1. Texas A&M
Record • 11-2, 0-1 SEC
Coach • Billy Kennedy, seventh year
RPI, KenPom ranking • No. 9, No. 11
Strongest nonconference wins • West Virginia, Southern California, Oklahoma State
The skinny • Kennedy rarely has had his full lineup available, as was the case in Saturday’s loss at Alabama. Leading scorer D.J. Hogg, a versatile 6-9 forward who can stretch defenses with his shooting touch, has been serving a three-game suspension, while starting guard Admon Gilder has missed time because of a knee injury. Once his lineup is intact, Kennedy should have the league’s most complete lineup of size and shooting. Robert Williams, a 6-foot-10 likely lottery pick who could have jumped to the NBA last year, curiously is scoring only eight points a game. The Aggies’ only nonconference loss came against Arizona.
2. Kentucky
Record • 11-2, 1-0 SEC
Coach • John Calipari, ninth year
RPI, KenPom ranking • No. 18, No. 17
Strongest nonconference wins • Louisville, Virginia Tech
The skinny • The Wildcats are younger than ever with six freshmen getting the bulk of Calipari’s minutes, led by Hamidou Diallo (15.3 points a game) and Kevin Knox (15.1). The Cats need a true point guard to emerge, and lately that’s been Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s coming off consecutive strong games against Louisville and Georgia. Kansas and UCLA were the only teams to trip up the Cats in nonconference play.
3. Arkansas
Record • 11-2, 1-0 SEC
Coach • Mike Anderson, seventh year
RPI, KenPom ranking • No. 4, No. 22
Strongest nonconference wins • Oklahoma, Minnesota, Connecticut
The skinny • This has the makings of Anderson’s best team in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks are efficient on the offensive end, rarely turn the ball over and shoot nearly 41 percent from 3-point range. Senior guards Jaylen Barford (19.3) and Daryl Macon (15.6) have been one of the league’s top scoring tandems. Even better, Anderson’s top three scorers all average at least three assists a game. The Hogs slipped against North Carolina and Houston before opening conference action with an overtime win over Tennessee.
4. Alabama
Record • 9-4, 1-0 SEC
Coach • Avery Johnson, third year
RPI, KenPom ranking • No. 30, No. 44
Strongest nonconference wins • Rhode Island, Brigham Young
The skinny • Infused by freshman guard Collin Sexton, the league’s top scoring guard at 20.1 points a game, the Tide finally might reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012. Johnson’s most talented team doesn’t have much size but features dynamic freshman guard John Petty and sophomore Dazon Ingram. ’Bama dropped nonconference games against Minnesota, Central Florida, Arizona and Texas but opened SEC play beating a depleted Texas A&M squad.
5. Tennessee
Record • 9-3, 0-1 SEC
Coach • Rick Barnes, third year
RPI, KenPom ranking • No. 12, 20
Strongest nonconference wins • Purdue, North Carolina State, Wake Forest
The skinny • Picked near the league’s bottom in preseason polls, the Vols have vaulted into the national rankings with a strong start, slowed only in nonconference play with losses to national powers Villanova and North Carolina — the last two NCAA Tournament champions. Barnes’ team plays strong defense and shoots well from deep, and 6-7 sophomore Grant Williams (15.1 points, 6.6 rebounds) has played like an all-conference candidate.
6. Florida
Record • 9-4, 1-0 SEC
Coach • Mike White, third year
RPI, KenPom ranking • No. 87, No. 35
Strongest nonconference wins • Gonzaga, Cincinnati
The skinny • A preseason top-10 team, the Gators have two of the league’s best nonconference wins (over Gonzaga and Cincinnati) but an inexplicable home loss to Loyola-Chicago of the Missouri Valley Conference. Jalen Hudson, a 6-foot-6 transfer from Virginia Tech, has been a potent perimeter scorer, averaging 17.4 points and shooting 42 percent from behind the arc. But Florida needs more from preseason All-Southeastern Conference guard KeVaughn Allen.
7. Missouri
Record • 10-3, 0-0 SEC
Coach • Cuonzo Martin, first year
RPI, KenPom ranking • No. 24, No. 51
Strongest nonconference wins • Iowa State, St. John’s, Central Florida
The skinny • The Tigers haven’t had the services of five-star freshman Michael Porter Jr. but still feature potent shooters Kassius Robertson (15.1 points a game) and Jordan Barnett (14.8). Martin needs more consistent play at point guard and could give freshman Blake Harris a longer leash once league play begins. Mizzou doesn’t have great victories but doesn’t have bad losses either. The Tigers have fallen to Utah, West Virginia and Illinois, all away from home.
