SEC power poll: Gamecocks climb the rankings
SEC power poll through Saturday’s games:
1. Auburn (16-1, 4-0 SEC)
Previous ranking: 2
Last week: 2-0 (Beat Ole Miss at home, won at Mississippi State) | This week: Alabama (away), Georgia (home)
On a week when the NCAA ruled Austin Wiley won’t be playing for the Tigers this season, Auburn just kept on rolling.
2. Kentucky (14-3, 4-1)
Previous ranking: 3
Last week: 2-0 (Beat Texas A&M at home, won at Vanderbilt) | This week: South Carolina (away), Florida (home)
The youngest team in the league is 2-1 in SEC road games this season. Colonial Life Arena is the next stop for John Calipari’s kids.
3. Florida (12-5, 4-1)
Previous ranking: 1
Last week: 1-1 (Beat Mississippi State at home, lost at Ole Miss) | This week: Arkansas (home), Kentucky (away)
Florida lost in Oxford for the first time since 2015, more proof on the SEC’s depth this season.
4. Tennessee (12-4, 3-2)
Previous ranking: 4
Last week: 2-0 (Won at Vanderbilt, beat Texas A&M at home) | This week: Missouri (away), South Carolina (away)
After an 0-2 start, the Volunteers have won three straight in league play. Crucial road trips looming this week.
5. Missouri (12-5, 2-2)
Previous ranking: 5
Last week: 1-1 (Beat Georgia at home, lost at Arkansas) | This week: Tennessee (home), Texas A&M (away)
Mizzou’s two losses in league play have come by a combined four points.
6. LSU (11-5, 2-2)
Previous ranking: 10
Last week: 1-1 (Won at Arkansas, lost to Alabama at home) | This week: Georgia (home), Vanderbilt (away)
LSU already has more wins this season than it had all of last season. Nice debut for first-year coach Will Wade.
7. Alabama (11-6, 3-2)
Previous ranking: 12
Last week: 2-0 (Beat South Carolina at home, won at LSU ) | This week: Auburn (home), Mississippi State (home)
Proving it’s not a one-man show, the Crimson Tide rolled the Gamecocks with star freshman Collin Sexton being held to five points.
8. Ole Miss (10-7, 3-2)
Previous ranking: 11
Last week: 1-1 (Lost at Auburn, beat Florida at home) | This week: Texas A&M (away), Arkansas (away)
Deandre Burnett missed the Auburn game with the flu, but came back to torch the Gators for 20 points and six assists.
9. Georgia (11-5, 2-3)
Previous ranking: 7
Last week: 0-2 (Lost at Missouri, home to South Carolina) | This week: LSU (away), Auburn (away)
Hurts to lose a home game when the opponent fails to shoot above 28 percent from the floor.
10. Arkansas (12-5, 2-3)
Previous ranking: 9
Last week: 1-1 (Lost at home to LSU, beat Missouri at home) | This week: Florida (away), Ole Miss (home)
Nice rebound for the Razorbacks against Mizzou after the 21-point home beating they took from LSU.
11. South Carolina (11-6, 2-3)
Previous ranking: 13
Last week: 1-1 (Lost at Alabama, won at Georgia) | This week: Kentucky (home), Tennessee (home)
The win in Athens was historic, but the Gamecocks won’t get away with that poor shooting against the Wildcats or Volunteers.
12. Mississippi State (13-4, 1-3)
Previous ranking: 8
Last week: 0-2 (Lost at Florida, lost at home to Auburn) | This week: Vanderbilt (home), Alabama (away)
Three straight league losses for a Bulldogs bunch that didn’t challenge itself much in the non-conference.
13. Vanderbilt (6-11, 1-4)
Previous ranking: 14
Last week: 0-2 (Lost to Tennessee and Kentucky at home) | This week: Mississippi State (road), LSU (home)
The Commodores have been competitive – average loss by 8.3 points – but wins just don’t come easy in the SEC this season.
14. Texas A&M (11-6, 0-5)
Previous ranking: 6
Last week: 0-2 (Lost at Kentucky and Tennessee) | This week: Ole Miss (home), Missouri (home)
The Aggies were ranked fifth in the country when league play began. They’re slowly returning to full strength, though, and shouldn’t be in the SEC cellar much longer.
This story was originally published January 14, 2018 at 5:07 PM.