SEC Midseason Report: Post SEC-Big 12 Challenge

After winning the SEC-Big 12 Challenge 6-4 on Saturday, the SEC will resume conference play on Tuesday night. The challenge usually falls right at the halfway mark of the conference season, which makes it a great time to look at each team and see what we’re looking as the postseason gets closer.

While two teams have separated themselves, there’s plenty more that still have the chance to make some noise of their own. Let’s talk about them all, starting with the bottom of the conference.

Bottom of the Barrel

14. Georgia (6-15, 1-7)

Although he says he’s not worried about his job status, Tom Crean may be heading for greener pastures by the time this season is over. Wins over a ranked Memphis team at the time and breaking a nine-game SEC losing streak to Alabama won’t be enough to salvage this season. After last night’s 85-77 lost to Vanderbilt, the Bulldogs have lost nine of their last 10. Of their 15 losses, four have been home games to Gardner Webb, East Tennessee State, George Mason and Wofford by an average of nearly nine points. Aaron Cook being second in the conference in assists is about the only bright spot down in Athens right now.

13. Ole Miss (11-10, 2-6)

The Rebels did their part in the SEC-Big 12 challenge by handling business against Kansas State in a 67-56 win. Besides that, it’s been rough lately in Oxford. Even with yesterday’s win, they’ve lost seven of their last 10 including a home loss to Samford. They lost at home to WKU by 23 earlier this year as well. There’s talent there between Jarkel Joiner, Daeshun Ruffin and Duke transfer Jaemyn Brakefield, but it hasn’t led to a ton of success on the court for Kermit Davis’ group.

12. Missouri (8-12, 2-5)

Although the Tigers have had some bad losses this season, they’ve at least tried to play spoiler in conference play. They upset a ranked Alabama team, nearly got the Crimson Tide again when they went to Tuscaloosa a few games later, and then nearly pulled the rug out from underneath #1 Auburn earlier this week. With that said, they’ve been pummeled at times with massive losses to Florida State, Liberty, Kansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Arkansas and Iowa State yesterday. A fake report came out earlier this season that head coach Cuonzo Martin had been fired, but you have to wonder how much longer his leash will go this season and in years to come.

Middle of the SEC Pack

11. Vanderbilt (11-9, 3-5)

As one of the teams who didn’t participate in the challenge this weekend, the Commodores handled business and beat Georgia 85-77. Things seemed optimistic for the Commodores as they entered SEC play at 9-4 with a win over BYU and then opened the conference season with a win over Arkansas. Since then, they’ve lost five of their last eight. Losses to Kentucky and Tennessee are understandable, but a loss to Florida where they mustered just 42 points and two losses to South Carolina? Scotty Pippen Jr.’s 18.6 points per game will keep them competitive, but Jerry Stackhouse and his team are trending in the wrong direction in 2022.

10. Florida (13-8, 3-5)

The Gators earned a quality win yesterday in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge with a comeback win over Oklahoma State. After starting 6-0 with wins over a ranked Florida State and a game winner against Ohio State, the Gators looked good. After a home loss to Texas Southern, though, things have quickly gotten off track in Gainesville. They’re a hard team to figure out as they’ve been streaky record wise. Before yesterday’s win they had won two straight, then lost three, won three and finally lost two more over their last 10. With an elite big like Colin Castleton (who has been hurt at times this season), Mike White will have to find a way to be more consistent to move up the standings in the back half of SEC play.

9. South Carolina (13-7, 4-4)

While the rest of the conference was busy dealing with the Big 12, the Gamecocks got a big 74-63 road win against Texas A&M. South Carolina has shown they can compete with wins over Georgetown and Florida State. Even with a current three game win streak, though, they’re still stuck where they usually can be found in the SEC standings. With games still left on their schedule against the best in the conference, Frank Martin and company will have their chance to move up and prove how good they can be.

8. Alabama (14-7, 4-4)

If you can understand Alabama, feel free to help us out. After an 87-78 win over #4 Baylor yesterday, the Crimson Tide has won two games against teams ranked in the Top-5 and two more against teams who were ranked in the Top-15. Three of those teams were in the Final Four last season and they nearly pulled out a win against Auburn. This would have to be one of the best teams and resumes in the country, right? Wrong. The Tide have also lost seven games already, including to teams such as Iona, Memphis, Davidson, Missouri, and Georgia. They have proven to play up to their competition, but have shown they will play down to it as well. This team could win the whole thing or they might just miss March Madness altogether. There’s no in between with this exciting, yet chaotic group.

