As the non-conference portion of the NCAA schedule begins to close, teams across the country are gearing up for hard-fought battles on a nightly basis within their conferences. In the SEC, the battle for the regular season championship will commence on Wednesday, Dec. 29, with five games, headlined by LSU at Auburn at 7:00 and Tennessee at Alabama at 9:00. As the 14 teams begin the process of determining a champion, here is a team-by-team breakdown of each team in the SEC, as well as my prediction on how the final SEC standings will shake out.
Quadrant 1, Quadrant 2, Quadrant 3 and Quadrant 4 records are determined by the NCAA’s NET evaluation tool, courtesy of Warrennolan.com.
Player and team statistics courtesy of Sports-reference.com/cbb
Alabama Crimson Tide
Record: 9-3
Q1: 2-2
Q2: 1-1
Q3: 6-0
Q4: 0-0
After winning both the regular season and SEC Tournament championships during the 2020-21 season, the Crimson Tide are once again ranked as one of the best teams in the country entering conference play, though as evidenced in their loss to Davidson on Tuesday, the defense needs significant work. Led by a pair of junior guards in Jaden Shackelford (16.8 PPG) and Jahvon Quinerly (14.7 PPG), Alabama’s high-powered offense ranks 14th in the country with 82.9 points per game. Senior guard Keon Ellis, listed at 6’6, brings length to the perimeter for the Tide, grabbing 6.5 rebounds per game, in addition to 12.4 points per game. In the frontcourt, 7’0 freshman Charles Bediako and forwards Juwan Gary, Darius Miles and Noah Gurley provide rebounding and interior scoring help, though Bediako and Gurley are the lone rotational players taller than 6’6.
Biggest Strengths: Two-point shooting, offensive rebounding
Biggest Weaknesses: Forcing turnovers
Arkansas Razorbacks
Record: 10-2
Q1: 0-1
Q2: 2-1
Q3: 0-0
Q4: 8-0
The Razorbacks picked up one final nonconference victory on Tuesday against Elon, but enter the end of December on a low note after losing to Hofstra 89-81 at home on Saturday. To this point, Arkansas’ best nonconference win is Cincinnati on a neutral court, a team that has flashed potential but also inconsistency to this point. Senior guard J.D. Notae has taken a step forward in a lead role for the Razorbacks this season, averaging 18.0 points per game. A guard-heavy team, Arkansas’ top five scorers all come from the backcourt, including seniors Chris Lykes and Au’Diese Toney, and sophomore Davonte Davis, who broke out in the NCAA Tourmanent last season. Forward Jaylin Williams has been huge on the glass for Arkansas, grabbing a team-leading 8.3 rebounds per game.
Biggest Strengths: Defensive rebounding, ball security
Biggest Weaknesses: Three-point defense, three-point shooting
Auburn Tigers
Record: 10-1
Q1: 2-1
Q2: 1-0
Q3: 2-0
Q4: 5-0
It has been the Jabari Smith show at Auburn in 2021-22, as the 6’10 freshman has cemented himself as a candidate for the first overall pick in the NBA Draft and has challenged the likes of Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero for the best freshman in college basketball. Smith has anchored the frontcourt for the Tigers, averaging 16.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. North Carolina transfer Walker Kessler has provided support for Smith at the other forward position, while guards K.D. Johnson and Wendell Green have anchored the backcourt. The Tigers are hoping for the healthy return of guard Allen Flanigan in the near future, who will provide veteran leadership on the court after averaging 14.3 points per game for the Tigers in 27 games last season.
Biggest Strengths: Ball security, interior defense
Biggest Weaknesses: Free throw differential, defensive rebounding
Florida Gators
Record: 8-3
Q1: 1-1
Q2: 0-0
Q3: 2-2
Q4: 5-0
One of the strongest defensive teams in the country, the Gators will rely on keeping opponents in the half court and winning physical games, a strategy that could yield great results, especially in the dog days of SEC play. Anchored by one of the best forwards in the conference in Colin Castleton (14.7 PPG, 9.5 RPG), the Gators will play through him on the offensive end. Guards Phlandrous Fleming and Tyree Appleby, while not the most consistent threats from outside the arc, are talented scorers and will carry the backcourt load, while forward Anthony Duruji and guard Myreon Jones play important roles on the wing as well.
