George Bagwell gives his SEC basketball power rankings heading into week 16 of the 2023-24 season.
Matchup of the week: Kentucky vs. Alabama
Sneaky good matchup of the week: LSU vs. Mississippi State
All games listed are EST.
We’re keeping it short(er) this week due to time constraints in the writer’s availability. He sends his sincerest apologies. But this week, I will find just a little gap in between the nets to send my own thoughts onto the page in an attempt to honor Mr. Anthony Bourdain, who was all the best things of travel and food rolled into one, like a California roll. Take it as a reminder to check in on your loved ones, even the ones that seem so happy, as cliché as that sounds. Bourdain was one of a kind, but then again, everyone is, which is one of the best parts of life.
One of my favorite parts of life is SEC basketball. And, like every week, last week didn’t disappoint. Todd Golden is proving the doubters (me!) wrong, my dad got the last laugh on Twitter, Lexington owes Cal an apology and another lifetime contract, and Jerry Stackhouse is (still) inevitable while the Aggies are sliding like a cat on linoleum. Tennessee is rolling deep like Al Kapone, but they’ll need to get used to life in the fastlane. I highly doubt any of my readers are going to get that 90s hip-hop reference, but if you by chance do know what I’m talking about, treat yourself to a Krispy Kreme doughnut or something. You’ve earned it. (And I should remember not to underestimate my reader base. I love each and every one of you!)
LSU basketball is beautiful again, and poetry entwines itself into the Bayou hardwood this February. More on that later. The ‘Cocks have regrettably been quarter-zipped, Auburn is still deciding if they’re UConn or IUPUI, but the Tide is rolling and Missouri still needs a hug. Ole Miss is potentially fraudulent, and the wheels are off the Muss Bus but no one knows how to change a tire. Maybe Georgia needs a hug, too. They’re certainly trying their best, at least. Welcome to SEC Basketball Power Rankings, season 2, episode 16. (I skipped 15.)
1) Tennessee Volunteers
Last week’s ranking: 2 (+1)
Record: 19-6 (9-3)
Last week: W at Arkansas (92-63), W vs. Vanderbilt (88-53)
Next week: at Missouri (Feb. 20 – 7 p.m.), vs. Texas A&M (Feb. 24 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Kentucky, at Wisconsin, Illinois, Alabama
Bad losses: N/A
Rick Barnes’s Vols couldn’t have written a better tutorial on how to bounce back than last week. Two wins, (albeit against Arkansas and Vandy) with an average margin of victory of 32 points. That’s elite, y’all. Jonas Aidoo led the way with 23 against the Hogs, while every starter scored in double figures against Vanderbilt. Again, yes I know the difficulty of the opponent wasn’t all that, but these are the types of performances that championship teams need to be having on the doorstep of March.
In all likelihood, Tennessee will continue their winning ways this week. First, a road trip to still-winless Mizzou then a home revenge opportunity against the Aggies of Texas A&M. If last week is any indication, there’s no shortage of motivation on this team right now, and they’re 4-1 with three road wins in their last five games. It would be unwise to suggest Tennessee won’t be No. 1 in these rankings by this time next week.
2) Alabama Crimson Tide
Last week’s ranking: 4 (+2)
Record: 18-7 (10-2)
Last week: W vs. Texas A&M (100-75)
Next week: vs. #24 Florida (Feb. 21 – 7 p.m.), at #17 Kentucky (Feb. 24 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: Auburn, South Carolina, at Mississippi State, Indiana State
Bad losses: Ohio State
The Tide had just one game last week, a thorough shellacking of the Aggies on Saturday. While Texas A&M kept it close for a bit midway through the first half thanks in part to 26 offensive rebounds on the day, Alabama ended up with 18 made threes on 41 attempts. It’s hard to lose a game with that volume of three-pointers made, and Nate Oats’s group ended up hitting the century mark again for the eighth time this season. The defense might need help, but the offense does not. Mark Sears again led with 23 points.
The schedule gets tougher this week. While the Tide are staying within the friendly confines of Alabama for a matchup with the streaking Gators, they’ll have to travel to Rupp on Saturday. If Bama sweeps the week, which is entirely possible, they could move up to No. 1 in these rankings.