7. Texas A&M (15-6, 4-4)

Texas A&M looked like a real threat early on. They picked up good wins to start the season over Butler, Notre Dame, and Oregon State while playing Wisconsin and TCU tough. To start SEC play, they were 11-2 and then won their first four conference games. Since then, they’ve run straight into a wall. They lost close games to Kentucky, Arkansas and LSU before last night’s double-digit home loss to South Carolina that makes it four straight for the Aggies. Buzz Williams’ play style can give teams trouble but, with no clear number one guy, they’ve fallen in the standings. They benefited from an easy schedule early and will need to find their way again with some tough matchups in the future.

6. LSU (16-5, 4-4)

Texas A&M isn’t the only one that has squandered an early lead in the conference. After starting the season 12-0, the Tigers have lost four times in conference play and lost four of their last five including a 77-68 loss to TCU yesterday. Will Wade spoke after the game to the Horned Frogs yesterday about his team being banged up and he makes a fair point. Xavier Pinson and Darius Days have both missed time recently. Still, besides a win over Kentucky who was dealing with injuries as well, LSU’s resume has taken a serious hit in conference play. They have a favorable back half of the schedule to right the ship, but they’ll have to in order to get back into the race and bolster their resume record wise.

5. Mississippi State (13-7, 4-3)

Mississippi State is another one of those wildcards in the conference. They lost to Texas Tech 76-50 yesterday in a romp, but the way the Red Raiders play would have made it a tough matchup for anyone in the SEC. They held the Bulldogs to a season low in points and a season high in turnovers. That follows an OT loss for them in Lexington where they had Kentucky on the ropes down the stretch. All the pieces are there talent wise with Iverson Molinar, Garrison Brooks and a good supporting cast with Jeffries, Watts and Smith. Ben Howland has a good team that’s taken some lumps this season, but they can at least compete with just about anyone in the conference night in and night out.

4. Tennessee (14-6, 5-3)

The Volunteers are a real head scratcher. After last night’s 52-51 loss to Texas, Tennessee has lost three games this season where they’ve failed to crack 55 points. Defensively, Rick Barnes has this team right where they need to be as they’ve done their job on that end besides Kentucky lighting them up for 107. Their defense has kept them in games, but whether their offense shows up determines whether or not they actually win them. With veteran leadership in John Fulkerson and Santiago Vescovi, a star freshman in Kennedy Chandler, and the supporting cast that Tennessee has, they’re more than formidable. They’ll just have to find a way to put more points on the board in games where their defense has given them a chance to win.

3. Arkansas (16-5, 5-3)

Arkansas is alive and well again. After starting the season 9-0, the Razorbacks stumbled and lost five of six including home losses to Hofstra and Vanderbilt. Since then, Eric Musselman has reignited this group. Yesterday’s 77-68 win over West Virginia was their sixth straight and they’ve made a leap towards the top of the standings. With a coach like Musselman, a scorer such as JD Notae (18.8 PPG. – 1st in the SEC) and a versatile big in Jaylin Williams (9.2 rebounds – 2nd in the SEC), Arkansas has earned their place back in the SEC conversation. The Hogs have a lot of resume left to build on with games still left against Auburn, Alabama, LSU, Kentucky and Tennessee (twice).

Cream of the Crop

2. Kentucky (17-4, 6-2)

No team in the country had a better win yesterday than Kentucky. The Wildcats went on the road to Allen Fieldhouse and punched #5 Kansas square in the mouth for an 80-62 victory. Considering their play, the Wildcats have relatively flown under the radar. They’ve been a Top-25 team, but they hadn’t officially entered the national title conversation just yet. After one of the best wins of the season by any team in the country, UK just put college basketball on notice. Besides two losses that were both affected by the health of their backcourt, Kentucky has won six games since the turn of the new year by an average of 14.5 points. They’re one of the most complete teams in all of college basketball and have true title aspirations in the SEC and in March.

1. Auburn (20-1, 8-0)

Bruce Pearl has built a powerhouse down on The Plains. After beating Oklahoma 86-68 yesterday, the Tigers have one loss all season (on a neutral site to a quality UConn team in OT) to pair with an unblemished conference record. The Tigers should have the SEC regular season crown all but wrapped up with their two-game lead for first. With an unlikely puzzle of pieces that include returning players, impact transfers and a superstar freshman, Auburn has taken this college season by storm. They’re elite shotmakers, have an elite shot blocker to solidify an already good defense, and they play with an energy that’s nearly impossible to match. Assuming there’s not a disaster on the horizon, Auburn is almost a lock for a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and may just earn the #1 overall seed before it’s said and done. They’re that good.