ESPN Men's Basketball

OK, OK, I know, I know: Frank Martin has yet to coach a game at South Carolina. You have to coach a game at a school before you can be placed in the annals of said school's greatest all-time coaches. Coaching at Kansas State is not quite like coaching at South Carolina, and there's a chance Martin could fail miserably in Columbia. I don't think that's likely, but I get what you're saying.

So let's ignore the superlatives. Let's instead talk about the hire itself, which Martin and South Carolina officially announced Tuesday. The Gamecocks somehow convinced Martin to leave a burgeoning basketball school with an intense fan base in Manhattan, Kan. -- one Martin guided to four NCAA tournaments, including a 2010 Elite Eight appearance -- to take over a program that has made exactly eight NCAA tournament appearances in school history. The Gamecocks have won six conference titles all time. The first four came in the Southern Conference in 1927, 1933, 1934 and 1945. The fifth came in the school's final year in the ACC in 1970. And the most recent -- and the only one in USC's current conference, the SEC -- came in 1997.

The best coach in Gamecocks school history? Frank McGuire. McGuire arrived in Columbia in 1964 after tenures at St. John's and North Carolina (where, after Dean Smith and Roy Williams, he remains the third-winningest coach in the school's history), and his hiring was accompanied by fanfare. McGuire won nearly 300 games in 16 seasons at the school, and from 1971 to 1974, he appeared in the NCAA tournament four times.

For that stretch of unbridled excellence (sarcasm alert), in 1977 -- while McGuire was still the coach at the school -- the Gamecocks renamed their arena in his honor.

The eras are different, of course, and the NCAA tournament was still a much smaller affair in McGuire's day. But since 1997, South Carolina has gone to three NCAA tournaments, the latest of which came in 2004. To paraphrase the immortal words of Mr. Larson from "Happy Gilmore," Martin eclipsed that feat in Manhattan in no more than five years. ("Well, moron, good for Happy Gil-MOH MY GOD.")

All of which has begged the question: Why? Why would Martin make this move?

At Tuesday's introductory news conference, Martin said it's because he relishes a challenge. ("Some people run away from challenges. I run to them. I always have.") That's a fair point, I suppose, but isn't taking on the Bill Self-led juggernaut that is Kansas -- and, now that Missouri has left for the SEC, fomenting a two-sided rivalry out of the current big-brother-little-brother dynamic -- challenge enough? That seems pretty challenging. Daunting, even.

Which is why many have speculated that the coach grew weary of a rift between himself and his athletic director and administration, which came to a head during this year's tournament, when forward Jamar Samuels was suspended for receiving a $200 wire transfer just before Kansas State's second-round game versus Syracuse. Which may or may not be true. Martin has denied as much, as has Kansas State AD John Currie, who told the Associated Press he tried to renegotiate Martin's contract as recently as this week. Whatever happened, it's clearly not as simple as the desire to take on a new challenge. There's something else there.

We may find out sooner rather than later ... but from South Carolina's perspective, who cares? The Gamecocks just made their most accomplished basketball hire since McGuire. They hired a coach with half as many tournament appearances in four years as the program has in its entire history, and they got a guy used to scrapping for success in a traditionally disadvantageous environment.

Martin may not go down as the greatest coach in USC hoops history, but he's immediately in the running. Hires like this just don't happen. Whatever the underlying reasons may be, the end result was one of the best weeks in Gamecocks men's hoops history. Martin hasn't even coached a game in Columbia, but that much is already true.

Andy Katz on Kansas State coach Frank Martin's move to South Carolina.

Andy Katz with the latest news on Kansas State coach Frank Martin and South Carolina.

Reports are that Kansas State coach Frank Martin is set to become South Carolina's new men's head basketball coach.

1. SMU is joining the Big East in 2013 and wants to make a slash in replacing Matt Doherty. The Mustangs, according to sources, have Marquette’s Buzz Williams in their sights. But those close to him would be stunned if he were to leave Marquette, now a top Big East program, for a school that will enter the league at the bottom. The money can’t be more than comparable to what he makes now, and proximity to his hometown can’t be that big a deal, right? Unless something happens to prove otherwise, chalk this one up to wishful thinking.

