2024-25 SEC Basketball Power Rankings: Week 6

George Bagwell provides his SEC basketball power rankings heading into week 6 of the 2024 season.

By now, it’s clear that the SEC is the best college basketball conference in the nation. All 16 teams have a winning percentage of .667 or higher. The only other conference to share that distinction? Trick question. No other leagues can claim that, or at least remain truthful when they say that. Amongst the Power 5 conferences, the lowest-rated team in the latest KenPom ratings are as follows:

ACC: Boston College, No. 154

Big East: Seton Hall, No. 142

Big Ten: Minnesota, No. 111

Big 12: TCU, No. 91

SEC: South Carolina, No. 68

That’s dominance. And the SEC added two teams this offseason, too. This conference has 16 teams that are, per KenPom, all in the top 68 of D-1 teams. Not bad. You’ll notice there’s not much movement in these rankings this week compared to last. Long story short, every team did their job. I’m not kidding. Every team recorded a win last week, and the conference went 25-3 over the past seven days. That’s insane. Without further ado, we’ve got the SEC Basketball Power Rankings: Volume 3, Episode 6.

Matchup of the week:  Tennessee at Illinois (Dec. 14 – 5:30 p.m.)

Sneaky good matchup of the week:  Mississippi State vs. McNeese State (Dec. 14 – 6 p.m.) 

All games listed are EST. 

1. Tennessee Volunteers 

Last week’s ranking: 2 (+1)

Record: 8-0

Last week: W vs. Syracuse (96-70)

Next week: vs. Miami (Dec. 10 – 6:30 p.m., New York City), at Illinois (Dec. 14 – 5:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Louisville, vs. Baylor

Bad losses: N/A

Tennessee takes the top spot from Auburn after the Tigers’ loss to Duke. As a matter of fact, I slotted the Vols in at the No. 1 spot in the weekly cbbreview.com Top 25 rankings. Tennessee dismantled Syracuse last week. Prior to that game, the Orange had only lost by 5 points or less in their three losses. The Vols won by 26. Chaz Lanier scored 26, Igor Miličić Jr. had a double-double, and Zakai Zeigler recorded 8 assists. That should be the blueprint for every Tennessee game for the rest of the season.

This week, Rick Barnes’s squad takes on a bad Miami team before traveling to Illinois to take on the Illini. Both games should be won. And that’s not a shot at Illinois, but really a statement of support towards Tennessee. This is, currently, the best team in the country. Of course, if they end up losing this week, just pretend I never said that.

2. Auburn Tigers

Last week’s ranking: 1 (-1)

Record: 8-1

Last week: L at No. 9 Duke (84-78), W vs. Richmond (98-54) 

Next week: vs. Ohio State (Dec. 14 – 1 p.m., Atlanta)

Quality wins: vs. Iowa State, vs. Houston, vs. UNC, vs. Memphis

Bad losses: N/A

Auburn has fallen from the top of the rankings. Luckily for the Tigers, they didn’t drop far. Despite a tough road loss to Duke, here’s a reminder that this team already holds wins over Iowa State, Houston, UNC, and Memphis. If they can beat the Buckeyes this week, that’ll be a fifth quality win already, and it’s not even Christmas yet. That’s plane crazy.

3. Kentucky Wildcats

Last week’s ranking: 3 (-)

Record: 8-1

Last week: L at Clemson (70-66), W vs. Gonzaga (90-89)

Next week: vs. Colgate (Dec. 11 – 8 p.m.), vs. Louisville (Dec. 14 – 5:15 p.m.)

Quality wins: Duke, Gonzaga

Bad losses: N/A

I was ready to drop Kentucky to the middle of these rankings after a loss to Clemson in the SEC-ACC Competition (clearly not a challenge for the SEC) but they made me redo my rankings after they went to Seattle and beat Gonzaga. So maybe this team is for real. Then again, 7-27 from three against Clemson and 7-25 from three against Gonzaga? That’s a 14-52 mark, or 26.9%. Let’s get that rate up.

Shoutout Otega Oweh. The Oklahoma transfer (intra-conference transfer, technically) is leading the Wildcats with 15.7 PPG, is 2nd with 1.3 SPG, and 3rd with a 36.0 3PT%. That last number might be the most important. He won’t need to drop 20 to beat Colgate, but the game against in-state rivals Louisville could be fun, even with the Cardinals being quite banged up. Last year, I said Dusty May and Pat Kelsey would be the next coaches of Kentucky and Louisville, respectively. 1 out of 2 ain’t bad, and Mark Pope and Dusty May have the same amount of letters in their name, so I’ll call that a win on my part.

