oklahoma has a big game at home against Kentucky on Wednesday and then travels to Ole Miss next weekend.
12. Texas Longhorns: 16-11 (5-9)
Texas came into the week as one of the last four byes according to Lunardi in the aftermath of a crucial home win over Kentucky last Saturday. They could ill-afford a Quad 2 loss against South Carolina, but the Longhorns were beaten soundly by a previously winless in the SEC Gamecocks. South Carolina isn't as bad as their record would indicate, but for a team on the bubble, it was not a game Texas could afford to lose.
Texas goes to Arkansas in the mid-week next week before hosting Georgia next Saturday.
11. Arkansas Razorbacks: 16-11 (5-9)
After an 0-5 start in SEC play, Arkansas has played much better basketball and came into Saturday's games as one of the last four teams in the tournament according to Joe Lunardi. John Calipari's bunch played competitively in a road loss at Auburn in the mid-week and then earned a key win at home against Missouri on Saturday.
The Hogs have nothing but winnable games left on the schedule. They finish vs. Texas, at South Carolina, at Vanderbilt, and vs. Mississippi State. A 2-2 mark would probably be enough to ensure an NCAA Tournament bid.
10. Vanderbilt Commodores: 18-9 (6-8)
Vanderbilt broke a three-game losing streak on Saturday with a needed home win over Ole Miss. The 'Dores had endured a difficult three-game stretch with a home game against Auburn and then back-to-back on the road at Tennessee and Kentucky. A lot of teams would have exited that stretch winless.
Vanderbilt travels to College Station on Wednesday before taking on Missouri at home next weekend.
9. Ole Miss Rebels: 19-8 (8-6)
Ole Miss had a week off, skipping the mid-week game following a loss to Mississippi State last weekend. It didn't help much as they fell by five on the road at Vanderbilt on Saturday for their second straight loss.
The Rebels have a mid-week game at Auburn on Wednesday and then battle Oklahoma at home on Saturday.
8. Mississippi State Bulldogs: 19-8 (7-7)
Mississippi State earned an impressive 70-54 home win over Texas A&M in the mid-week matchup, but struggled on the road and dropped a winnable road game in Norman to Oklahoma. The Bulldogs haven't been as good as you would typically expect defensively for a Chris Jans coached team, and taht was evident in allowing 93 points to the Sooners.
Mississippi State goes to Alabama on Tuesday before a manageable end of their schedule: vs. LSU, vs. Texas, and at Arkansas.
7. Kentucky Wildcats: 18-9 (7-7)
The injuries have piled up for Kentucky. They're playing without Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson, who have joined Kerr Kriisa on the injury report. They still managed an impressive 21-point home win over Vanderbilt on Wednesday, but didn't have enough firepower to knock off Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.
Kentucky travels to Oklahoma next before a big opportunity awaits it next Saturday in Lexington against No. 1 Auburn.
6. Texas A&M Aggies: 20-7 (9-5)
Texas A&M entered the week on a five-game winning streak, but they struggled offensively and mustered only 54 points in a road loss at Mississippi State on Tuesday and then lost at home on Saturday to Tennessee.
The Aggies need a win at home on Wednesday against Vanderbilt to keep their double-bye hopes alive for the SEC Tournament. They face Florida on the road and Auburn at home back-to-back following that.
5. Missouri Tigers: 20-7 (9-5)
Missouri might have lost on the road at Arkansas on Saturday, but it was still a big week for the Tigers as they scored an upset over Alabama in CoMo on Wednesday night. Missouri showed itself as a legit contender by downing the Crimson Tide and scoring 110 points in the process.
Missouri has a favorable schedule down the stretch: vs. South Carolina, at Vanderbilt, at Oklahoma, vs. Kentucky.
4. Tennessee Volunteers: 22-5 (9-5)
Tennessee was well rested from a week off and earned a big road win on Saturday in College Station over Texas A&M. The Volunteers remain a top contender for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and they're a tough out for anyone with the way they defend.
The Vols travel to LSU on Tuesday before welcoming Alabama to Knoxville next Saturday in a big-time matchup.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide: 22-5 (11-3)
Alabama's defensive struggles were on full display on Wednesday as they lost a game by double digits despite scoring 98 points. It's the defensive issues that produce fair questions about the Crimson Tide's viability as a legitimate contender for a national title. They bounced back nicely and played a (mostly) good defensive game against a powerful Kentucky offense, completing a season sweep of Mark Pope's Wildcats.
Alabama faces another "must-win" game on Tuesday at home against Mississippi State and then finishes the season with a ridiculous three-game stretch of at Tennessee, vs. Florida, and at Auburn.
2. Florida Gators: 24-3 (11-3)
I'm not convinced Florida isn't the best team in the nation right now. The Gators are playing as good as anyone. Following a 20-point road loss to Tennessee, Todd Golden's squad bounced back and have now won six in a row. That includes a road win at Auburn, and this week two double-digit wins over Oklahoma and LSU.
Florida goes to Georgia in the mid-week game and then hosts Texas A&M next Saturday.
1. Auburn Tigers: 25-2 (13-1)
Auburn hasn't looked its best in the two games since beating Alabama on the road. They struggled to a seven-point home win over Arkansas before sleepwalking through an 82-70 win over Georgia at home on Saturday.
The Tigers get one more game at home on Wednesday against Ole Miss before a difficult two-game road trip at Kentucky and Texas A&M in a four-day stretch. Fortunately for Bruce Pearl and his team, they have a big margin for error.