SEC Basketball Power Rankings: Week 1

Check out where Alabama lands after its opening night loss to Penn

Author:
Joey Blackwell
Publish date:
Nov 11, 2019 11:00 AM EST

A fairly non-eventful Week 1 in college basketball is complete, and as it will be every Monday this season, it’s time for an update to the SEC Power Rankings.

No. 2 Kentucky started off the season strong, upsetting No. 1 Michigan State in their season opener, then beating Eastern Kentucky 91-49 three days later. The Wildcats are expected to be the top team in the SEC this season, and with good reason.

No. 6 Florida won its opening-night matchup against North Florida, but then lost to unranked Florida State in Gainesville. After a disappointing 2018 season, the Gators are hoping this isn’t a sign of things to in the coming months. Florida drops to the fourth spot this week, but expect them to rise in the next couple of weeks.

Alabama lost a heartbreaker to Penn on Tuesday, starting off the Nate Oats era in rocky fashion. Crimson Tide fans shouldn’t worry, though. Penn is a solid team, and is projected to finish second in the Ivy League this season, and with sophomore guard Jahvon Quinerly potentially joining the team this week, Alabama will see an uptick in offensive production. If Alabama isn’t able to get things done in tonight’s matchup against Florida Atlantic, however, things could get very bad very quickly for the Crimson Tide.

The rest of the SEC remains relatively unchanged. It’s still too early to tell with most of the SEC given the cupcake non conference opponents thus far, but several big matchups in the remaining days of November will provide greater clarity as to who will emerge as the SEC’s best teams before SEC play in January.

Check out the Power Rankings after Week 1:

1. Kentucky (2-0)

2. LSU (1-0)

3. Auburn (2-0)

4. Florida (1-1)

5. Tennessee (1-0)

6. Mississippi State (2-0)

7. Georgia (1-0)

8. Alabama (0-1)

9. Ole Miss (1-0)

10. Arkansas (1-0)

11. South Carolina (2-0)