4. Florida Gators 

Last week’s ranking: 4 (-)

Record: 9-0

Last week: W vs. Virginia (87-69)

Next week: vs. Arizona State (Dec. 14 – 3:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: at Florida State, vs. Wichita State

Bad losses: N/A

Florida is still looking for that statement win. That “Top-60-in-KenPom” type of win. If they beat Arizona State, that’ll probably do it. (The Sun Devils are currently rated 50th.) North Carolina, the week after, will also do that. The Gators have looked really good this year, and I’m fully aware of what they say, “you can only play your schedule.” They’ve pretty much dominated their schedule. Five of their nine wins have been by 20+ points, and the other four were all by double digits as well.

I’m not ready to put this team amongst the elites of the sport just yet, but they’re getting there. Shoutout Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin, and every other player that’s seen the court this year for the Gators. Additional shoutout to the assistant coaches for the Gators, along with an additional shoutout to the Gators fanbase and Billy Napier and the Florida football program. I think that covers everything.

5. Alabama Crimson Tide

Last week’s ranking: 5 (-)

Record: 7-2

Last week: W at No. 20 North Carolina (94-79)

Next week: vs. Creighton (Dec. 14 – 8:30 p.m.)

Quality wins: vs. Houston, vs. Illinois, at North Carolina

Bad losses: N/A

Wake up, Alabama just scored 80+ on a ranked opponent again. And they won this time! Solid performance in the SEC-ACC Competition from Mark Sears, who scored 20 to lead the way for the Tide. And don’t forget Aden Holloway, who dropped 15 off the bench. As a team, the perimeter defense was particularly impressive. The Tar Heels shot just 5-28 from deep, a 17.9% clip.

Going into the season, this upcoming game against Creighton probably would have been predicted as the game of the week, but both Creighton and Alabama (to a lesser extent) haven’t exactly lived up to some quite lofty expectations. The Bluejays have lost to Nebraska, San Diego State, and Texas A&M already this year. However, they did just beat Kansas. Then again, Missouri also just beat Kansas. So in conclusion, I have no idea what to think and anything could happen.

6. Oklahoma Sooners 

Last week’s ranking: 6 (-)

Record: 9-0

Last week: W vs. Georgia Tech (76-61), W vs. Alcorn State (94-78)

Next week: vs. Oklahoma State (Dec. 14 – 8 p.m., Oklahoma City)

Quality wins: vs. Arizona, vs. Louisville, vs. Providence

Bad losses: N/A

Oklahoma is one of just three undefeated teams left in the league, and they’re the lowest-ranked of that trio, coming in at sixth in my rankings. Partially, that’s because of preseason bias, and partially it’s because they gave up 78 points to Alcorn State last week and I’m a sucker for recency bias. So if all hypothetical biases were removed, this team would be third in the venerated SEC Basketball Power Rankings. Go ahead and hang that banner at the Lloyd Noble Center.

This week, it’s bedlam. The Sooners and Cowboys meet in Oklahoma City at the Paycom Center. That’s pretty cool. It’s like the Texas A&M-Arkansas football game at JerryWorld but better because it doesn’t have anything to do with Jerry Jones or the Dallas Cowboys.

7. Texas A&M Aggies  

Last week’s ranking: 7 (-)

Record: 8-2

Last week: W vs. Wake Forest (57-44), W vs. Texas Tech (72-67)

Next week: vs. Purdue (Dec. 14 – Noon, Indianapolis)

Quality wins: vs. Creighton, vs. Ohio State, vs. Texas Tech

Bad losses: N/A

The Aggies are very much a confusing team. Hats off to Texas A&M for notching their third quality win of the season against Texas Tech, and also for giving up just 44 points to a Power Five opponent. But hats back on for giving up 18 turnovers to that same Power Five opponent and shooting 22.7% from deep. Hats off, again, for then shooting 37.5% the very next game against a much better team. This team is 16th in the SEC with a 30.0 3PT%. Imagine hearing that sentence three years ago.

The difference between Texas A&M’s eFG of 46.9% and 15th-rated LSU’s 52.8% mark can only be described as an impenetrable gulf of inefficiency. LSU’s mark is actually closer to 3rd-place Missouri’s eFG of 58.6% than they are to the Aggies. This is a team that cannot shoot the ball, apparently. I would say “small sample size” immediately after that, but the regular season is already 33% over. So maybe it’s not a sample size problem. Maybe it’s a problem type of problem, the worst kind of problem.