2. Illinois has now been spurned by VCU’s Shaka Smart and Butler’s Brad Stevens. This should be yet another sign how well schools pay at some spots outside the power six. And it speaks volumes about being happy with your situation, school, boss and city for a coach’s family. Now that Illinois has struck out with Smart and Stevens, it should focus on Ohio’s John Groce. Groce has done wonders with the Bobcats and has strong Big Ten ties. I’d be surprised if Groce were to turn this gig down if offered. He’s hot now and, while he could win the MAC next year, it’s still likely a one-bid league and winning the conference tournament is a tenuous proposition.

3. South Carolina would like Kansas State’s Frank Martin. But if Martin is seriously interested in leaving Kansas State (he has publicly said he hasn’t talked to anyone), he should look at Mississippi State, which is a better basketball job than South Carolina. There is plenty of talent in the state, more recent success in the sport, and a more passionate fan base for hoops.

NEW ORLEANS -- Of Alabama's seven conference losses, the unquestionable lowlight had to be a 56-54 upset at the hands of last-place South Carolina. The Crimson Tide got revenge for that January setback on Thursday at the SEC tournament, but Thursday's 63-57 win didn't come without a fight. The win offset a disappointing nine-point loss to Ole Miss to close the regular season, but a dogfight with the conference's worst team doesn't exactly inspire confidence. The Gamecocks' season comes to a merciful close after they endured three separate SEC losing streaks of four, five and six games, respectively.

Alabama appeared to be cruising when the game went to halftime. The Tide led by 11 and had the statistical edge in nearly every category, particularly a team shooting percentage of 52. But by riding their 3-point shooting, the Gamecocks surged back into contention. Alabama pushed the lead to as much as 10 points in the second half, but South Carolina connected on 8 of 24 3-pointers to keep things close.

The Gamecocks made a run at the lead with 7:30 remaining, when Brenton Williams sank consecutive 3-pointers, tying the score at 51.

Turning point: The teams battled down the stretch, with Alabama's lead hovering at four points or fewer throughout the final six minutes. A beautiful layup from Bruce Ellington, who broke Bama's hearts in the teams' first meeting, cut the lead to two points with just more than a minute remaining. With the game entering its final minute, the Tide's Andrew Steele found Trevor Lacey at the top of the arc. Lacey picked quite a time to hit Alabama's only 3-pointer of the afternoon, as he connected to give the Tide a five-point lead with 45 seconds left.

Key player: Lacey saw the court for only 17 minutes against the Gamecocks, but that was all the time he needed to lead all scorers with 15 points. The freshman found most of his production in the lane, as he cut through the South Carolina defense for three baskets, and worked his way to the free throw line six times. But when the Crimson Tide needed a basket, Lacey delivered from outside with his clinching 3-pointer.

Key stat: 82.8. The Crimson Tide took a whopping 29 trips to the free throw line against the Gamecocks, connecting on 24. South Carolina had a measly six attempts.

Miscellaneous: JaMychal Green showed why Alabama struggled so much during his four-game absence in February as a result of a suspension. Green played 33 minutes for the Crimson Tide and finished with 12 points, 7 boards and 2 blocks. Green's thunderous block on R.J. Slawson at the 12-minute mark of the second half was perhaps the highlight of the game until Lacey's big shot.

What's next: Alabama has a rematch with No. 4 seed Florida at 2:30 p.m. The Gators downed the Tide 61-52 on Valentine's Day -- although Alabama was missing Green at the time. South Carolina concludes its season with a 10-21 record. The only question remaining for the Gamecocks is whether coach Darrin Horn will keep his job.

Kentucky’s undefeated run through the SEC has to go down as one of the most impressive feats in the league’s history.

The Wildcats were pushed at times, but there was more dominance than anyone would have predicted in the preseason. Now the Big Blue move into the SEC tournament as the favorite en route to a likely No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament.

On to the final conference power rankings:

1. Kentucky: The Wildcats continue to handle every road challenge in the SEC, the final one coming Sunday at Florida. Not to worry. Just another double-digit win. Hey, even Anthony Davis made a 3-pointer. Scary.

2. Tennessee: The Vols swept Florida and then handled rival Vanderbilt at home Saturday. It says here that UT is the second-best team in the SEC and a deserving at-large candidate in the NCAA tournament. If John Calipari is SEC Coach of the Year, then Cuonzo Martin must be 1A.

