SEC releases full 2023-24 conference schedule for men's basketball

In just a couple of months, basketball season will be here. The SEC has released its full conference schedule for 2023-24, ahead of the start of the season in November. The first conference games are scheduled for Jan. 6.

Alabama is the defending SEC champion after winning both the regular season and SEC Tournament in 2022-23. With that said, the Crimson Tide lost their best player in Brandon Miller, and plenty of other teams, including Tennessee, Arkansas and Kentucky, are expected to have strong years.

Here is the full 2023-24 SEC conference basketball schedule:

Alabama Crimson Tide

Jan. 6 at Vanderbilt
Jan. 9 vs. South Carolina
Jan. 13 at Mississippi State
Jan. 16 vs. Missouri
Jan. 20 at Tennessee
Jan. 24 vs. Auburn
Jan. 27 vs. LSU
Jan. 31 at Georgia
Feb. 3 vs. Mississippi State
Feb. 7 at Auburn
Feb. 10 at LSU
Feb. 17 vs. Texas A&M
Feb. 21 vs. Florida
Feb. 24 at Kentucky
Feb. 28 at Ole Miss
Mar. 2 vs. Tennessee
Mar. 5 at Florida
Mar. 9 vs. Arkansas

Alabama opens SEC play at Vanderbilt, and the schedule is fairly easy early on. The latter part of January will be huge as the Crimson Tide faces rivals Tennessee and Auburn back-to-back on Jan. 20 and Jan 24. Alabama looked like a true national title contender for much of last season, before falling to San Diego State in the Sweet 16. On paper, it seems that the Crimson Tide could take a step back this season, but they do still have plenty of talent in Tuscaloosa.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Jan. 6 vs. Auburn
Jan. 10 at Georgia
Jan. 13 at Florida
Jan. 16 vs. Texas A&M
Jan. 20 vs. South Carolina
Jan. 24 at Ole Miss
Jan. 27 vs. Kentucky
Jan. 31 at Missouri
Feb. 3 at LSU
Feb. 10 vs. Georgia
Feb. 14 vs. Tennessee
Feb. 17 at Mississippi State
Feb. 20 vs. at Texas A&M
Feb. 24 vs. Missouri
Feb. 27 vs. Vanderbilt
Mar. 2 at Kentucky
Mar. 6 vs. LSU
Mar. 9 at Alabama

Arkansas has a manageable schedule early on, before Kentucky comes to town on Jan. 27. A matchup against Tennessee on Feb. 14 will also be a big one. The Razorbacks were up and down a year ago but got hot at the right time and upset No. 1 seed Kansas in the round of 32 to advance to the Sweet 16. Their journey ended there, but it was still a strong season overall for Arkansas. The Razorbacks are one of the favorites to win the SEC heading into the year.

Auburn Tigers

Jan. 6 at Arkansas
Jan. 9 vs. Texas A&M
Jan. 13 vs. LSU
Jan. 17 at Vanderbilt
Jan. 20 vs. Ole Miss
Jan. 24 at Alabama
Jan. 27 at Mississippi State
Jan. 31 vs. Vanderbilt
Feb. 3 at Ole Miss
Feb. 7 vs. Alabama
Feb. 10 at Florida
Feb. 14 vs. South Carolina
Feb. 17 vs. Kentucky
Feb. 24 at Georgia
Feb. 28 at Tennessee
Mar. 2 vs. Mississippi State
Mar. 5 at Missouri
Mar. 9 vs. Georgia

Bruce Pearl’s club gets a tough test right out of the gate, playing at Arkansas in its conference opener. The Tigers also go to Alabama on Jan. 24 and host the rival Crimson Tide on Feb. 7. Auburn is coming off of a 21-13 year that saw the Tigers lose to No. 1 seed Houston in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Florida Gators

Jan. 6 vs. Kentucky
Jan. 10 at Ole Miss
Jan. 13 vs. Arkansas
Jan. 16 at Tennessee
Jan. 20 at Missouri
Jan. 24 vs. Mississippi State
Jan. 27 vs. Georgia
Jan. 31 at Kentucky
Feb. 3 at Texas A&M
Feb. 10 vs. Auburn
Feb. 13 vs. LSU
Feb. 17 at Georgia
Feb. 21 at Alabama
Feb. 24 vs. Vanderbilt
Feb. 28 vs. Missouri
Mar. 2 at South Carolina
Mar. 5 vs. Alabama
Mar. 9 at Vanderbilt

Florida gets a tough test immediately as it hosts Kentucky on Jan. 6 in its SEC opener. The Gators also face Arkansas and Tennessee in their first four games. Year 1 did not go great for Todd Golden as the Gators finished the season 16-17, including a loss to UCF in the first round of the NIT. The hope is that Florida will take a positive step in Year 2.