8. Mississippi State Bulldogs 

Last week’s ranking: 8 (-)

Record: 8-1

Last week: W vs. No. 18 Pitt (90-57), W vs. Prairie View A&M (91-84)

Next week: vs. McNeese State (Dec. 14 – 6 p.m., Tupelo)

Quality wins: vs. Utah, vs. Pitt

Bad losses: N/A

This is a very fun team. I’ve said that and I will continue to say that until they are no longer fun. Fun doesn’t necessarily mean “elite” or “gold standard,” it means “fun.” Fun is blowing out a ranked opponent by 33, then giving up 84 points to Prairie View A&M. Fun is watching Josh Hubbard average 19.0 PPG despite not being all that tall. Fun is being 8-1 in mid-December prior to heading an hour up the road to Tupelo for the sole purpose of avoiding a true home loss to McNeese State.

Now, for the record, I do believe the Bulldogs will win that game. But it’s not a given. I do think the current trend of scheduling “neutral-site” games in non-conference games an hour or less away from one team’s campus to game the Selection Committee is funny. What’s next in the evolution of scheduling mind games? Miami FL vs. Washington at a “neutral site” but it’s just Kaseya Center? (If Jim Larrañaga is reading this, don’t think about it.)

9. Ole Miss Rebels 

Last week’s ranking: 9 (-)

Record: 8-1

Last week: W at Louisville (86-63), W vs. Lindenwood (86-53)

Next week: vs. Southern Miss (Dec. 14 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: vs. BYU, at Louisville

Bad losses: N/A

Is it bad to say I’m still not convinced? Congrats on beating a Louisville squad that’s so ravaged by injuries that it has to roll with a seven-man rotation. And being up by six at half against Lindenwood? That’s not moving the needle. Don’t get me wrong, typically a road win over Louisville, outside of the Kenny Payne era, would move the needle. It’s just that the only teams above Mississippi in these rankings that lost last week either followed that up with a “neutral site” win or already have four quality wins on their record. So there wasn’t much room for this team to move up anyways.

Barring a Mississippi State loss to McNeese, this team will probably end up ninth again in these rankings next week. I just don’t think the defense is all that impressive. KenPom says they’re the 14th-rated defense in the conference. Sounds like a familiar spot for these Rebels. There’s hope, though. Maybe the Aggies falter against Purdue?

10. Missouri Tigers 

Last week’s ranking: 15 (+5)

Record: 8-1

Last week: W vs. California (98-93), W vs. No. 1 Kansas (76-67)

Next week: vs. Long Island (Dec. 14 – Noon)

Quality wins: Kansas

Bad losses: N/A

Last week, I compared Missouri and Kansas. I claimed Missouri was Omarion, and Kansas was 50 Cent. I was wrong, and I am sorry. Missouri is clearly 50 Cent. Kansas is Omarion, maybe even simply Trey Songz. Missouri is Kendrick Lamar, and Kansas is Drake. Missouri is Waffle House, and Kansas is Huddle House. Missouri is Friday afternoon, and Kansas is Tuesday morning. Missouri is orange juice with just a bit of pulp, and Kansas is orange juice with an exorbitant amount of pulp. Missouri is a Publix chicken tender sub, and Kansas is a pre-packaged sandwich from Harris Teeter. Missouri is Destin, and Kansas is Gulf Shores. Whatever the analogy is, Missouri has earned it.

11. Georgia Bulldogs 

Last week’s ranking: 10 (-1)

Record: 8-1

Last week: W vs. Notre Dame (69-48) 

Next week: vs. Grand Canyon (Dec. 14 – 6 p.m., Atlanta)

Quality wins: vs. St. John’s

Bad losses: N/A

I know it seems rude to move Georgia down after a 21-point win over an ACC foe, but I had to move up Missouri after they beat Kansas, and again, the conference literally only lost three times last week. So there really wasn’t a lot of room for ranking growth in Week 6. But nevertheless, for the second straight week, I am shouting out the Georgia basketball team. (Shoutout to the Georgia Bulldogs and Mike White.)

It’s a bit of an interesting week ahead for Georgia. They get to play in Atlanta against a school that’s good for a mid-major but simply slightly above-average overall, so it’s almost a no-win situation. Win, and it’s a win over a mid-major. Lose, and it’s a loss to a mid-major. It’s just that the mid-major is sandwiched between TCU and Southern Cal on the latest KenPom ratings. My advice? Just win.