3) Kentucky Wildcats
Last week’s ranking: 7 (+4)
Record: 18-7 (8-4)
Last week: W vs. Ole Miss (75-63), W at #13 Auburn (70-59)
Next week: at LSU (Feb. 21 – 9 p.m.), vs. #13 Alabama (Feb. 24 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: North Carolina, at Auburn, at Florida, Ole Miss
Bad losses: UNCW
Bounce back alert! Boomerang. The inevitableness of coach Cal. Whatever you’d like to call it, Kentucky is back, and it’s suddenly with their defense as opposed to their offense. Kentucky gave up an average of 61 points to Auburn and Ole Miss and managed to win both games. It’s as if every time Cal hears the Lexington keyboard fingers warming up, he reminds them why he’s the best coach Kentucky has ever had or will ever have. Yes, I said it, and I firmly believe it. Build the statue already, y’all.
But it’s not quite time to rest on some laurels. LSU on the road is a sneaky trap game, especially after the Tigers just went on the road to defeat the Gamecocks. Then, it’s the author’s game of the week, a home tussle with the Tide. My personal thoughts? I think these Cats lose early in the week then beat Bama by 15 at home. This is the sort of high-level analysis I get paid to conceptualize. I think the Alabama defense is fraudulent and that they would get thoroughly stomped the moment they played Houston on a neutral court. JoJo Tugler, Ja’Vier Francis, and J’Wan Roberts would dominate Grant Nelson inside the paint, and Bama’s offense would stagnate on the perimeter outside the friendly confines of Tuscaloosa against a Kelvin Sampson defense. I don’t know why I’m hating on Alabama in Kentucky’s space, or why Houston is in the SEC Basketball Power Rankings. I’m at the Playa Haters’ Ball from Season 1 of the Chappelle Show. I think that’s a reference my readers will get.
4) Florida Gators
Last week’s ranking: 6 (+2)
Record: 18-7 (8-4)
Last week: W vs. LSU (82-80), W at Georgia (88-82)
Next week: at #13 Alabama (Feb. 21 – 7 p.m.), vs. Vanderbilt (Feb. 24 – 1 p.m)
Quality wins: at Kentucky, Auburn
Bad losses: N/A
I don’t know whether to be concerned or relieved. Both, maybe. First-half Florida is on another planet compared to second-half Florida. I don’t remember the last time I saw a team give up multiple 20-point second-half leads in one conference slate. That’s simply insanity. Oh, I have one more gripe. Florida is a great offensive-rebounding team, but they are not all that efficient on offense. They don’t shoot particularly well, but after the second or third offensive rebound, they’ll find the basket. That’s not to suggest their offense is horrible, it’s just average. Florida is literally just a better version of Texas A&M but without Wade Taylor IV. It’s almost a carbon copy of the Aggies, and I can’t be convinced otherwise. Does Florida also get a 7 seed this year and get bounced by a red-hot 10 seed from the Big Ten? Don’t count it out. But also, Florida moves up because they can rebound at an elite rate and unlike Auburn and South Carolina, they won two games last week. So here you go. No. 4 Florida.
Road test incoming. Florida must travel to Tuscaloosa and defeat the elephants before returning home to slay the Commodores. If that reads like an epic quest of some sort, that’s because it is. It will be a fun week for Florida, and exciting to watch. I’ll have my popcorn ready. What if Florida ends up beating Alabama? That’s two teams that I both have doubts about facing off in a high-stakes matchup. What happens? Honestly, my imaginary money is on the Tide, but I’m hoping for a draw.
5) Auburn Tigers
Last week’s ranking: 3 (-2)
Record: 20-6 (9-4)
Last week: W vs. #11 South Carolina (101-61), L vs. #22 Kentucky (59-70)
Next week: at Georgia (Feb. 24 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: Alabama, South Carolina, Texas A&M, at Ole Miss
Bad losses: at App State
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. That seems the only fitting introduction for an Auburn team that shot 60% from deep against South Carolina only to score 59 points total and lose one of their best players at home against Kentucky. On the surface, if you had told the Auburn fanbase that the team would have a +29 margin over these two games, they’d take that without blinking. Given the circumstances and hindsight, maybe not. People say hindsight is 20/20. I don’t believe that. I have met people with 20/200 hindsight.
Rest, it seems, is much needed for this Auburn squad after losing both Jaylin Williams and the game to coach Cal last week. They’ll get that rest before traveling to Athens to take on Georgia, who’s been in the doghouse as of late. Does Auburn fall into a little slump? Or do they right the ship until Jaylin gets back? We’ll see. That’s my little cop-out way of not having to predict the game. A quick “we’ll see” and no elaboration.
6) South Carolina Gamecocks
Last week’s ranking: 1 (-5)
Record: 21-5 (9-4)
Last week: L at #13 Auburn (61-101), L vs. LSU (63-64)
Next week: at Ole Miss (Feb. 24 – 3:30 p.m.)
