SEC Basketball Power Rankings 12/9

1. Kentucky (7-2, RPI 92, LW: 1) Next game: Dec. 10 vs. Boise State

The Wildcats definitely blew a chance for a good win against Baylor in Dallas last Friday. Plenty of chances left for them to get a quality non-conference win with North Carolina, Belmont and Louisville still on left on the December schedule.

2. Florida (6-2, RPI 35, LW: 2) Next game: Dec. 10 vs. Kansas

Not getting wins against top 25 teams is a common theme in the SEC right now. The Gators have Kansas and Memphis left on the non-conference schedule to get a quality win.

3. Missouri (9-0, RPI 20, LW: 7) Next game: Dec. 15 vs. Western Michigan

The Tigers make the biggest jump this week in the power rankings. After wins against double-directional and five letter acronym schools, Mizzou got quality wins over West Virginia and UCLA. They still have not played a true road game, so we’ll see how they do at Illinois and at North Carolina State later in December.

4. LSU (5-2, RPI 56, LW: 3) Next game: Dec. 14 vs. Louisiana-Monroe

With their two losses to top 25 RPI teams, it’s hard to count those against the Bayou Bengals. They need to win out their non-conference schedule to still have a chance to hear their name called come March.

5. Arkansas (6-2, RPI 16, LW: 4) Next game: Dec. 12 vs. Savannah State

The Hogs joined the "we beat the pants off Southeastern Louisiana" club last week. However, that doesn’t mean much in the power rankings. A lethargic performance at home against a team that is projected to finish close to last in the ACC doesn’t help either.

6. Tennessee (6-2, RPI 114, LW: 6) Next game: Dec. 14 at Wichita State

If they win at Wichita State, the Volunteers could shoot up to as high as third in next week’s power rankings. A loss and they are destined to the middle of the pack until they win some conference games.

7. Ole Miss (6-2, RPI 57, LW: 5) Next game: Dec. 14 vs. Middle Tennessee

I was prepared to move the Rebels up to second in the power rankings if they had won at Kansas State and at home against Oregon. They lost both and now they’re here. Just an interesting note, they lost to Middle Tennessee the past two seasons.

8. Vanderbilt (5-3, RPI 94, LW: 9) Next game: Dec. 17 vs. Austin Peay

They don’t have any bad losses, but they don’t have a win over a team with an RPI better than 200.

9. Alabama (4-4, RPI 97, LW: 8) Next game: Dec. 14 vs. Charleston Southern

I honestly think Alabama is better than Vanderbilt, but they lost to Stan Heath’s South Florida team. For that, they were dropped in the power rankings, awarded no points and may God have mercy on their souls.

10. Texas A&M (7-2, RPI 128, LW: T-11) Next game: Dec. 14 vs. McNeese State

They have a home game against Oklahoma left on the non-conference schedule. I think they’ll lose by 20, but at least they didn’t take the Sooners off their schedule (*Cough* *Cough* Arkansas).

11. Mississippi State (5-2, RPI 238, LW: T-11) Next game: Dec. 13 vs. Southeastern Louisiana

The Bulldogs also look to join the "we beat the pants off Southeastern Louisiana" club.

12. South Carolina (2-3, RPI 82, LW: 10) Next game: Dec. 17 vs. Manhattan

Shout out to the Gamecoacks for having a strong non-conference strength of schedule (16). Too bad they aren’t good enough to win any of those games.

13. Georgia (3-4, RPI 332, LW: 13) Next game: Dec. 14 vs. Lipscomb

They’re pretty dreadful, but they still haven’t lost to a Southland Conference school.

14. Auburn (4-3, RPI 254, LW:14) Next game: Dec. 19 vs. Clemson

Congratulations to the Auburn Tiger football team on winning the SEC and the chance to play for a national championship.