SEC power poll: Gamecocks on the rise after telling week
1. Auburn (19-2, 7-1 SEC)
Previous ranking: 2
Last week: 2-0 (Won at LSU, beat Missouri at home) | This week: Ole Miss (away), Vanderbilt (home)
The Tigers averaged 93 points in wins over LSU and Missouri. Good chance Auburn is 11-1 in the league when Kentucky visits Feb. 14.
2. Tennessee (15-5, 5-3)
Previous ranking: 3
Last week: 2-0 (Beat Vanderbilt at home, won at Iowa State) | This week: LSU (home), Ole Miss (home)
The Volunteers have won three straight, including two on the road.
3. Florida (15-6, 6-2)
Previous ranking: 1
Last week: 1-1 (Lost to South Carolina at home, beat Baylor at home) | This week: Georgia (away), Alabama (home)
Florida shrugged off the tough loss to the Gamecocks by dropping 14 3s on Baylor in a 21-point rout.
4. Kentucky (16-5, 5-3)
Previous ranking: 5
Last week: 2-0 (Beat Mississippi State at home, won at West Virginia) | This week: Vanderbilt (home), Missouri (away)
UK’s win at West Virginia on Saturday night not only clinched the SEC an Big 12/SEC Challenge title, it might have served as the league’s best non-conference victory this season.
5. Alabama (14-7, 5-3)
Previous ranking: 4
Last week: 0-2 (Lost at Ole Miss, beat Oklahoma at home) | This week: Missouri (home), Florida (away)
Avery Johnson and the Crimson Tide held Trae Young, Oklahoma’s freshman sensation, to 17 points on 6 of 17 shooting.
6. Arkansas (15-6, 4-4)
Previous ranking: 8
Last week: 2-0 (Won at Georgia, beat Oklahoma State at home) | This week: Texas A&M (away), LSU (away)
Since losing three in a row, the Razorbacks have won three of four games. Wins over Georgia and Oklahoma State came by a combined four points.
7. South Carolina (13-8, 4-4)
Previous ranking: 10
Last week: 1-1 (Won at Florida, lost to Texas Tech at home) | This week: Mississippi State (home), Texas A&M (away)
The Gamecocks, after a four-game stretch against ranked teams, have entered the NCAA Tournament discussion.
8. Missouri (13-8, 3-5)
Previous ranking: 6
Last week: 0-2 (Lost to Auburn at home, lost at Mississippi State) | This week: Alabama (away), Kentucky (home)
Three straight losses for the Tigers by an average of 13.7 points.
9. Georgia (12-8, 3-5)
Previous ranking: 7
Last week: 0-2 (Lost to Arkansas at home, won at Kansas State) | This week: Florida (home), Mississippi State (away)
The Bulldogs have one win since Jan. 6.
10. Ole Miss (11-10, 4-4)
Previous ranking: 12
Last week: 1-1 (Beat Alabama at home, lost at Texas) | This week: Auburn (home), Tennessee (away)
The Rebels are 4-0 at home in the SEC play, including significant wins over Alabama and Florida.
11. Mississippi State (15-6, 3-5)
Previous ranking: 13
Last week: 1-1 (Lost at Kentucky, beat Missouri at home) | This week: South Carolina (away), Georgia (home)
The Bulldogs, with losses to Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn and Florida, are 0-4 against the SEC’s better teams.
12. LSU (12-8, 3-5)
Previous ranking: 9
Last week: 1-1 (Beat Texas A&M at home, lost at Auburn) | This week: Tennessee (away), Arkansas (home)
LSU owns Texas A&M, but is just 1-5 against the rest of the SEC.
13. Texas A&M (13-8, 2-6)
Previous ranking: 11
Last week: 0-2 (Lost at LSU, lost at Kansas) | This week: Arkansas (home), South Carolina (home)
The Aggies might need to get a home sweep this week to keep their Big Dance chances alive.
14. Vanderbilt (8-13, 2-6)
Previous ranking: 14
Last week: 1-1 (Lost at Tennessee, beat TCU at home) | This week: Kentucky (away), Auburn (away)
Vandy coach Bryce Drew started his 11th different lineup of the season to lead the upset over the Horned Frogs.
This story was originally published January 28, 2018 at 6:49 PM.