SEC Hoops Heating Up: Florida Dominates, A&M Holds Strong, and Kentucky Bounces Back
We’re a month into SEC play, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that there’s no clear-cut favorite in this league. Five teams are within two games of the top spot, and while four squads have a number next to their name, the one leading the pack-Texas A&M-isn’t one of them.
That’s the kind of season we’re having. Let’s break down what went down over the weekend, who’s making noise, and what to keep an eye on as we head into a pivotal stretch.
Florida Sends a Message-Loud and Clear
If there was any doubt about Florida’s legitimacy, that got erased on Sunday. The Gators didn’t just beat Alabama-they dismantled them.
Final margin? 23 points.
But the real story was in the paint, where Florida absolutely owned the game.
They scored 72 points down low. That’s not a typo.
Seventy-two. And they forced 18 Alabama turnovers while giving the ball away just twice.
That’s not just a win-it’s a statement. The Gators’ frontcourt trio of Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh, and Rueben Chinyelu combined for 61 points, 29 rebounds, and five blocks.
That kind of production inside is the stuff that wins championships in March.
Kentucky Bounces Back in a Big Way
After getting run out of the gym by 25 points at Vanderbilt, Kentucky came into Fayetteville with something to prove-and they did just that. The Wildcats took down Arkansas in what turned into a chaotic, whistle-heavy affair featuring six technical fouls.
Three of those came against Kentucky in a 38-second span. It looked like the game might spiral, but the ‘Cats held their composure and flipped the script.
That resilience could be a turning point for John Calipari’s squad.
Texas A&M Keeps Rolling
Don’t let the lack of a ranking fool you-Texas A&M is legit. The Aggies went into Georgia and handled business, 92-77, maintaining their grip on first place in the SEC.
They opened the game on a 22-0 run, which is the kind of start you usually only see in video games. Georgia, one of the nation’s better scoring teams, had just two points in the first five minutes.
Rashaun Agee was the star of the show, nearly notching a triple-double with 18 points, 15 boards, and seven assists. That kind of all-around performance on the road is what separates contenders from pretenders.
Other Notable Results Around the League
- Tennessee held off Auburn in Knoxville, keeping pace in the middle of the pack.
- Missouri came out firing against Mississippi State, hitting five of their first six threes to build an early lead.
They needed every bit of it to survive a 10-0 Bulldog run and come away with a five-point win.
- LSU edged South Carolina in overtime, thanks in large part to their clutch free throw shooting-21-of-25 from the line, including a perfect 8-for-8 in OT.
- Texas rallied from a 14-point deficit to beat Oklahoma on the road, led by Dailyn Swain’s 18-10-6 stat line. He followed that up with a 30-point performance in a loss to Auburn, hitting over 60% from the field and nearly 60% from deep.
Swain’s emergence has been a bright spot for the Longhorns.
SEC Standings Snapshot
Here’s how the standings shake out after the weekend:
- Texas A&M - 7-1 (17-4)
- #17 Florida - 7-2 (16-6)
- #15 Vanderbilt - 6-3 (19-3)
- #21 Arkansas - 6-3 (16-6)
- Kentucky - 6-3 (15-7)
- #25 Tennessee - 5-3 (15-6)
- Missouri - 5-4 (15-7)
- Auburn - 5-4 (14-8)
- Alabama - 4-4 (14-7)
- Georgia - 4-5 (16-6)
- Texas - 4-5 (13-9)
- Ole Miss - 3-5 (11-10)
- Mississippi State - 3-6 (11-11)
- LSU - 2-7 (14-8)
- South Carolina - 2-7 (11-11)
- Oklahoma - 1-8 (11-11)
SEC Players of the Week
Alex Condon (Florida) and Rashaun Agee (Texas A&M) shared the SEC Player of the Week honors-and rightfully so.
- Condon averaged 17.5 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists across two wins, including a near-flawless 11-for-15 shooting performance in the blowout over Alabama.
- Agee needed just one game to make his case, stuffing the stat sheet in the win at Georgia with 18 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists.
The Other SEC Player of the Week:
Let’s give a nod to Texas guard Dailyn Swain, who had himself a week.
He was the engine in Texas’ comeback win at Oklahoma, posting 18 points, 10 boards, and six assists. Before that, he dropped 30 at Auburn on hyper-efficient shooting.
Swain’s proving to be a high-impact transfer with a knack for rising to the moment.
Midweek Matchups to Watch
With only four games on the midweek slate, the one to circle is Texas A&M at Alabama. It’s a chance for the Aggies to further cement their spot at the top, while the Tide are looking to avoid slipping below .500 in conference play.
Tuesday, Feb. 3
- Ole Miss at #25 Tennessee (ESPN2) - 7:00 p.m. ET
- South Carolina at Texas (SEC Network) - 7:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Feb. 4
- Texas A&M at Alabama (SEC Network) - 7:00 p.m. ET
- Oklahoma at Kentucky (ESPN2) - 9:00 p.m. ET
Saturday Showdowns: Circle Your Calendar
Saturday night brings a pair of co-headliners that could shake up the standings:
- #17 Florida at Texas A&M - This one could decide who sits atop the SEC by the end of the weekend. A&M’s physicality vs.
Florida’s inside dominance? Sign us up.
- #25 Tennessee at Kentucky - A revenge game for the Vols, who’ll be looking to even the score in Lexington.
Saturday, Feb. 7
- #21 Arkansas at Mississippi State (ESPN2) - 12:00 p.m. ET
- Missouri at South Carolina (SEC Network) - 1:00 p.m. ET
- Ole Miss at Texas (ESPN2) - 2:00 p.m. ET
- Oklahoma at #15 Vanderbilt (SEC Network) - 3:30 p.m. ET
- Alabama at Auburn (ESPN2) - 4:00 p.m. ET
- Georgia at LSU (SEC Network) - 6:00 p.m. ET
- #17 Florida at Texas A&M (SEC Network) - 8:30 p.m. ET
- #25 Tennessee at Kentucky (ESPN) - 8:30 p.m. ET
We’re entering the stretch where every possession starts to feel a little heavier, and every win or loss carries a little more weight. Buckle up-SEC hoops is just getting good.