Craig Noyes provides his SEC basketball power rankings heading into week 2 of the 2024 season.
Matchup of the week: Kentucky at Duke (Nov. 12 – 9 p.m.)
Sneaky good matchup of the week: Mississippi State vs. Utah (Nov. 17 – 4 p.m.)
All games listed are EST.
1. Auburn Tigers
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 2-0
Last week: W vs. Vermont (94-43), W at. Houston (74-69)
Next week: vs. Kent State (Nov. 13 – 8 p.m.), vs North Alabama (Nov. 18 – 9 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Houston.
Bad losses: N/A
The Auburn Tigers had the most impressive win of any team in the conference this past week, traveling to Houston and taking down Kelvin Sampson’s Cougars.
Combining the impressive quad-one win and the domination over the reigning American East champions, Auburn has shown that they aren’t one to be messed with. Head coach Bruce Pearl has his squad ready to play anyone, anywhere.
2. Tennessee Volunteers
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 2-0
Last week: W vs. Gardner Webb (80-64), W at Louisville (77-55)
Next week: vs. Montana (Nov. 13 – 7 p.m.), vs. Austin Peay (Nov. 17 – 3 p.m.)
Quality wins: at Louisville.
Bad losses: N/A
Against a rebuilt Louisville team seeking redemption and looking to get an early signature victory in the Pat Kelsey era, it fell flat against the Vols.
Tennessee took the lead and never looked back. Led by Zakai Zeigler, the Vols still look to be a threat to win the conference, even in the absence of Los Angeles Lakers first-round pick Dalton Knecht.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 3-0
Last week: W vs. UNC-Ashville (110-64), W vs. Arkansas State (88-79), W vs. McNeese (72-64)
Next week: at Purdue (Nov. 15 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
The Crimson Tide had a dominating opening game against UNC Ashville to start the season, but after some games that came down to the wire against Arkansas State and McNeese, it is hard to place the AP polls No. 2 team in the country much higher.
Turnovers have plagued Alabama so far this season. They rank 169 in the country with 12.3 turnovers per game, and the Tide lost the turnover battle on Monday to McNeese 13 to 12.
With two lower-scoring contests against mid-majors, the Tide still finds themselves towards the top of the SEC and will have multiple chances to prove themselves with five ranked opponents in their next seven games.
4. Kentucky Wildcats
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 2-0
Last week: W vs. Wright State (103-62), W vs. Bucknell (100-72)
Next week: at Duke (Nov. 12 – 9 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
The Wildcats notched over 100 points in their two victories this season, albeit against lesser opponents. Kentucky will have the opportunity to jump to the top of this list with a win against No. 6 Duke in Atlanta this week.
The Mark Pope era has started as planned, but the new head coach will get the chance to get an early signature win in a battle of blue bloods.
Dayton transfer Koby Brea has been the unexpected star for the Wildcats thus far this season, averaging 19 PPG, 4 RPG, 2 APG, and shooting 73.7% from the field.
5. Florida Gators
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 3-0
Last week: W vs. South Florida (98-83), W vs. Jacksonville (81-60), W vs. Grambling State (86-62)
Next week: at Florida State (Nov. 15 – 6 p.m.)
Quality wins: vs. South Florida
Bad losses: N/A
In what looked to be a close game early on in Florida’s contest with South Florida, the Gators turned it on late and closed out the game in dominating fashion.
The Gators senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. has been the model of consistency for the program, averaging 16+ PPG the last two seasons, and looks to do the same again this year, currently averaging 16.7 PPG.
Florida will not play a ranked opponent until December 17, when they take on UNC in the ACC/SEC challenge, making it difficult for them to move up this list.
6. Texas A&M Aggies
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 2-1
Last week: L vs. UCF (64-61), W vs. East Texas A&M (87-55), W vs. Lamar (97-71)
Next week: vs. Ohio State (Nov. 15 – 9 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
While the Aggie’s loss to UCF is currently rated as quad one, the Knights turned around after the upset victory and scrapped Purdue Fort Wayne by seven points.
Two bounceback victories reminded us of what A&M is capable of, but star player Wade Taylor Vl has not been quite as good as his 2023-24 campaign. After averaging 19.1 PPG in 2023-24, he currently averages 12.7 PPG.
It is far too early to sound the alarm on Taylor, but the Aggies will be tested when No. 21 Ohio State comes to town on Friday, giving us a better idea of their position in this ranking.
7. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 2-0
Last week: W vs. West Georgia (95-60), W vs. Georgia State (101-66)
Next week: vs. Southeast Lousiana (Nov. 12 – 7:30 p.m.), vs. Utah (Nov. 17 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
The Bulldogs are in the middle of the pack and have the potential to be big risers later in the season. Still, they are in the middle with two impressive wins against not-so-impressive opponents.
State’s sophomore guard Josh Hubbard has been impressive. Hubbard had an impressive freshman campaign, scoring 17.1 PPG, 2.2 RPG, and 1.7 APG. The second-year guard has improved across the board, averaging 20.5 PPG, 4 RPG, and 3 APG.
The Bulldogs will make some noise with Hubbard come conference play, but with a lackluster out-of-conference lineup, they will have to wait till January to soar up the rankings.
8. Texas Longhorns
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 1-1
Last week: L vs. Ohio State (80-72), W vs. Houston Christian (90-59)
Next week: vs. Chicago State (Nov. 12 – 8 p.m.), vs. Mississippi Valley State (Nov. 16 – 5 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
The Longhorns suffered a close loss to a good Ohio State team and have a stretch of games that many expect them to win, but freshman guard Tre Johnson is reason enough to place Texas in the top half of the conference.