Best wins: at Tennessee, Kentucky, Grand Canyon
Bad losses: Georgia, LSU
Tough week? Tough week. I, begrudgingly, must keep my same energy, so here goes. The Gamecocks got quarter-zipped on the road against Auburn and quarter-zipped at home against LSU. It hurts to type but my readers know I am simply objective. Well, maybe not objective, but definitely not biased. The Gamecocks’ loss to the Tigers dropped them much further in the metrics than the loss to the (checks notes) Tigers did. Fun fact, but of this team’s five losses, three have been to the Tigers. Maybe stop scheduling Tigers at this point. If the hypothetical 5-seed Gamecocks end up facing off against Princeton in the first round, all bets are off. On the bright side, Collin Murray-Boyles has scored 13+ points in five straight games.
This week, South Carolina gets some much-needed rest before a weekend tilt in Oxford. The Gamecocks already defeated the Rebels in Columbia, but it’s anyone’s game in Mississippi. This will be the 5th meeting of the two teams in just the past two seasons, and it’s been split evenly in that span, 2-2. While South Carolina is sitting a bit prettier in the tournament picture than Ole Miss is, a win would be fantastic for either team.
7) Mississippi State Bulldogs
Last week’s ranking: 8 (+1)
Record: 17-8 (6-6)
Last week: W vs. Arkansas (71-67)
Next week: vs. Ole Miss (Feb. 21 – 9 p.m.), at LSU (Feb. 24 – 8:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Tennessee, Auburn, Northwestern, Washington State
Bad losses: Southern, at Georgia Tech
A win’s a win. Not in the context of predictive metrics, but (for the most part) in the context of SEC Basketball Power Rankings and Selection Sunday, wins will mean vertical movement. While I’m not suggesting that Georgia, Missouri, and Arkansas are exactly murderer’s row, a three-game winning streak in mid-February is typically a good prescription for helping a team dance in March. Cam Matthews had his most efficient game of the season, shooting 6-7 from the field as part of a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Josh Hubbard led the team in points with 19.
The Bulldogs are staying in the Deep South this week, first with a revenge opportunity against their in-state rivals at home, then a short bus trip to Baton Rouge for a matchup against the resurgent LSU Tigers. This is a huge week for the BubbleDawgs (I’m bringing that back) in terms of their tournament hopes. Currently, they’re in, (according to me) but two wins could move them much safer and two losses could move them out. The author will say that every week is crucial, but this week seems to be the most crucial of all for Starkville if they want to feel good about dancing.
8) Ole Miss Rebels
Last week’s ranking: 9 (+1)
Record: 19-6 (6-6)
Last week: L at #22 Kentucky (63-75), W vs. Missouri (79-76)
Next week: at Mississippi State (Feb. 21 – 9 p.m.), vs. #20 South Carolina (Feb. 24 – 3:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Texas A&M, NC State
Bad losses: N/A
All in all, a disappointing week for the Rebels. First off, a road loss to a (yes, still good) Kentucky team that had dropped three straight at home. Then, a scare at home in Oxford against a (still) winless-in-conference Mizzou. A loss there would have effectively put Ole Miss on the very wrong side of the bubble like Mermaid Man. (Weekly Spongebob reference for the culture.) But, like I just scribed in the Mississippi State section, a win is a win, even if that win came after a double-digit second half deficit against the statistically worst team in the conference. Has this team already reached their ceiling this season? We’ll see.
This week, there are tests abound, even though this team won’t be leaving the state of Mississippi. First, a date with their in-state rivals who I’m sure are looking for some type of revenge. Then, a trip back home to welcome the Gamecocks, where the Rebels themselves are probably looking for revenge. We’ll guess a 1-1 record for the week, but we’re not quite sure where to ascribe the loss. It could come to the Bulldogs or the Gamecocks, but we do know that going 2-0 this week would work wonders for this tournament resumé. On the same hand, or I suppose same body, different hand, going 0-2 would put this team on the outside looking in to the tournament. That’s what happens with a weak non-conference strength of schedule and a lack of quality wins. But don’t write this team off yet.
9) Texas A&M Aggies
Last week’s ranking: 5 (-4)
Record: 15-10 (6-6)
Last week: L at Vanderbilt (73-74), L at #15 Alabama (75-100)
Next week: vs. Arkansas (Feb. 20 – 7 p.m.), at #5 Tennessee (Feb. 24 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: Iowa State, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, at SMU
Bad losses: at Arkansas, Memphis, LSU, at Vanderbilt
Tough week? Tough week. After looking like they possibly turned a corner in their win over Tennessee, the Aggies simply face-planted last week with a last-second loss to Vanderbilt that could have been prevented had Texas A&M shown any semblance of extended effort. Then, a road loss to Alabama in which the effort definitely was not lacking but the shooting certainly was. I don’t care how good an opponent’s offense is, giving up 100 points in college basketball is not a great day. We do need to shout out Tyrece Radford for scoring 22 points against the Tide on 10-17 shooting. He was a bright spot.