Biggest Strengths: Offensive rebounding, forcing turnovers
Biggest Weaknesses: Three-point shooting
Georgia Bulldogs
Record: 5-6
Q1: 0-2
Q2: 1-1
Q3: 1-3
Q4: 3-0
Led by a standout defense that has ranked near the top of the FBS leaderboards for much of the season, Georgia enters the College Football Playoff on Dec. 31 with one of the best teams that they have had in years. Quarterback Stetson Bennett and a group of talented skill position players including Zamir White and Brock Bowers give the Bulldogs… wait, what’s that? That’s right we’re talking about the Georgia basketball team.
Georgia fans may rather we just talk about Kirby Smart and the team on the gridiron. The Georgia basketball team has picked up six losses already on the season, including a recent home defeat to George Mason. On the bright side, forward Braelen Bridges has adjusted nicely to SEC competition, averaging 13.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game after transferring from UIC.
Biggest Strengths: Getting to the free-throw line
Biggest Weaknesses: Three-point shooting, ball security and forcing turnovers on defense
Kentucky Wildcats
Record: 8-2
Q1: 1-1
Q2: 0-1
Q3: 1-0
Q4: 6-0
Fresh off their worst performance of the season on Dec. 11 at Notre Dame, the Wildcats reversed course on Saturday against North Carolina in Las Vegas, dominating the Tar Heels in all facets of the game en route to a 98-69 victory. Led by one of the most tenacious rebounders in the country, Oscar Tshiebwe, who has also blossomed into a terrific low post scorer this season at Kentucky, the Wildcats are the one of the most experienced teams that John Calipari has had in Lexington. The Cats do have one freshman standout however, guard TyTy Washington, who has formed a dynamic backcourt with point guard and Georgia transfer Sahvir Wheeler.
Biggest Strength: Offensive rebounding, two-point shooting
Biggest Weakness: Forcing turnovers, getting to the free-throw line
LSU Tigers
Record: 11-0
Q1: 1-0
Q2: 3-0
Q3: 4-0
Q4: 3-0
One of just six remaining unbeaten teams in the country, LSU currently ranks third in the NET ratings and fourth in RPI. It is worth noting however, that of the Tigers 11 victories, seven have come against quadrant three and four teams. Led by a pair of imposing forwards in Tari Eason (16.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG) and Darius Days (14.5 PPG, 8.7 RPG), the Tigers have posted the top defensive rating in the country according to Sports Reference. To continue the success that they have had through the nonconference portion of the schedule, LSU will need improved shooting, particularly from guards Xavier Pinson, Brandon Murray, and Eric Gaines.
Biggest Strength: Defense, free-throw shooting
Biggest Weakness: Three-point shooting
Ole Miss
Record: 8-4
Q1: 0-0
Q2: 1-2
Q3: 2-2
Q4: 5-0
The Rebels have racked up eight wins in nonconference play, a healthy total for a team that won 16 games total last season, though Ole Miss has done so with a weak nonconference slate. Five of the Rebels’ eight wins have come against Q4 opponents, and the team recently suffered a loss to Samford at home. It remains to be seen how this Ole Miss squad will stack up against better competition in the SEC, though it is a safe bet that guard Jarkell Joiner (14.8 PPG) will continue to provide excellent scoring from the guard position. Elsewhere in the backcourt, Tye Fagan and Luis Rodriguez provide perimeter support for Joiner. In the frontcourt, Miami transfer Nysier Brooks has taken a step forward in 25.8 minutes per game, averaging 8.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Biggest Strengths: Ball security, three-point defense
Biggest Weaknesses: Three-point shooting, free-throw shooting
Mississippi State
Record: 9-3
Q1: 0-1
Q2: 1-2
Q3: 3-0
Q4: 5-0
One of the most difficult teams to figure out thus far in the SEC, the Bulldogs are led by two All-SEC caliber players in guard Iverson Molinar (16.9 PPG, 4.4 APG) and Garrison Brooks (11.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG), and have already collected eight victories on the season. However, much like Ole Miss, Mississippi State has feasted on weaker opponents, winning seven games against Q3 and Q4 opponents. The Bulldogs open SEC play on Dec. 29 vs. Arkansas that should give us a more appropriate approximation of their potential. One storyline to watch for the Bulldogs as conference play progresses is the development of D.J. Jeffries (transfer from Memphis), and the health of Tolu Smith, as each are now averaging double-digits in scoring and have proven to be effective rebounders.