Johnson is averaging 28.5 PPG while shooting 55.6% from three.
Similar to Mississippi State, Texas will not have a stacked out-of-conference schedule but will get a chance to take down the back-to-back National champions before conference play starts.
9. Arkansas Razorbacks
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 1-1
Last week: W vs. Lipscomb (76-60), L at Baylor (72-67)
Next week: vs. Troy (Nov. 13 – 8 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Coach Cal started a new chapter at Arkansas and kicked it off with a decent win over the Lipscomb Bison, but it didn’t turn many heads. That didn’t matter, however, as they had a chance to beat a top-ten opponent when they traveled to Waco, Texas.
Despite the close loss, the Razorbacks never led the game for a second. Three times tied, the Baylor Bears had the lead for 38 minutes. With only eight points off their bench, the Razorbacks have the most fluidity on this list, in my opinion, but they go without playing a ranked team until conference play.
10. Ole Miss Rebels
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 2-0
Last week: W vs. LIU (90-60), W vs. Grambling State (66-64)
Next week: vs. South Alabama (Nov. 12 – 8 p.m.), vs Colorado State (Nov. 16 – 4 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Year two of head coach Chris Beard has given life to a rather unimpressive program historically, but a near loss to Grambling State has thrown a wrench in the plans.
However, the Rebels shouldn’t be quick to panic as last season they defeated a 1-31 Detriot Mercy team by one point at home and still went on to put together an impressive season.
After starting at No. 24 in the preseason rankings, it might be hard to see the Rebels still ranked come conference play, but with star talent like Matthew Murrell, they can make some noise under Beard.
11. LSU Tigers
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 2-0
Last week: W vs. ULM (95-60), W vs. Alabama State (74-61)
Next week: at Kansas State (Nov. 14 – 9 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
After firing former head coach Will Wade, who went and turned McNeese into a tournament team, the Tigers enter year three of Matt McMahon, who has been searching for his first tournament appearance since his time at Murray State.
LSU was down to Alabama State at halftime in its most recent game but ultimately won, powered by Kansas State transfer Cam Carter.
After spending one year at Mississippi State and two at Kansas State, Carter is currently averaging 21 PPG for the Tigers and can help LSU move up the rankings.
12. Oklahoma Sooners
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 2-0
Last week: W vs. Lindenwood (93-60), W vs. Northwestern State (73-57)
Next week: vs. Stetson (Nov. 16 – 2 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Like LSU, the Sooners were down nearly double digits at halftime to inferior opponents, but like LSU, they ended up finding the win.
After the retirement of head coach Lon Kruger, who took them to seven tournaments, they have been unable to find their under-fourth-year head coach, Porter Moser.
After being picked to finish 15 in the SEC standings in the preseason poll, the Sooners have yet to impress, and that nightmare could very soon be a reality for OU fans.
13. South Carolina Gamecocks
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 1-1
Last week: L vs. North Florida (74-71), W vs. South Carolina State (86-64)
Next week: vs. Towson (Nov. 12 – 7 p.m.), at Indiana (Nov. 16 – 3 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: vs. North Florida
The Gamecocks exited the NCAA tournament last season as a sixth seed. While the upset was disappointing, fans had an optimistic outlook on the current season. However, the Osprey had different ideas and pulled off the upset victory over the Gamecocks, giving the start of the season a very sour note.
South Carolina gets a chance this week to wash its mouth of the loss when they take on No. 16 Indiana and hope to get things turned around before the gauntlet of conference play.
14. Missouri Tigers
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 2-1
Last week: L at Memphis (83-75), W vs. Howard (77-62), W vs. Eastern Washington (84-77)
Next week: vs. Mississippi Valley State (Nov. 14 – 7:30 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
The Tigers took a close loss in a quad-one loss against Memphis but did not come out as strong as fans might have hoped against their next two opponents.
After going winless in conference play last season, Missouri only has up to go from here. After the two uninspiring wins, they will play four straight quad-four games without many chances to challenge themselves.
Until proven otherwise, the Tigers will remain at the bottom of the list, and they may find themselves dead last again.
15. Georgia Bulldogs
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 2-0
Last week: W vs. Tennessee Tech (83-78), W vs. Texas Southern (92-64)
Next week: vs. North Florida (Nov. 12 – 7 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Georgia started the season in a dog fight against Tennessee Tech, which is not a spot many fans wanted to be in this early. They rebounded against Texas Southern with a nearly 30-point victory, but how good they are is still undetermined.
Mount St. Marys transfer guard Dakota Leffew, the one bright spot, has averaged 20.5 PPG while shooting 56.3% from three thus far this season.
A program with 13 total conference wins over the last three seasons would be a major surprise if they found themselves outside the bottom three of this last come March.
16. Vanderbilt Commodores
Last week’s ranking: N/A
Record: 2-0
Last week: W vs. Maryland Eastern Shore (102-63), W vs. Southeast Missouri State (85-76)
Next week: vs. Cal (Nov. 13 – 8 p.m.), vs. Jackson State (Nov. 16 – 3 p.m.)
Quality wins: N/A
Bad losses: N/A
Despite the 2-0 start, the Commodores cannot find themselves anywhere but last. They have played the 362 and 326 ranked teams per Kem Pom, winning against SEMO by only nine points.
Vanderbilt will play its first major conference team in a contest with Cal, which gives them a chance to escape the basement of the power rankings, but the team picked to finish last in the conference in the preseason polls will remain last for now.