SEC Week 7 Power Rankings: The Wheat from The Chaff

The 2016 SEC season has been tumultuous to say the least. The league, at points, has looked as wide-open as it's ever been and with four games to go nine teams could still (mathematically) win the championship. However, with the current standings it's becoming clear which teams are real contenders for this thing and which are not. Who's ready for March? Which teams still have some work to do? Find out in the week 7 power rankings: #1 Kentucky (20-7), 10-4 SEC, KenPom Ranking: 9, RPI: 12, BPI: 15 The Cats dropped a heartbreaker on Saturday in another road game that they seemingly had in hand. The game could end up costing UK the SEC title as the Aggies now hold the tie-breaker and Kentucky's remaining schedule features four teams desperate to build their tournament resume with a win over the Cats. Oh yeah, the Cats' starting lineup is also dealing with the injury bug in a major way. It's a tough road remaining for Kentucky to repeat as the SEC champions but overall they remain the league's best team. #2 Texas A&M (20-7), 9-5 SEC, KenPom: 21, RPI: 24, BPI: 19 The Aggies took down Kentucky this past weekend. The Aggies responded to their 5 game conference skid with two big wins this week over Ole Miss and Kentucky. A&M will now take on the three worst teams in the conference and end the year hosting Vanderbilt. If Kentucky slips up they seem poised to win their first SEC title and their first conference championship since a 1986 Southwest Conference crown. Been quite some time since the Aggies added some hardware to the trophy case. #3 South Carolina (22-5), 9-5 SEC, KenPom: 58, RPI: 31, BPI: 40 Kentucky defeated USC in their only meeting of the season. The Gamecocks had the worst loss of week 7 when they dropped a road game to Missouri but they responded well with a win over Florida. All four of USC's remaining games are winnable which means the SEC could easily finish in a 3 (or 4) way tie. #4 LSU (16-11), 9-5 SEC, KenPom: 65, RPI: 90, BPI: 60 Kentucky lost in Baton Rouge but they can get some revenge on Saturday, Mar 5 @ Home Two weeks ago the Tigers were 8-2, with a one game lead on the rest of the league. Then Johnny Jones happened. LSU has now lost 3 of 4 and Keith Hornsby is likely done for the rest of the season. With games @ Arkansas and @ Kentucky still on the schedule it's likely that the bayou bengals are going to need to win the SEC tournament in order to make the big dance. Otherwise the number one pick in this summer's NBA draft is going to come out of the NIT. #5 Florida (17-10), 8-6 SEC, KenPom: 36, RPI: 32, BPI: 29 Kentucky took them down @ Home and will head to Gainesville on Tuesday, Mar 1. Florida is solidly in the NCAA tournament as of now with Joe Lunardi currently projecting the Gators as an 8 seed. However, tough games this week against Vandy and LSU could move Florida towards the danger zone. The Gators only have one top 25 win this season (WVU) and could use wins this week to piece together a stronger resume. #6 Vanderbilt (16-11), 8-6 SEC, KenPom: 29, RPI: 64, BPI: 28 Kentucky smacked the ‘Dores down last Saturday and will face them again on Saturday, Feb 27 in Nashville. The metrics have Vandy as the third best team in the conference but they just keep up the Jekyl and Hyde routine at home and the road. The Commodores have only lost once at home in conference play this year and that was the home opener against LSU. Sounds like a banged-up Kentucky team will have to bring their A-game to overcome some Memorial magic. If Vandy can win their games @ Florida and against Kentucky this week they are likely in the tournament. #7 Alabama (16-10), 7-7 SEC, KenPom: 71, RPI: 50 , BPI: 73 Kentucky won on Jan 9 in Tuscaloosa and will face the Tide again on Tue, Feb 23 @ Home. The Tide were on the verge of breaking through, with five straight conference wins over some impressive teams. Then, they may have overlooked Mississippi State. Now they need a win over Kentucky tomorrow to improve their resume and get into the NCAA tournament. Not exactly the sort of team a banged-up UK squad wants to see. #8 Ole Miss (17-10), 7-7 SEC, KenPom: 78, RPI: 89, BPI: 75 Lost to Kentucky on Saturday, Jan 2 in Lexington. Ole Miss' final four games all feature teams ranked below them in the Power Rankings. Could the Rebels and SEC leading scorer Stefan Moody be poised for a top-five finish?   #9 Georgia (14-11), 7-7 SEC, KenPom: 83, RPI: 82, BPI: 59 Kentucky faces them on Tuesday, Feb 9 @ Home Georgia's post-season dreams took a major blow this week when the Bulldogs fell to Vandy and Florida. Is Mark Fox now on the hot-seat? Dawg Nation seems to think no. If Georgia can win two more games then they will finish above .500 in-conference for the fourth straight season. That has never been done in the history of the school. However when you factor in the top-heavy nature of the conference over those four years and the talent rich state of Georgia, is that feat really impressive? #10 Tennessee (13-14), 6-8 SEC, KenPom: 91, RPI: 120, BPI: 90 Kentucky will face them twice. First on Tuesday, Feb 2 | Away and then Thursday, Feb 18 @ Home Here's all you need to know about the Vols. 12-2 in Knoxville. 1-9 on the road. Project the remaining season accordingly. #10 Arkansas (13-14), 6-8 SEC, KenPom: 85, RPI: 140, BPI: 68 Kentucky won in Bud Walton for the first time in the Cal era. The Hawgs have a chance to get back to .500 this week if they can take down LSU and Tennessee. #12 Mississippi State (12-14), 5-9 SEC, KenPom: 84, RPI: 153, BPI: 88 Kentucky defeated the Bulldogs in their only meeting of the regular season. A great week for the Bulldogs which saw them pick up wins over NCAA hopefuls Alabama and Vanderbilt. State has been in a ton of close games during conference play and it wouldn't shock this committee of one if they went on a little SEC Tournament run. They even shocked Bama without Malik Newman! Ben Howland is building down in Starkville. #13 Auburn (10-16), 4-10 SEC, KenPom: 196, RPI: 146, BPI:172 Kentucky lost to Auburn for the first time in the Calipari era. The Tiger broke their 8-game losing streak by somehow winning at Arkansas. That's all that saved them to dropping to the bottom of the SEC standings. #14 Missouri (10-17), 3-11 SEC, KenPom: 174, RPI: 199, BPI: 142 Kentucky blew them out on Wednesday, Jan 27 @ Home Without the hope of postseason play the Tigers have turned it on late with a record of 2-2 in their last four games that includes shocking wins over South Carolina and Tennessee. Maybe they can keep the home mojo going this weekend when they host A&M. Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6