Our SEC Basketball Power Poll. Results at Garnet and Black Attack on Friday.
1. Kentucky: I don't see Kentucky losing a home game. Can they win all their road games? UK's wins against UGA and Florida were big, but both opponents made UK work for it, despite UK's advantages.
2. Tennessee: Scotty Hopson is the only UT player in the SEC's top-20 scorers. Yet these guys handled No. 1 Kansas, without four scholarship players. The rumors of the Vols demise were greatly exaggerated.
3. Mississippi State: Might be a reach here, but they defeated Ole Miss on the road, are 13-3 and have four guys averaging double figures. Senior Jarvis Varnado leads the league in rebounding (10.9rpg) and is averaging 13.9ppg.
4. Ole Miss: The loss to Miss State and near-death experience against UGA did not help. They go to Tennessee on Saturday and will need all of their league leading 83.4ppg.
5. Vanderbilt: Jeffery Taylor and A.J. Ogilvy have been the sparks to Vandy opening SEC play 2-0. Vandy is also shooting 49% from the field, second in the SEC.
6. Alabama: They are 10th in rebounding margin, but third in the SEC in assist/turnover ratio. Mikhail Torrance (16ppg) and JaMychal Green (15.1ppg) lead the Tide in scoring and both are shooting better than 50%.
7. South Carolina: The East dark horse has a chance to go to 3-0 in the SEC with a win against Vandy on Saturday. Guard Devan Downey leads the SEC with 20.1ppg.
8. Florida: Yes, at Vandy and UK is a rough start to the season. But it is becoming apparent that outside of Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker, Florida does not have anyone who can score.
9. Georgia: Played well in losses to UK and Ole Miss. Three of their next four are on the road and their one home game is against UT. The Dogs could be 0-6 in the league by February.
10. LSU: Tasmin Mitchell (16.9ppg), Bo Spencer (15.7ppg) and Storm Warren (13.8ppg) can score, but no one else can. It doesn't help either that LSU is streaky and can get ice cold.
11. Auburn: Off this weekend, the Tigers get Tennessee next Thursday and UK two days later. Auburn is also 11th in the SEC in points allowed (71.9ppg).
12. Arkansas: The only team below .500 in the SEC (7-8) and the league's worst defense (73.1ppg).