Every Wednesday right here you can read Across the South, where we’ll get into a different topic on the SEC, break down the biggest matchups of the previous week, preview the coming week’s slate, and talk about where things stand in the best conference in the land!
In this week’s edition, let’s make the switch over to the hardwood and talk some SEC hoops! While we are just getting started with conference play, there seems to be some defined tiers forming in the league. Who is the best team in the SEC right now?
The Contenders:
Auburn:
Right now, this conversation starts with the Auburn Tigers, who are off to a blazing 13-2 start including a 2-0 start to conference play. Bruce Pearl’s re-tooled squad has been phenomenal, especially on the defensive end, holding Texas A&M’s star Wade Taylor to a 2 of 16 shooting night and holding the Aggies without a field goal in the final nine minutes to secure the win. Auburn will take on LSU this Saturday evening at home.
Tennessee:
Ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll and led by familiar stars Santiago Vescovi, Zakai Ziegler, and Josiah Jordan-James as well as a new face in transfer guard Dalton Knecht, the Vols destroyed Ole Miss in their opener over the weekend and hit the road against Mississippi State tonight. Rick Barnes’ squad is looking to prove they are among the nation’s best.
Kentucky:
The Wildcats sit at No. 6 in the AP Poll and are off to a 2-0 conference start after a convincing win over lowly Missouri last night. Antonio Reeves has been sensational this year, averaging over 18 points per game while freshman sensation D.J. Wagner has been a huge piece as well. In the post Oscar Tshiebwe era, the Cats are off to a good start. They hit the road to College Station to take on Texas A&M on Saturday.
A Tier Below:
Alabama:
The Crimson Tide have had the toughest schedule in the nation, with a ridiculous three game stretch against Purdue, Creighton and Arizona a huge part of the reason why the team is 10-5. Defense is the issue, and slowly but surely things seem to be coming more together for Alabama on the defensive end. Mark Sears and the Tide offense will continue to try to outscore people, but if Alabama wants any chance at defending its conference crown, defensive performances like last night’s second half against South Carolina will be needed.
Florida:
Florida is off to a 10-4 start in which none of its losses have been horrible, and a 2-point heart breaker against Kentucky in the SEC opener this past weekend was the latest example. Iona transfer Walter Clayton Jr. has been leading the charge for the Gator offense, averaging over 15 points per game. Florida takes the court tonight on the road at Ole Miss.
The Rest:
After the first two groups of teams, things become a complete mess. There feel like a defined worst teams in the conference in Missouri and Vanderbilt with LSU potentially a small notch above, but after that it feels like a real mess of teams that we need to see more conference play from before there is some separation.
It’s a long season, and it’s only just getting started.