Does the fall continue this week? Probably not, at least for the first part of the week. A home game against 2023-24 Arkansas™️ is precisely what the doctor ordered for getting out of a slump. Even though the Hogs have already beaten the Aggies in Fayetteville, Arkansas going on the road to defeat the Aggies may be a bit of a more difficult task. Do I foresee Tramon Mark scoring 35 points against this defense again? Probably not, but then again, he’s got a better chance of doing it than any other Razorback. But we can’t forget that this team has to travel to Knoxville and beat Tennessee for a second time on Saturday. They don’t have to, technically, but they would greatly benefit from doing so. I just can’t see it happening twice. A 1-1 week and a bit of stagnation seems likely for the Aggies.
10) LSU Tigers
Last week’s ranking: 10 (-)
Record: 13-12 (5-7)
Last week: L at Florida (80-82), W at #11 South Carolina (64-63)
Next week: vs. #17 Kentucky (Feb. 21 – 9 p.m.), vs. Mississippi State (Feb. 24 – 8:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: Wake Forest, at Texas A&M, at South Carolina
Bad losses: Nicholls State
Scène de Naufrage, a.k.a Le Radeau de la Méduse, a.k.a The Raft of Medusa by Théodore Géricault, is this week’s work of art I will ascribe to the Tigers. They played an excellent second half on the road against Florida but came up just short, then played more majestic second-half basketball against South Carolina on the road, coming up with a ranked win on the road thanks to Jordan Wright and Tyrell Ward. I was there. Baseline. Camera in hand. Able to capture all 40 minutes of 2023-24 LSU basketball against the ‘Cocks. It was beautiful, objectively. Subjectively, I died a bit inside as the college I attend evaporated in the last 10 minutes. But objectively, the Tigers simply did what they needed to do. There really isn’t a connection from the team to the painting other than the fact that it’s a really great painting. At least that was my original thinking. Then I thought about it again. The painting represents 15 survivors (LSU basketball team) after 13 days adrift at sea (three-game losing streak over past 13 days) finally embracing the impending rescue (ranked road win over South Carolina) after little hope remained (slim tournament hopes). I think that fits perfectly.
This week, after returning home, LSU plays both Kentucky and Mississippi State. In a home environment, with momentum, it’s hard to suggest that the Tigers won’t steal at least one win this week. This is a team that has effectively closed the gap that previously existed from the No. 10 ranked (in the SEC Power Rankings) Tigers and the teams ranked 7-9 in these rankings. A good week could be enough to slide these Tigers past one or multiple of Ole Miss, Mississippi State, or Texas A&M. I’m not lying. The gap between No. 10 and No. 7 is much closer than the gap between No. 10 and No. 11. That’s my LSU sentiment for the week. SEC basketball is better when the Bayou is balling.
11) Georgia Bulldogs
Last week’s ranking: 11 (-)
Record: 14-11 (4-8)
Last week: L vs. Florida (82-88)
Next week: at Vanderbilt (Feb. 21 – 8:30 p.m.), vs. #14 Auburn (Feb. 24 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: at South Carolina, Wake Forest
Bad losses: at Arkansas
I will say Mike White is cooking up something. Brisket, or maybe shredded pork. The point is, that it’s not ready yet, and eating it before it’s done will give you trichinosis. It’ll just take time. Asa Newell is on the way. Georgia will be very good soon. Just, you know, not quite yet. You have to wait for the brisket to cook. The brisket almost cooked against Florida, staging (yet another) late-game run to make it really interesting. While the Bulldogs ultimately did fall, Noah Thomasson deserves a shoutout for scoring 26 and Justin Hill also gets one for going 5-6 from the floor off the bench.
What is that I hear? It’s the Georgia bandwagon? And it’s inviting me back? Don’t mind if I do. They get to play Road Vandy and then get Auburn at home with no Jaylin Williams. Hmm. I’ll speak it into existence. There’s a non-zero chance Georgia sweeps the week. I’m not lying. Talent-wise, Georgia has the advantage over Vanderbilt. They’ve got the home advantage over Auburn, a team that just lost at home to Kentucky and will be without their clear second-best player for a considerable time. Is this setting me up to look foolish? Sure, but why do you think I write these articles? To spit out a formula and report that ESPN gives Georgia a 17.8% chance to beat the Tigers? My readers are capable of finding that out themselves, they’re a smart group of people. I’m here to offer subjectivity and fun, which is objectively more entertaining.
