Updated SEC Basketball Standings; plus weekend schedule

Current SEC standings WITH tie-breakers for SEC Tournament:

Kentucky 11-4
South Carolina 10-5
Texas A&M 10-5
LSU 9-6
Vanderbilt 9-6
Florida 8-7
Ole Miss 8-7
Georgia 7-8
Alabama 7-8*
Arkansas 7-8
Tennessee 6-9
Auburn 5-10**
Mississippi State 5-10**
Missouri 3-12***

*has not played Georgia or Arkansas
**no current tie-breaker
***ineligible for postseason play


Weekend Schedule:

Ole Miss @ Georgia, 11:00am, SEC Network
South Carolina @ Mississippi State, 1:30, SEC Network
Kentucky @ Vanderbilt, 3:00, CBS
Texas A&M @ Missouri, 3:00, espnU
Auburn @ Alabama, 4:00, SEC Network
Arkansas @ Tennessee, 6:30, SEC Network
Florida @ LSU, 7:30, ESPN



Kentucky got another big home victory this week, which has become the norm under Coach Calipari. Although the Wildcats only have one home game remaining in the regular season, it seems very likely that they will at least earn a share of the regular season conference title. However, I do think if there's a loss remaining for the Cats, it's this weekend to Vanderbilt. The Commodores seem to be surging at the right time, and a win would certainly push them into the NCAA Tournament field. Nevertheless, Kentucky is in a great spot. They are only going to get healthier as time passes, and could get up to around a 3 seed in the NCAAs. Kentucky is primed to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.
Fun Fact: The Wildcats have reached the Elite Eight, or better, in every NCAA Tournament under John Calipari.

If anyone is going to share the regular season crown with Kentucky, the favorite is certainly Texas A&M. Firstly, they're clearly the second-best team in the conference, in my opinion. Sure, they hit a big losing streak in conference play, but I believe both their talent level and overall résumé are better than any other team in the SEC. Secondly, their schedule in the final three games is very favorable. Yes, they have two remaining road games; but they are against the two worst teams in the conference. If Kentucky drops their game at Vanderbilt this weekend, the Aggies should be playing their regular season finale with a share of the conference title on the line.

South Carolina is also a game out of first place, and while their schedule isn't too difficult down the stretch, it does consist of two decently tough road games. While a 2-1 finish very likely wouldn't be enough for a share of the conference title, it would lock up a top 4-seed in the SEC Tournament. As for their NCAA Tournament outlook, South Carolina really just needs to win their last home game against Georgia, and then avoid a bad loss in Nashville. Worst case scenario would obviously be to lose the rest of their games (including their first game in the SEC Tournament against a lesser team), which would would put their RPI in the 60s, and have them on the outside looking in. That seems unlikely, though, at this point. Look for South Carolina as an 8 or 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

A team that you shouldn't be looking for in the NCAA Tournament is LSU. After the Tigers propelled themselves into a good position just a couple of weeks ago, they now have played themselves firmly out of the big dance. While a 2-1 finish would likely assure LSU a top-4 seed and a double-bye in the SEC Tournament, they would still have a ton of work left to do. Basically, there are only two scenarios that could/would result in LSU making the NCAA Tournament: 1) Win the final three games of the regular season (including a win in Rupp), beat two top-50 RPI opponents in the SEC Tournament, then lose in the tournament final. 2) Win the SEC Tournament. The first scenario would still only put LSU's RPI in the high-60s, but it would give them three additional top-50 RPI wins away from home, which would be big.
Fun Fact: The school with the eventual #1 pick in the NBA Draft has not missed the NCAA Tournament in that player's final college season since Pacific in 1998 (Michael Olowokandi).

After a big road win against Florida, Vanderbilt has an opportunity for an enormous win that could put them in the NCAA Tournament. The Commodores have won 4 of their last 5, with the only loss coming at the buzzer in Starkville. If they can find a way to beat Kentucky and Tennessee at home, I think they can afford to lose their season finale at Texas A&M. That would have their RPI around 50 going into the SEC Tournament. If they were to lose to both Kentucky and Texas A&M, they would likely enter the SEC Tournament with an RPI in the mid-60s. Frankly, this is the biggest game of the season for Vanderbilt.

Florida might soon be on the other side of things. I said recently that the Gators could be at the beginning of a major slide to end their season, and it seems like that scenario is playing out. The game this weekend against LSU is essentially a must-win for both teams, but even more so for Florida. With a likely loss to Kentucky looming next week, the Gators need to stop this two-game losing streak right now. If they were to finish the regular season 1-2, Florida's RPI would be in the mid-50s. That would mean they'd have some work to do in the SEC Tournament. The problem? A 1-2 finish for Florida could very well place them as the 7 or 8 seed in the SEC Tournament, meaning a likely match-up with Kentucky or Texas A&M early on in Nashville.

Alabama is in a position now where they really have to beat Georgia in Athens in their last regular season game. Before that game, they have two very winnable home games against Auburn and Arkansas. With a 3-0 finish, the Tide will have an RPI inside the top 50. However, a loss to Georgia would put their RPI outside the top 60. It is possible the Tide could make a run in the SEC Tournament, but they'd feel a lot more comfortable padding their RPI before they get to Nashville.