SEC Men’s Basketball Power Rankings: Vanderbilt Surges, Mississippi State Still Searching
A month and a half into the college basketball season, the SEC is starting to reveal who’s for real and who’s still figuring things out. We’ve seen some surprises-both good and bad-as teams settle into their identities.
Georgia and LSU have looked better than expected, while programs like Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Missouri are still trying to find their footing. And for the first time since opening week, there’s a new leader at the top of the SEC: Vanderbilt.
The Commodores have ridden a high-powered offense to an undefeated start, and for now, they’re the team to beat.
Let’s dive into where each team stands heading into the heart of December:
16. Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-5)
Mississippi State just can’t seem to string anything together. They split their games this week, falling in a surprising three-point loss to San Francisco before bouncing back with a solid eight-point win over Utah.
That win marked their first against a Power Five opponent this season, which is something-but the inconsistency continues to define their year. The Bulldogs still haven’t won back-to-back games, and it’s hard to build momentum when every step forward is followed by one back.
Josh Hubbard’s injury limited him to just two minutes against San Francisco, and his absence was felt. Until they find stability-especially in the backcourt-Mississippi State will remain stuck at the bottom.
15. Ole Miss Rebels (6-4)
The Rebels finally snapped a four-game losing streak with a narrow win over Southern Miss, and while it wasn’t pretty, it was necessary. A win’s a win, especially when you’re trying to stop the bleeding.
That said, the offensive issues are real. After lighting it up early in the season-scoring over 80 in each of their first four games-Ole Miss hasn’t broken 74 in any of their last six.
Chris Beard has this team playing at a deliberate, slow pace, but the efficiency isn’t there to justify it. They’re shooting just 44 percent from the field, and when the tempo is this slow, every miss is magnified.
The Rebels have some work to do if they want to avoid getting buried once SEC play begins.
14. South Carolina Gamecocks (7-3)
South Carolina’s record looks solid on paper, but the eye test tells a different story. The Gamecocks handled The Citadel by 16, but it was closer than it should’ve been for much of the game.
Shooting continues to be a concern-this isn’t a team that’s going to light it up from the field. Right now, the offense lives and dies with Meechie Johnson.
That can work against mid- and low-major teams, but it’s a dangerous game once the SEC gauntlet begins. South Carolina is one of just two SEC teams still without a Power Five win, and while they’re taking care of business against lesser opponents, the next step is proving they can compete against teams with real firepower.
13. Texas Longhorns (7-4)
Texas took care of business early in the week with a blowout win over Southern, but their trip to UConn showed where they still need to grow. The Longhorns hung tough with a top-five team on the road, but poor shooting (38 percent from the field) and missed free throws (19-of-28) proved costly in an eight-point loss.
The backcourt has been under the microscope all season, and while Tramon Mark and Jordan Pope each dropped 15 points, there’s still room for more consistency and control. Texas showed they can compete with elite teams-but moral victories won’t move them up the rankings.
Until the guard play sharpens and the shooting improves, they’ll remain on the outside looking in.
More rankings to come as we work our way up the SEC ladder-but for now, the bottom tier is defined by inconsistency, offensive struggles, and a lack of big wins. As conference play looms, these teams have some soul-searching to do if they want to flip the script.