12) Vanderbilt Commodores
Last week’s ranking: 13 (+1)
Record: 7-18 (2-10)
Last week: W vs. Texas A&M (74-73), L at #8 Tennessee (53-88)
Next week: vs. Georgia (Feb. 21 – 8:30 p.m.), at #24 Florida (Feb. 24 – 1 p.m.)
Quality wins: Texas A&M
Bad losses: Presbyterian, Western Carolina, Boston College, Arizona State
That tastes like promotion. (Insert the Bolton GIF.) Vanderbilt is now the official baron of the Bottom Three, which is probably a real sentence that’s been uttered in the 19th century at some point. That happened via a home win over Texas A&M, coupled with a horrible Arkansas showing against Tennessee. To be fair, Vanderbilt also had a horrible showing against Tennessee (Vandy variant) but at least their contest was in Knoxville. We’re here to celebrate, though, and Ezra Manjon deserves all the flowers for his buzzer-beater, sticking with his shot even after the first attempt got bumped out of his hand. (No, he didn’t travel.) Big ups to Vandy, and I’m hoping every bar in Nashville got the senior point guard free drinks that night. It’s just a rush of endorphins to see Vanderbilt be happy. It warms the heart.
This week, dare I say, could mark the second consecutive week with a win for Vanderbilt? That would be more than South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas A&M could say. That’s because the Bulldogs (Georgia variant) are traveling to Nashville, and the Dawgs have lost six games in a row, and have tumbled quite a bit in these rankings. I blame myself for unknowingly placing a curse on Georgia when I heaped praise on them earlier. But now, it’s arguable that Vanderbilt has a solid chance to win against the Dawgs now that Dores have shown that they’re capable of putting together good performances. Vanderbilt does also have to travel to Gainesville, and though they won last time they were there with Liam Robbins dropping 32 on the Gators, that feels like decades ago. I’d be surprised if Vanderbilt goes 2-0 this week, but I feel like that’s a common sentiment.
13) Arkansas Razorbacks
Last week’s ranking: 12 (-1)
Record: 12-13 (3-9)
Last week: L vs. #8 Tennessee (63-92), L at Mississippi State (67-71)
Next week: at Texas A&M (Feb. 20 – 7 p.m.), vs. Missouri (Feb. 24 – Noon)
Quality wins: Duke, Texas A&M
Bad losses: UNCG, Memphis
The wheels are off the Muss Bus, but it’s not the first or last time we’ll be saying that this season. One could wonder if the Muss Bus is planning on driving to a different destination in a month or two. But for now, it’s just disappointment. Last week, it was a dreadful showing against Tennessee and a much more respectable (but still an L) showing against Mississippi State on the road. To get doubled up in a half, at home, is simply demoralizing. I don’t have the words to properly describe it, even though I’ve been witness to it plenty of times.
This week, it’s off to College Station for the Razorbacks, a tough test no matter the level of play the Aggies are performing at. Then, a chance at another SEC win and a chance to sweep Missouri when the Tigers come to town. I know it’s hard to predict any games to go Arkansas’s way this season, but given that it’s at Bud Walton against the only winless team in conference, (one that Arkansas has already beaten already) dare I say the Hogs go 1-1 this week? I’m etching it into stone.
14) Missouri Tigers
Last week’s ranking: 14 (-)
Record: 8-17 (0-12)
Last week: L at Ole Miss (76-79)
Next week: vs. #5 Tennessee (Feb. 20 – 7 p.m.), at Arkansas (Feb. 24 – Noon)
Quality wins: at Minnesota, at Pitt
Bad losses: Jackson State, Arkansas, at Vanderbilt, Memphis, Georgia
Missouri had a valiant effort off a rest on the road against Ole Miss. They led the Rebels by 10 at one point in the second half before the eventual three-point defeat. While moral victories don’t count in the SEC most of the time, it’s worth noting that the team went 25-30 from the line and 5-11 from deep, including Sean East II posting a 12-12 free-throw mark in his return. There are semblances of positivity with this team, and I’d be surprised if they went 0-6 in their last six regular season games.
This week, there’s one home and one road contest, but the road game may be infinitely more winnable. That’s what happens when the Vols come to town and Mizzou has a bus trip to 2023-24 Arkansas™️. What’s realistic to expect this week? According to recent trends, 0-2 probably. But there’s definitely hope for a victory in Fayetteville this weekend. Don’t be surprised, especially with Sean East II back in the fold.