12. Texas Longhorns 

Last week’s ranking: 11 (-1)

Record: 7-2

Last week: W at NC State (63-59), L vs. UConn (76-65)

Next week: vs. New Mexico State (Dec. 12 – 8 p.m.), vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Dec. 15 – 3 p.m.)

Quality wins: at NC State

Bad losses: N/A

Texas beats NC State on the road. Good job, Longhorns. Texas falls to UConn at home by double-digits. Not so good, Longhorns. As one of just three teams to lose a game in the conference last week, and by virtue of Missouri kicking Kansas back to Lawrence, Texas drops exactly one (1!) spot in the rankings as punishment. I could drop them one spot lower if y’all asked me nicely. But because beating NC State on the road is just ever so slightly more impressive than taking down Florida State at home, I’m keeping above the bottom 25%, just by a thread.

13. LSU Tigers 

Last week’s ranking: 13 (-)

Record: 8-1

Last week: W vs. Florida State (85-75), W vs. FGCU (80-71)

Next week: vs. SMU (Dec. 14 – 4 p.m., Frisco)

Quality wins: at Kansas State, vs. Florida State

Bad losses: N/A

Shoutout Matt McMahon for the job he’s been able to do this year so far, taking down Kansas State on the road and Florida State at home. Bring on the state schools! Unfortunately, they have lost Jalen Reed for the season after a ligament injury. After the loss of Tyrell Ward (mental health absence), this team is down two very good players. However, please remember the name Corey Chest. The redshirt freshman is an incredible athlete and is leading the team with 8.1 RPG at 6’8″. The loss of Reed stings, but Chest will have extended opportunity this season. In his first game with Reed out, Chest started and recorded a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double. That’s legit, even considering the opponent’s level.

A “neutral site” game awaits LSU this week against ACC member SMU. The game is being played 30 minutes from the Mustangs’ campus. Here we go again with the scheduling quirks. I would have liked to see this game played in Houston, roughly halfway to each campus. But all I can do is dream.

14. Vanderbilt Commodores 

Last week’s ranking: 12 (-2)

Record: 9-1

Last week: W at Virginia Tech (87-56), W vs. TCU (83-74)

Next week: OFF

Quality wins: vs. Nevada

Bad losses: N/A

Vanderbilt is inactive this week, which maybe isn’t the best, because this team is hitting its stride at the right time. Sure, Virginia Tech and TCU are arguably the worst teams in their respective conferences, but a win is a win. Jason Edwards is 3rd in the SEC with a 19.2 PPG average, and the ‘Dores are one win against The Citadel away from notching their 10th win of the season. Congrats, Vanderbilt.

15. Arkansas Razorbacks 

Last week’s ranking: 14 (-1)

Record: 7-2

Last week: W at Miami (76-73), W vs. UTSA (75-60)

Next week: vs. Michigan (Dec. 10 – 9 p.m., New York City), vs. Central Arkansas (Dec. 14 – 4 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: N/A

Arkansas is one step away from the bottom of the cellar, somewhat because they’re one of just five SEC teams with multiple losses, somewhat because they have zero quality wins, and also because they did not look good last week against two teams that are not good at all.

They’ve got a chance to right the ship with a solid performance against a surprising Michigan team in the Big Apple, but will it happen? I’m not convinced. If they do manage it, it’ll help move them out of the Bottom Three in these rankings, probably. But if the Razorbacks don’t look good against the Wolverines, they’re staying in the doorway of the cellar until 2025. That’s because their final three non-conference opponents are Central Arkansas, NC A&T, and Oakland. That’s not going to move the needle.

16. South Carolina Gamecocks 

Last week’s ranking: 16 (-)

Record: 6-3

Last week: W at Boston College (73-51), W vs. East Carolina (75-68)

Next week: vs. USC Upstate (Dec. 14 – 2 p.m.)

Quality wins: N/A

Bad losses: vs. North Florida

Unfortunately, South Carolina has to stay in the cellar. Any other year, and this 6-3 team with multiple ACC wins would be 10th or 11th, in that range. But in 2024, when the rest of the conference all have solid resumes and the ACC maybe isn’t all that good, the Gamecocks are relegated to No. 16 in these rankings.

Last year, their No. 68 ranking in KenPom would have put them 8th of 14 teams in the SEC. This year, that’s the worst mark in the conference. That’s less of an indictment on South Carolina and more of statement on how good the SEC is this year.