Georgia Bulldogs

Jan. 6 at Missouri
Jan. 10 vs. Arkansas
Jan. 13 vs. Tennessee
Jan. 16 at South Carolina
Jan. 20 at Kentucky
Jan. 24 vs. LSU
Jan. 27 at Florida
Jan. 31 vs. Alabama
Feb. 3 vs. South Carolina
Feb. 7 at Mississippi State
Feb. 10 at Arkansas
Feb. 17 vs. Florida
Feb. 21 at Vanderbilt
Feb. 24 vs. Auburn
Feb. 27 at LSU
Mar. 2 vs. Texas A&M
Mar. 5 vs. Ole Miss
Mar. 9 at Auburn

Speaking of Florida, former Gators coach Mike White and his Georgia team also have a tough start to the year. The Bulldogs open with three difficult games against Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee and play Kentucky in their fifth SEC game. Georgia also plays White’s former team early on as the Bulldogs will travel to Gainesville for a game on Jan. 27. Georgia went 16-16 last season, including dropping its final six games of the year.

Kentucky Wildcats

Jan. 6 at Florida
Jan. 9 vs. Missouri
Jan. 13 at Texas A&M
Jan. 17 vs. Mississippi State
Jan. 20 vs. Georgia
Jan. 23 at South Carolina
Jan. 27 at Arkansas
Jan. 31 vs. Florida
Feb. 3 vs. Tennessee
Feb. 6 at Vanderbilt
Feb. 13 vs. Ole Miss
Feb. 17 at Auburn
Feb. 21 at LSU
Feb. 24 vs. Alabama
Feb. 27 at Mississippi State
Mar. 2 vs. Arkansas
Mar. 6 vs. Vanderbilt
Mar. 9 at Tennessee

Kentucky has a few tough road tests early, playing at Florida, at Texas A&M and at Arkansas the first few weeks of the season. The games at home against Tennessee on Feb. 3 and at Tennessee to end the regular season could help decide the league. John Calipari is hoping to return the Wildcats to the nation’s elite in 2023-24 after Kentucky went 22-12 and failed to reach the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament last season.

LSU Tigers

Jan. 6 at Texas A&M
Jan. 9 vs. Vanderbilt
Jan. 13 at Auburn
Jan. 17 vs. Ole Miss
Jan. 20 vs. Texas A&M
Jan. 24 at Georgia
Jan. 27 at Alabama
Feb. 3 vs. Arkansas
Feb. 7 at Tennessee
Feb. 10 vs. Alabama
Feb. 13 at Florida
Feb. 17 at South Carolina
Feb. 21 vs. Kentucky
Feb. 24 vs. Mississippi State
Feb. 27 vs. Georgia
Mar. 2 at Vanderbilt
Mar. 6 at Arkansas
Mar. 9 vs. Missouri

LSU coach Matt McMahon was put in a tough taking over for Will Wade, and the team struggled in Year 1. The Tigers went just 14-19 last season, including 2-16 in SEC play. LSU should know how improved it is early on this season with road games at Texas A&M and at Auburn in two of its first three matchups. The Tigers also play at Alabama and at Tennessee the first month of the season.

Ole Miss Rebels

Jan. 6 at Tennessee
Jan. 10 vs. Florida
Jan. 13 vs. Vanderbilt
Jan. 17 at LSU
Jan. 20 at Auburn
Jan. 24 vs. Arkansas
Jan. 27 at Texas A&M
Jan. 30 vs. Mississippi State
Feb. 3 vs. Auburn
Feb. 6 at South Carolina
Feb. 13 at Kentucky
Feb. 17 vs. Missouri
Feb. 21 at Mississippi State
Feb. 24 vs. South Carolina
Feb. 28 vs. Alabama
Mar. 2 at Missouri
Mar. 5 at Georgia
Mar. 9 vs. Texas A&M

Ole Miss has made the NCAA Tournament only once in the past eight years. Chris Beard was brought in this offseason to change that. The former Texas Tech and Texas coach was hired in March after an impressive start to his coaching career. Ole Miss gets a tough opener at Tennessee and later in January hosts rival Mississippi State.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

Jan. 6 at South Carolina
Jan. 10 vs. Tennessee
Jan. 13 vs. Alabama
Jan. 17 at Kentucky
Jan. 20 vs. Vanderbilt
Jan. 24 at Florida
Jan. 27 vs. Auburn
Jan. 30 at Ole Miss
Feb. 3 at Alabama
Feb. 7 vs. Georgia
Feb. 10 at Missouri
Feb. 17 vs. Arkansas
Feb. 21 vs. Ole Miss
Feb. 24 at LSU
Feb. 27 vs. Kentucky
Mar. 2 at Auburn
Mar. 6 at Texas A&M
Mar. 9 vs. South Carolina

Speaking of the Bulldogs, it’s a brutal start to the SEC schedule for Mississippi State with matchups against Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky in three of the first four games. Mississippi State snuck into the NCAA Tournament last season, despite an 8-10 mark in SEC play. However, it wasn’t there long before losing to Pitt in a play-in game.

