As the SEC men’s basketball season barrels toward the final stretch, last week may not have been packed with midweek matchups, but the weekend delivered plenty of movement in the conference hierarchy. The latest SEC power poll reflects those shifts, with Florida holding firm at the top while a few teams made some notable climbs-and others took a tumble.
SEC Power Rankings (Week of Feb. 16)
- Florida (14 first-place votes)
- Arkansas
- Vanderbilt
T-4. Kentucky
T-4. Tennessee
- Alabama
- Texas
- Texas A&M
- Auburn
- Missouri
- Georgia
- Oklahoma
- Mississippi State
- Ole Miss
- LSU
- South Carolina
Let’s start at the top-because right now, Florida isn't just winning, they’re dominating. The Gators stayed perfect in the poll with all 14 first-place votes, and it’s hard to argue with that after a convincing 86-66 win over Georgia midweek, followed by a 92-83 statement win over Kentucky on Saturday. Florida’s offense is humming, their defense is locked in, and they’re looking every bit like the team to beat in the SEC.
While the Gators stayed steady, the biggest risers this week were Texas and Oklahoma, both jumping three spots. Texas looked sharp in an 85-68 win over Missouri, and Oklahoma followed suit with an impressive 94-78 win over Georgia.
Neither team has been perfect this season, but both are starting to find their rhythm at just the right time. With only a few weeks left before the postseason, that kind of momentum matters.
Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, and Mississippi State each climbed one spot. None of those moves were seismic, but they reflect teams that are staying competitive and picking up key wins when it counts. Vanderbilt, in particular, continues to hang around the upper tier of the standings, showing they’re not just a flash in the pan.
On the flip side, Georgia had a rough week and paid the price in the rankings. The Bulldogs dropped two spots after losses to Florida and Oklahoma.
The same goes for Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and LSU-each of whom also slid two spots. The Aggies dropped a heartbreaker to Missouri, 86-85, then followed it up with a 13-point loss at Vanderbilt.
Ole Miss got run out of the gym by Alabama, 93-74, and then fell to Mississippi State, 90-78. LSU lost to Arkansas by nearly 30 points and couldn’t recover in a 10-point loss at Tennessee.
Kentucky and Auburn each dropped one spot. Kentucky’s fall came after the Gators handed them a 92-83 loss, while Auburn’s week included a 91-62 blowout loss to Arkansas and a 73-63 defeat at Tennessee. Both teams are still firmly in the mix, but they’ll need to tighten things up if they want to climb back into that top tier.
As for the poll itself, it’s the product of a collaborative effort from SEC beat writers and national reporters, offering a well-rounded snapshot of where things stand across the conference. With every team now back in action midweek, the intensity is only going to ramp up from here.
Key Matchups This Week
Tuesday:
- South Carolina at Florida
- Georgia at Kentucky
- LSU at Texas
Wednesday:
- Arkansas at Alabama
- Ole Miss at Texas A&M
- Oklahoma at Tennessee
- Vanderbilt at Missouri
- Auburn at Mississippi State
Saturday:
- Florida at Ole Miss
- Mississippi State at South Carolina
- Tennessee at Vanderbilt
- Texas at Georgia
- Missouri at Arkansas
- Alabama at LSU
- Kentucky at Auburn
- Texas A&M at Oklahoma
With no more midweek byes on the schedule, every game matters-and every slip-up could have ripple effects on the standings. Florida may be setting the pace, but the rest of the SEC is still jockeying for position.
Buckle up. The stretch run is here.