Where the SEC basketball race stands at the mid-point
The team without a loss in SEC play lost to the team without a win in SEC play on Wednesday night.
Saban Lee scored 33 points and Maxwell Evans added 31 as Vanderbilt snapped a 26-game conference losing streak with a 99-90 upset win over No. 18 LSU at Memorial Gym.
The surprising result put a bit of a different spin on the conference race going into this weekend’s games. Here’s a team-by-team look halfway through the conference schedule:
LSU (8-1): Despite the loss in Nashville, the Tigers sit alone atop the conference standings. Will Wade’s team saw Vanderbilt shoot 57.4 percent on Wednesday, including a 12-of-30 showing from three-point range. In a key matchup on Saturday, LSU is at Auburn.
Auburn (7-2): The Tigers have won four straight, including a 79-76 overtime win at Arkansas on Tuesday. Samir Doughty has scored 23 points in back-to-back games against Kentucky and the Razorbacks. Now Auburn plays host to conference-leader LSU on Saturday.
Kentucky (7-2): The Wildcats have won five of their last six, the lone loss being the 75-66 setback at Auburn last Saturday. Nick Richards and Company head to Knoxville to play Tennessee on Saturday.
Florida (6-3): The Gators have been up and down and the subjects of criticism for not meeting high expectations, but they are also within striking distance in the league race. Florida is at Ole Miss on Saturday.
Mississippi State (5-4): Ben Howland’s club had its five-game league win streak snapped Tuesday at Kentucky by an 80-72 score. The Bulldogs return home to play Vanderbilt on Saturday.
South Carolina (5-4): The Gamecocks saw their three-game win streak end Wednesday night in Oxford with an 84-70 loss to Ole Miss. Frank Martin’s team returns to Columbia to face Texas A&M on Saturday.
Tennessee (5-4): The Vols snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Alabama on Tuesday. The addition of Santiago Vescovi in January has helped ease the loss of point guard Lamonte Turner for the season to a shoulder injury. UT plays host to UK on Saturday.
Texas A&M (5-4): The Aggies are just 11-10 overall, but a game over .500 in conference action. Buzz Williams’ team has won two of its last three, including a road win at Tennessee on Jan. 28. The Aggies are at South Carolina on Saturday.
Alabama (4-5): The Crimson Tide has lost three straight, including back-to-back home games against Arkansas (82-78) and Tennessee (69-68). Nate Oats’ club is at Georgia on Saturday.
Arkansas (4-5): After a 3-1 start, Eric Musselman’s team is now under water in conference play. It is also without key player Isaiah Joe, out indefinitely with a knee injury. The Razorbacks are at Missouri on Saturday.
Georgia (2-7): It’s been a tough slog for second-year coach Tom Crean, whose Bulldogs have lost five of their last six games. That’s despite having the nation’s No. 1 freshman in Anthony Edwards. Georgia plays host to Alabama on Saturday.
Ole Miss (2-7): After an 0-5 start, the Rebels have split their last four games. That includes the home win over South Carolina on Wednesday in which Breein Tyree scored 28 points. Ole Miss plays host to Florida on Saturday.
Missouri (2-7): The Tigers continue to have trouble putting the ball in the basket. Cuonzo Martin’s team has failed to score 60 points in three of its last four games. Mizzou plays host to Arkansas on Saturday.
Vanderbilt (1-8): It’s been a tumultuous week for the Commodores. Athletic Director Malcolm Turner resigned on Tuesday after just one year on the job. Then the man Turner hired as basketball coach, Jerry Stackhouse, finally picked up his first SEC win on Wednesday by beating the league leader. Vandy is at Mississippi State on Saturday.
Saturday’s SEC schedule
- 12:00 - LSU at Auburn (ESPN)
- 1:00 - Kentucky at Tennessee (CBS)
- 1:00 - Texas A&M at South Carolina (SEC)
- 2:00 - Florida at Ole Miss (ESPN2)
- 3:30 - Arkansas at Missouri (SEC)
- 6:00 - Alabama at Georgia (SEC)
- 8:30 - Vanderbilt at Mississippi State (SEC)
Ken Pomeroy rankings
- Auburn - 30
- Kentucky - 33
- Arkansas - 34
- LSU - 37
- Mississippi State - 39
- Florida - 42
- Alabama - 48
- Tennessee - 60
- South Carolina - 88
- Georgia - 95
- Ole Miss - 114
- Missouri - 122
- Texas A&M - 155
- Vanderbilt - 173
Source: kenpom.com
This story was originally published February 6, 2020 at 8:29 AM.