Missouri Tigers

Jan. 6 vs. Georgia
Jan. 9 at Kentucky
Jan. 13 vs. South Carolina
Jan. 16 at Alabama
Jan. 20 vs. Florida
Jan. 23 at Texas A&M
Jan. 27 at South Carolina
Jan. 31 vs. Arkansas
Feb. 3 at Vanderbilt
Feb. 7 vs. Texas A&M
Feb. 10 vs. Mississippi State
Feb. 17 at Ole Miss
Feb. 20 vs. Tennessee
Feb. 24 at Arkansas
Feb. 28 at Florida
Mar. 2 vs. Ole Miss
Mar. 5 vs. Auburn
Mar. 9 at LSU

While some first-year coaches around the SEC struggled in 2022-23, Dennis Gates thrived. The Tigers went 25-10 in his first season, losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Missouri lost some talent off of this past year’s team but should still be solid. The Tigers have early tough tests at Kentucky and at Alabama.

South Carolina Gamecocks

Jan. 6 vs. Mississippi State
Jan. 9 at Alabama
Jan. 13 at Missouri
Jan. 16 vs. Georgia
Jan. 20 at Arkansas
Jan. 23 vs. Kentucky
Jan. 27 vs. Missouri
Jan. 30 at Tennessee
Feb. 3 at Georgia
Feb. 6 vs. Ole Miss
Feb. 10 vs. Vanderbilt
Feb. 14 at Auburn
Feb. 17 vs. LSU
Feb. 24 at Ole Miss
Feb. 28 at Texas A&M
Mar. 2 vs. Florida
Mar. 6 vs. Tennessee
Mar. 9 at Mississippi State

It was a tough first season for Lamont Paris at South Carolina as the Gamecocks went 11-21, including a 4-14 mark in SEC play. Not much is expected from this South Carolina team against in 2023-24. The Gamecocks have a tough schedule early, playing seven games against NCAA Tournament teams from a year ago in their first eight games.

Tennessee Volunteers

Jan. 6 vs. Ole Miss
Jan. 10 at Mississippi State
Jan. 13 at Georgia
Jan. 16 vs. Florida
Jan. 20 vs. Alabama
Jan. 27 at Vanderbilt
Jan. 30 vs. South Carolina
Feb. 3 at Kentucky
Feb. 7 vs. LSU
Feb. 10 at Texas A&M
Feb. 14 at Arkansas
Feb. 17 vs. Vanderbilt
Feb. 20 at Missouri
Feb. 24 vs. Texas A&M
Feb. 28 vs. Auburn
Mar. 2 at Alabama
Mar. 6 at South Carolina
Mar. 9 vs. Kentucky

The Vols are arguably the favorite to win the SEC going into the year coming off of a 25-11 season and with a lot of talent back. Tennessee’s first tough SEC tests comes Jan. 20 when it hosts Alabama, before the Vols travel to Kentucky in early February.

Texas A&M Aggies

Jan. 6 vs. LSU
Jan. 9 at Auburn
Jan. 13 vs. Kentucky
Jan. 16 at Arkansas
Jan. 20 at LSU
Jan. 23 vs. Missouri
Jan. 27 vs. Ole Miss
Feb. 3 vs. Florida
Feb. 7 at Missouri
Feb. 10 vs. Tennessee
Feb. 13 at Vanderbilt
Feb. 17 at Alabama
Feb. 20 vs. Arkansas
Feb. 24 at Tennessee
Feb. 28 vs. South Carolina
Mar. 2 at Georgia
Mar. 6 vs. Mississippi State
Mar. 9 at Ole Miss

Buzz Williams has slowly built the Texas A&M program up as the Aggies reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Williams last season. Early games at Auburn, vs. Kentucky and at Arkansas will be tough and will give Williams an idea of what kind of team he has in 2023-24.

Vanderbilt Commodores

Jan. 6 vs. Alabama
Jan. 9 at LSU
Jan. 13 at Ole Miss
Jan. 17 vs. Auburn
Jan. 20 at Mississippi State
Jan. 27 vs. Tennessee
Jan. 31 at Auburn
Feb. 3 vs. Missouri
Feb. 6 vs. Kentucky
Feb. 10 at South Carolina
Feb. 13 vs. Texas A&M
Feb. 17 at Tennessee
Feb. 21 vs. Georgia
Feb. 24 at Florida
Feb. 27 at Arkansas
Mar. 2 vs. LSU
Mar. 6 at Kentucky
Mar. 9 vs. Florida

Former NBA star Jerry Stackhouse has improved Vanderbilt’s place in the SEC standings every year that he has been there, including leading the Commodores to an 11-7 league record last year. Despite that, Vandy still didn’t make the NCAA Tournament due to strength of schedule. The schedule is tough this season with two games against Tennessee, two against Kentucky and two against Auburn.