Biggest Strengths: Offensive rebounding, free-throw differential
Biggest Weaknesses: Forcing turnovers
Missouri Tigers
Record: 6-5
Q1: 0-1
Q2: 1-2
Q3: 3-0
Q4: 5-0
If their horrendous 102-65 loss at Kansas on Dec. 11 wasn’t enough evidence to declare Missouri one of, if not the weakest team in the SEC, the Tigers have also registered losses to UMKC 80-66 at home and to Liberty on the road (a good team, but 66-45 is unacceptable). Outside of junior forward Kobe Brown, Missouri has struggled to consistently put the ball in the basket, as evidenced by their 24.5 three-point shooting percentage and just 67.9 points per game. The Tigers did just earn an impressive victory over Utah at home, though Missouri will have to run the gauntlet for the beginning of SEC play, playing at Kentucky, home against Mississippi State and Alabama, and at Arkansas for their first four games in conference play.
Biggest Strength: Offensive rebounding
Biggest Weakness: Three-point shooting, ball security, three-point defense
South Carolina Gamecocks
Record: 7-3
Q1: 0-1
Q2: 3-0
Q3: 1-2
Q4: 3-0
A frustratingly inconsistent team to begin 2021-22, South Carolina has picked up wins over UAB, Wofford, Florida State and Western Kentucky, while also suffering a loss to Princeton and a blowout loss at Coastal Carolina. So where exactly does coach Frank Martin’s squad stack up among the rest of the SEC? The answer: probably somewhere in the middle. The Gamecocks do not have a game-changing, All-SEC player on the roster to carry them down the stretch of close games, though South Carolina does have a pair of intriguing forwards in Wildens Leveque and Keshawn Bryant. Junior guard Jermaine Couisnard leads the team with 11.3 points per game, though he will need to cut down on the 3.6 turnovers per game that he has posted thus far.
Biggest Strengths: Shooting defense, Offensive rebounding
Biggest Weaknesses: Shooting, ball security, free-throw shooting
Tennessee Volunteers
Record: 8-2
Q1: 1-2
Q2: 0-1
Q3: 1-0
Q4: 5-0
Outside of an uncharacteristic showing against Texas Tech at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 7, the Volunteers have been one of the best offensive teams in the country this season, led by five-star point guard Kennedy Chandler, a likely lottery pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. The dynamic guard has averaged 14.6 points and 5.4 assists per game, while also helping elevate players around him on the court, including guard Santiago Vescovi and forwards Olivier Nkamhoua and John Fulkerson. Rick Barnes has another strong defensive team in Knoxville, anchored by strong guard play and veteran leadership, making the Vols a real threat to win the SEC and make a deep run through the NCAA Tournament.
Biggest Strengths: Defense, ball security
Biggest Weaknesses: Free throw differential, free-throw shooting
Texas A&M Aggies
Record: 9-2
Q1: 0-1
Q2: 0-1
Q3: 4-0
Q4: 5-0
With just two games against teams that are labeled at least quadrant two teams, the Aggies have not been tested enough to get an accurate gauge of where this team stands in the SEC. A successful run at the Maui Invitational in which the Aggies defeated Buter and Notre Dame was a good start, though Buzz Williams’ team has still struggled at times to consistently score. Guard Quenton Jackson is the closest that Texas A&M has to a standout player on offense, though the Aggies do have five players averaging at least 8.0 points per game behind him, headlined by forward Henry Coleman and guards Marcus Williams and Tyrece Radford.
Biggest Strengths: Three-point shooting, forcing turnovers
Biggest Weaknesses: Free-throw shooting, defensive rebounding
Vanderbilt Commodores
Record: 6-4
Q1: 0-1
Q2: 1-1
Q3: 1-1
Q4: 4-1
Point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. is a stud, and fans should take advantage of the opportunity to watch him play before he follows in his father’s legendary footsteps and takes his talents to the NBA in the near future. As for the rest of the Vanderbilt roster (outside of another guard, Jordan Wright), the Commodores have struggled to form a cohesive offensive unit, ranking 227th in the nation in points per game as of Dec. 20, and while their defense has held up in nonconference, they have also played five games against Q4 opponents. Pippen and Wright will be able to keep this team competitive with their dynamic playmaking ability on the perimeter, though Vanderbilt will likely only amount to a mediocre team in the SEC at best.
Biggest Strengths: Forcing turnovers, two-point defense
Biggest Weaknesses: Three-point shooting
Projected Standings
1. Kentucky
2. Tennessee
3. Auburn
4. Alabama
5. LSU
6. Arkansas
7. Mississippi State
8. Florida
9. Texas A&M
10. South Carolina
11. Ole Miss
12. Vanderbilt
13. Missouri
14. Georgia
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