The SEC has asserted its dominance in the early part of the men’s college basketball season, with top teams like No. 1 Tennessee and No. 2 Auburn leading a total of nine conference teams into this week’s AP Top 25 rankings. As the SEC enters its conference play, teams are now set to compete fiercely against one another.
Beginning with a pivotal matchup, the Vols will travel to face eighth-ranked Florida on Tuesday, coinciding with sixth-ranked Kentucky’s clash against Georgia— another SEC team receiving votes in the latest poll. Wednesday features the No. 23 Ole Miss taking on Arkansas, which fell from the rankings following a significant defeat by Tennessee, alongside No. 10 Texas A&M visiting No. 17 Oklahoma.
The excitement peaks on what has been labeled “Super Saturday.” Notable games include the Vols visiting Texas, No. 5 Alabama against the Aggies, sixth-ranked Kentucky challenging No. 14 Mississippi State, Florida heading to Arkansas, and Oklahoma traveling to face Georgia. Reflecting on the competitive nature of the league, Arkansas Coach John Calipari remarked, “In this league, every game you’re going to play is going to be a hard game. Every one.” This sentiment highlights the challenges his team faces, having just suffered a 76-52 loss to Tennessee.
Both Alabama and Kentucky will endure a tough slate early in the season, with four of their first five conference games against ranked opponents, while Texas A&M faces a similar challenge. Conversely, Auburn has a relatively gentler start, facing Missouri, Texas, and South Carolina, but is expected to encounter a tougher schedule later, with back-to-back ranked matchups beginning in February.
Auburn Coach Bruce Pearl noted the unpredictable nature of the SEC, stating, “We’re good enough to win every game on the road. We’re good enough to lose every game at home. That’s how good the league is.” He recently celebrated his 213th victory at Auburn and stands on the verge of breaking a program record with a win over Texas.
With the SEC diving into intra-conference matchups, some winning streaks are primed to end. Tennessee, boasting a 14-0 record, could equate its second-longest winning streak with a victory over Florida, trailing only a 19-game stretch from the 2018-19 season. Texas A&M, currently 12-2 and riding an eight-game winning streak, and Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, both at 13-1 with seven wins in a row, show that the competition remains fierce.
As Coach Nate Oats of Alabama aptly put it, “We’re in it now. We’re in SEC play.”
In the Big 12, often regarded as a highly competitive basketball conference, marquee teams continue to emerge as well. Iowa State, with a record of 13-1, has surged with nine consecutive victories since its earlier loss to Auburn. Preseason favorite No. 11 Kansas is also making headlines, showcasing dominance after recovering from a last-second loss to West Virginia with a decisive win over UCF.
Kansas is set to face Arizona State on Wednesday before making a trip to Cincinnati, which has recently dropped from the Top 25.
The mid-major scene is equally thrilling. No. 18 Gonzaga is scheduled to go against San Diego and subsequently face Washington State and Oregon State, newly minted members of the restructured West Coast Conference. Washington State, now 13-3, has begun its league play strong with three wins, while Oregon State holds a record of 12-4.
Meanwhile, Memphis has climbed to No. 19 and is preparing to take on East Carolina in a key American Athletic Conference matchup this Saturday. Lastly, No. 25 Utah State will seek to defend its ranking in upcoming games against San Jose State and Boise State.
