With just three games left in the college basketball regular season, the tension is palpable as Selection Sunday looms just over two weeks away. March Madness is nearly upon us, but February still has some surprises in store, especially for fans in Big Blue Nation.
Florida has a golden opportunity to clinch the SEC regular season title with a home victory on Saturday. Meanwhile, the rest of the conference is in a fierce battle for positioning in the SEC Tournament. Just one game separates the coveted double-bye position from the No. 8 spot, making every game crucial as the season winds down.
Let's dive into the current standings and what the future might hold as we head into a pivotal weekend of SEC basketball. Kentucky is on the brink of securing a No. 5 seed, with a real shot at climbing to a No. 4 seed.
Current Standings
Here's how the teams stack up if the SEC Tournament were to kick off today:
- Florida (13-2)
- Alabama (11-4)
- Arkansas (11-4)
- Tennessee (10-5)
- Missouri (9-6)
- Vanderbilt (9-6)
- Kentucky (9-6)
- Texas A&M (9-6)
- Texas (8-7)
- Georgia (7-8)
- Auburn (6-9)
- Mississippi State (5-10)
- Oklahoma (4-11)
- LSU (3-12)
- South Carolina (3-12)
- Ole Miss (3-12)
Florida holds a comfortable two-game lead with three games remaining. Alabama and Arkansas are neck and neck, but Alabama holds the tiebreaker thanks to a head-to-head victory. Tennessee's recent loss to Missouri has added an extra layer of intrigue to the standings.
With Missouri, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Texas A&M all tied at 9-6, the battle for positioning is intense. Missouri leads the pack due to a superior pool record, while Kentucky holds a tiebreaker over Texas A&M thanks to a win against Arkansas.
At the bottom, a three-way tie for last place emerged after LSU's upset over Ole Miss. Ole Miss finds itself at the bottom due to a pool record disadvantage, but a crucial game against South Carolina could shift the standings.
Projected SEC Standings
Based on KenPom’s projections, here's how the SEC Tournament field might shape up:
- Florida (15-3)
- Alabama (13-5)
- Arkansas (13-5)
- Tennessee (12-6)
- Vanderbilt (11-7)
- Texas A&M (11-7)
- Missouri (10-8)
- Kentucky (10-8)
- Texas (9-9)
- Georgia (9-9)
- Auburn (8-10)
- Mississippi State (6-12)
- Oklahoma (5-13)
- LSU (4-14)
- Ole Miss (4-14)
- South Carolina (4-14)
Alabama and Arkansas are still tied, with Alabama holding the edge. Tennessee is poised to grab the final double-bye.
Meanwhile, the race for the middle seeds is tight, with several teams locked in ties. Kentucky is projected to avoid an early tournament start, but reaching the No. 5 seed will require a strong finish.
Kentucky’s Critical Games Ahead
Kentucky's next two matchups are pivotal. With Vanderbilt and Texas A&M also in the mix, victories could open up a path to a No. 4 seed.
However, losses might push Kentucky closer to a No. 9 seed, forcing an earlier tournament start. A split in these games would likely land Kentucky in the 7-8-9 range.
These games are crucial for seeding and tiebreakers.
Currently, Kentucky has a 21% chance of finishing in the No. 8 spot, but other seeds are still within reach.
This Weekend in the SEC
The weekend promises a full slate of conference action with eight games scheduled for Saturday. The highlight is in Gainesville, with Arkansas, Texas, and Alabama all facing tough road challenges. Missouri and Vanderbilt have toss-up games on their hands.
- Missouri at Mississippi State (1 p.m. ET | SEC Network)
- Vanderbilt at Kentucky (2 p.m. ET | ESPN)
- South Carolina at Georgia (3:30 p.m. ET | SEC Network)
- Texas at Texas A&M (4 p.m. ET | ESPN2)
- Oklahoma at LSU (6 p.m. ET | SEC Network)
- Alabama at Tennessee (6 p.m. ET | ESPN)
- Arkansas at Florida (8:30 p.m. ET | ESPN)
- Ole Miss at Auburn (8:30 p.m. ET | SEC Network)
This weekend could bring significant shifts in the standings, especially if Mississippi State, Alabama, and Florida come out on top. Keep an eye on these games as they could have major implications for seeding in the SEC Tournament.