SEC power poll: Where South Carolina stands after up and down week

SEC power poll through Jan. 20

1. Florida (14-5, 6-1)

Previous ranking: 3

Last week: 2-0 (Beat Arkansas at home, won at Kentucky) | This week: South Carolina (home), Baylor (home)

The Gators ended Kentucky’s run of 30 consecutive SEC wins at Rupp Arena.

2. Auburn (17-2, 5-1)

Previous ranking: 1

Last week: 1-1 (Lost at Alabama, beat Georgia at home) | This week: Missouri (away), LSU (home)

Auburn was staring at a 0-2 week until roaring back from a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Georgia.

3. Tennessee (13-5, 4-3)

Previous ranking: 4

Last week: 1-1 (Lost at Missouri, won at South Carolina) | This week: Vanderbilt (home), Iowa State (away)

At No. 14, the Volunteers are tops among SEC teams in Ken Pomeroy’s national ratings.

4. Alabama (13-6, 5-2)

Previous ranking: 7

Last week: 2-0 (Beat Auburn and Mississippi State at home) | This week: Ole Miss (away), Oklahoma (home)

The Crimson Tide’s won four straight, the last two coming without star freshman Collin Sexton.

5. Kentucky (14-5, 4-3)

Previous ranking: 2

Last week: 0-2 (Lost at South Carolina, lost to Florida at home) | This week: Mississippi State (home), West Virginia (away)

South Carolina and Florida losses came despite both the Gamecocks and Gators being held to under 38 percent shooting.

6. Missouri (13-6, 3-3)

Previous ranking: 5

Last week: 1-1 (Beat Tennessee at home, lost at Texas A&M) | This week: Auburn (home), Mississippi State (away)

Since SEC play began, the Tigers have yet to win or lose consecutive games.

7. Georgia (12-6, 3-4)

Previous ranking: 9

Last week: 1-1 (Won at Ole Miss, lost at Auburn) | This week: Arkansas (home), Kansas State (away)

A good week had a chance to be great when the Bulldogs took a 14-point lead into halftime at Auburn.

8. Arkansas (13-6, 3-4)

Previous ranking: 10

Last week: 1-1 (Lost at Florida, beat Ole Miss at home) | This week: Georgia (away), Oklahoma State (home)

After dropping 97 on the Rebels, Arkansas is up to averaging over 85 points a game, second-best in the SEC.

9. LSU (11-7, 2-4)

Previous ranking: 6

Last week: 0-2 (Lost to Georgia at home, lost at Vanderbilt) | This week: Texas A&M (home), Auburn (away)

A three-game losing streak has a chance to grow to five with the surging Aggies coming to Baton Rogue and a trip to Auburn ahead.

10. South Carolina (12-7, 3-4)

Previous ranking: 11

Last week: 1-1 (Beat Kentucky at home, lost to Tennessee at home) | This week: Florida (away), Texas Tech (home)

The Gamecocks haven’t shot better than 40 percent from the field since Dec. 9 against Coastal Carolina.

11. Texas A&M (13-6, 2-5)

Previous ranking: 14

Last week: 2-0 (Beat Ole Miss and Missouri at home) | This week: Kentucky (home), Tennessee (home)

The Aggies, getting back to full strength, snapped their five-game losing streak with the Ole Miss win. The Missouri win was A&M’s best since taking down Southern Cal in November.

12. Ole Miss (10-9, 3-4)

Previous ranking: 8

Last week: 0-2 (Lost at Texas A&M, lost at Arkansas) | This week: Alabama (home), Texas (away)

The Rebels have allowed 85 or more points twice in four games.

13. Mississippi State (14-5, 2-4)

Previous ranking: 12

Last week: 1-1 (Beat Vanderbilt at home, lost at Alabama) | This week: Kentucky (away), Missouri (home)

Since beating then ranked Arkansas to begin SEC play Jan. 2, the Bulldogs have dropped four of five.

14. Vanderbilt (7-12, 2-5)

Previous ranking: 13

Last week: 1-1 (Lost at Mississippi State, beat LSU at home) | This week: Tennessee (away), TCU (home)

The LSU win snapped Vandy’s four-game skid. A couple ranked opponents upcoming for the Commodores.

This story was originally published January 21, 2018 at 6:14 PM with the headline "SEC power poll: Where South Carolina stands after up and down week."