While conference play is just getting started, there seems to be some defined tiers forming in the league. Who is the best team in the SEC right now?
The Contenders
Auburn
Right now, this conversation starts with the Auburn Tigers, who are off to a blazing 13-2 start including a 2-0 start to conference play. Bruce Pearl’s re-tooled squad has been phenomenal, especially on the defensive end, holding Texas A&M’s star Wade Taylor to a 2 of 16 shooting night and holding the Aggies without a field goal in the final nine minutes to secure the win. Auburn will take on LSU this Saturday evening at home.
Tennessee
Ranked No. 5 in the AP Poll and led by familiar stars Santiago Vescovi, Zakai Ziegler, and Josiah Jordan-James as well as a new face in transfer guard Dalton Knecht, the Vols destroyed Ole Miss in their opener over the weekend but took an upset loss last night on the road against Mississippi State.
Kentucky
The Wildcats sit at No. 6 in the AP Poll and are off to a 2-0 conference start after a convincing win over lowly Missouri Tuesday night. Antonio Reeves has been sensational this year, averaging over 18 points per game while freshman sensation D.J. Wagner has been a huge piece as well. In the post Oscar Tshiebwe era, the Cats are off to a good start. They hit the road to College Station to take on Texas A&M on Saturday.
A Tier Below
Alabama
The Crimson Tide have had the toughest schedule in the nation, with a ridiculous three game stretch against Purdue, Creighton and Arizona a huge part of the reason why the team is 10-5. Defense is the issue, and slowly but surely things seem to be coming more together for Alabama on the defensive end. Mark Sears and the Tide offense will continue to try to outscore people, but if Alabama wants any chance at defending its conference crown, defensive performances like last night’s second half against South Carolina will be needed.
Ole Miss
Ole Miss is off to a 14-1 start and just destroyed Florida last night, who was looking like one of the better teams in the conference after the first Saturday. New head coach Chris Beard has won everywhere he’s been and there is no reason to think Ole Miss will be any different. Year one should be a process and the Rebs got smoked by Tennessee in the first game, but it’s a decent start for a program that has been down for a long time.
The Rest
After the first two groups of teams, things become a complete mess. There feel like a defined worst teams in the conference in Missouri and Vanderbilt with LSU potentially a small notch above, but after that it feels like a real mess of teams that we need to see more conference play from before there is some separation.
It’s a long season, and it’s only just getting started.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP
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