8. Auburn
Record • 12-1, 0-0 SEC
Coach • Bruce Pearl, fourth year
RPI, KenPom ranking • No. 29, No. 37
Strongest nonconference wins • Dayton, Middle Tennessee, Connecticut
The skinny • The one Southeastern Conference team implicated in the sweeping federal investigation into agents and apparel companies, Auburn has survived without guard Danjel Purifoy and center Austin Wiley, who are sitting out indefinitely during the investigation. The undersized Tigers haven’t played a rigorous schedule — their lone loss came to Temple — and have leaned on Bryce Brown and Mustafa Heron for scoring.
9. Georgia
Record • 9-3, 0-1 SEC
Coach • Mark Fox, ninth year
RPI, KenPom ranking • No. 58, No. 63
Strongest nonconference wins • St. Mary’s, Marquette, Temple
The skinny • Like past matchups, Georgia had Kentucky on the ropes Sunday in Lexington but couldn’t close the deal. Fox’s lineup features the league’s most accomplished big man in Yante Maten (19.9 points a game, 9.5 rebounds), but turnovers and 3-point shooting have held the Bulldogs back the first two months of the season. Georgia’s other losses came to San Diego State and Massachusetts.
10. South Carolina
Record • 9-4, 0-1 SEC
Coach • Frank Martin, sixth year
RPI, KenPom ranking • No. 47, No. 62
Strongest nonconference wins • Wyoming, Wofford
The skinny • The Gamecocks appeared in their first Final Four last year but haven’t replaced their top three perimeter threats. Martin’s team has struggled with turnovers and free throw shooting. While still strong on defense, it hasn’t been up to South Carolina’s elite standards. The Gamecocks, with losses to Illinois State, Temple, Clemson and Mississippi, could use more production from the perimeter to complement 6-9 forward Chris Silva — Martin’s best all-around player.
11. Mississippi State
Record • 12-1, 0-0 SEC
Coach • Ben Howland, third year
RPI, KenPom ranking • No. 74, No. 68
Strongest nonconference wins • Stephen F. Austin, Dayton
The skinny • The Bulldogs haven’t been tested by a high-major conference foe, other than in a loss at Cincinnati, but Howland’s team has shown some growth on both ends of the floor. Four players average double-digit points, led by junior guard Quinndary Weatherspoon (14.2). Abdul Ado, a 6-11 freshman center, has added some much-needed size to the rotation, teaming with 6-10 junior Aric Holman to give Mississippi State some rare height in its frontcourt.
12. LOUISIANA STATE
Record • 9-3, 0-0 SEC
Coach • Will Wade, first year
RPI, KenPom ranking • No. 121, No. 80
Strongest nonconference wins • Michigan, Houston
The skinny • Under Will Wade, the league’s only first-year coach, the Tigers already are one win away from matching last year’s total. LSU lost to Notre Dame, Marquette and Stephen F. Austin but showed some positive signs, starting with freshman guard Tremont Waters, who ranks fifth in the league in scoring (17.1) and leads the SEC in assists (6.4) and steals (2.6). The Tigers rank among the nation’s best shooting teams.
13. MissISSIPPI
Record • 8-5, 1-0 SEC
Coach • Andy Kennedy, 12th year
RPI, KenPom ranking • No. 159, No. 82
Strongest nonconference wins • Bradley, Georgia State
The skinny • Kennedy is the dean of the SEC coaches and always has a competitive team — see a victory Sunday over South Carolina — but more wins might be hard to find for the Rebels, who have lost to Illinois State and South Dakota State. Kennedy has some prolific perimeter scorers, but the rotation lacks size and inside scoring.
14. Vanderbilt
Record • 5-8, 0-1 SEC
Coach • Bryce Drew, second year
RPI, KenPom ranking • No. 164, No. 74
Strongest nonconference wins • North Carolina-Asheville
The skinny • Drew led Vandy to the NCAA Tournament in his first season last year, but shooting woes and a grueling schedule left the Commodores under .500 after nonconference play, including losses to mid-majors Middle Tennessee and Belmont. The lineup features one of the league’s more versatile players in 6-6 forward Jeff Roberson, a strong rebounder and 3-point sniper.