3. Vanderbilt: The Commodores lost on the road at rival Tennessee, but they still finished in a tie with the Vols and Florida for second place. Vandy is flawed and has a weak bench, but the Commodores have done enough to be considered a top-three SEC team.

4. Florida: UF played well in spurts against Kentucky on Sunday, but once again couldn’t close it out against an elite team. Still, the Gators will do well in the NCAA tournament if they make 3s. It’s that simple for Florida.

5. Alabama: The Crimson Tide finished 9-7 in the SEC and have consistently been one of the top defensive teams in the league. But Bama struggles to score and that won’t be solved this week in the conference tournament.

6. Ole Miss: Andy Kennedy should get plenty of credit for rallying the Rebels despite a number of setbacks, including losing two key rotation players and being on the wrong end of a few blowouts. Ole Miss still found a way to finish 8-8 in SEC play.

7. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs are one of the more enigmatic teams in the country. The talent says this team should be top four in the league, but the results don’t back it up. The infighting died down last week and MSU won two games it had to have (overtime at South Carolina, and crushed Arkansas by 20). Mississippi State now has to avoid losing to Georgia in the first round of the SEC tourney.

8. Arkansas: The Hogs slumped down the stretch and lost five of their last six games. And losing at home to Ole Miss, Florida and Alabama took away some of the good vibe this team built at Bud Walton Arena earlier this season. Playing LSU in the SEC tournament could mean an early exit.

9. LSU: The Tigers finished with an improved 7-9 record as Trent Johnson has continued the rebuilding effort in Baton Rouge. But the three-game slide to end the regular season took some of the buzz out of the season. LSU can still salvage a possible postseason appearance with a win or two in New Orleans.

10. Georgia: The Bulldogs beat South Carolina by 12 to close the regular season with wins in two of their last three games. Mark Fox’s team can make perimeter shots, and if that happens this team can be a possible spoiler in the SEC tournament.

11. Auburn: The Tigers had a solid 15-point win over LSU to bookend a five-game set that started with a win over Mississippi State before they lost three in the middle. Auburn has had trouble scoring at times, but finally found production against the Tigers.

12. South Carolina: Darrin Horn is hoping he can continue to be the head coach of the Gamecocks, with a young team that will only improve in the offseason. There is talent in place, and there's no reason this team can’t climb a bit next season. Will Horn be around to see it?

The power structure in the SEC hasn’t moved one bit. Kentucky is king, and there doesn’t appear to be another team capable of getting to the Final Four.

1. Kentucky: Anthony Davis put on a show with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocks in a win against Vanderbilt. He’s a national player of the year co-favorite. UK is rolling right now as the No. 1 overall seed and the lead dog to win the national title.

2. Vanderbilt: The one thing you can say about the Commodores is that they don’t have bad SEC losses. Vandy fell to Kentucky twice, lost at Arkansas when the Hogs were unbeatable at home, and lost by one in overtime against Mississippi State when the Bulldogs were on a high. Vanderbilt still has the most experience in the league, even more so than Kentucky. That could serve it well in the coming weeks.

3. Florida: The Gators get this spot by default. Florida continues to befuddle. The Gators can look like a Final Four team at Arkansas, then appear to be a team that couldn’t get out of the First Four when they lose at Georgia. If this team makes 3s, it will advance. If it does not, it won’t. It's pretty simple.

4. Alabama: Credit Anthony Grant for the way he handled the suspensions. Despite the disciplinary actions, the Tide have moved up into the top four with three straight wins against Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi State. Alabama will now go to the NCAA tournament barring a complete collapse. JaMychal Green certainly got Grant’s message, and the Tide will go forward without Tony Mitchell, who remains suspended for the rest of the season.

5. Tennessee: Cuonzo Martin has the Vols believing in his philosophy of defense first. This team continues to be a spirited group that could be a spoiler in the SEC tournament. The numbers don’t add up in terms of an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, but there’s no reason to dismiss this team as a threat in New Orleans next week.

6. LSU: The Tigers are on the rebound from a disastrous two-year period. With seven league wins so far, LSU has been more than respectable. Trent Johnson has a postseason team that will benefit from playing a few extra games in March. The Tigers, like the Vols, could pose some problems at the SEC tournament in New Orleans.

7. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs have lost five in a row and are one of the most perplexing teams in the SEC. Yes, Renardo Sidney has had injuries (back), but no, he can't be the only reason for the slide. Losing to Kentucky at home is acceptable. But dropping a home game to Georgia and failing to win one road game during this stretch at LSU, Auburn or Alabama is not. Still, don’t be surprised to see the Bulldogs leapfrog a number of these teams into the NCAAs because of their overall résumé.

8. Ole Miss: The Rebels humbled LSU 72-48 on Saturday. The Tigers have been more consistent, but the Rebels deserve plenty of credit for being resourceful of late. A depleted team that has had some squabbling within, the Rebs haven’t stopped playing. Ole Miss can be a spoiler in the final two weeks. What happens next in terms of the coaching position is a question for the administration.

9. Georgia: If the Bulldogs make shots, they suddenly are a viable team to be a winner in the final week of the SEC and into the conference tournament. Georgia won’t win at Kentucky, but it can beat South Carolina and finish with five SEC wins. The Bulldogs have impressive wins against Mississippi State and Florida at home.

10. Arkansas: The Hogs finally rallied and won at Auburn after a number of poor performances, including two at home. Arkansas can put forth a more efficient and productive effort. It needs to here down the stretch to salvage the rest of the season with winnable games against Ole Miss and at Mississippi State.

11. Auburn: The Tigers looked like a tough out, one that would be hard to chase down in a home win against Mississippi State. But suspensions to Varez Ward and Chris Denson for a violation of team rules didn’t help the cause in a six-point home loss to Arkansas.

12. South Carolina: The Gamecocks have won two games in the SEC. And the numbers in points, rebounds, assists and field goal percentage are all below 300 in Division I. This is a team that looks good in the airport but not on the floor.

Kentucky is the national favorite, but Florida’s dominant play at Arkansas and Vanderbilt’s complete game at Ole Miss should give hope that the SEC has three teams with the potential of Elite Eight appearances.

1. Kentucky: The Wildcats had one game last week and got off to a sluggish start against Ole Miss. But that was over quickly in the second half. Seeing Terrence Jones and Darius Miller star for the Wildcats is yet another indication of the talent depth of this squad. So much has been made, and rightfully so, of freshmen Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, as well as the development of Marquis Teague. But the play of veterans (yes, sophomores qualify as veterans at UK) will ultimately decide Kentucky’s title fate.

2. Florida: The Gators absolutely obliterated Arkansas by 30 on the road. It was Florida’s most complete performance, home or road, this season. The Gators can’t figure out how to play Tennessee and they couldn’t handle Kentucky in the second half. But if UF shoots, runs and rebounds as well as it did in Fayetteville, it will finish second in the SEC. And there's no shame in that this season.

3. Vanderbilt: The Commodores had their most dominant SEC effort with a 102-76 win at Ole Miss, followed up by a nine-point road win at Georgia. The play of Vandy in that first game is exactly what everyone expected in the preseason. Watch the Commodores’ offense in that game and you’ll see a team that can win multiple games in the NCAA tournament. Vandy still has the talent to win the SEC tournament if Kentucky loses focus.

4. LSU: The Tigers are suddenly back to .500 in league play, which puts them in a four-way tie for fourth. So why not have them leading that pack? Trent Johnson has taken advantage of a depleted Alabama and a Mississippi State team that continues not to close late in games. LSU’s schedule down the stretch is so favorable that it’s not out of the question that the Tigers could win four of the next five games and finish with 10 SEC wins.

5. Alabama: The Tide still are without suspended players JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell, but Alabama has reconstituted itself, and the 12-point win over Tennessee is a strong indication that Bama may still be a factor down the stretch. The Tide defense was as solid as it has been this season in allowing the Vols to score only 50 points. If Mitchell and Green do return and buy into Grant, then Alabama will be in play down the stretch in the SEC.

6. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs have top-two talent, but they have not played that way of late. Mississippi State has inexplicably lost three games in a row. The loss at home in overtime to Georgia was a clear sign something was off. The road loss in overtime at LSU is acceptable. The Tigers at home are more than formidable. But losing by 10 at Auburn, even without Renardo Sidney (back spasms), signifies some serious issues. The Bulldogs have a tough slate ahead in the next two games in hosting Kentucky and going to Alabama. Losing five in a row is a realistic scenario that will have MSU right on the bubble.

7. Tennessee: The Vols had been one of the hottest teams in the SEC with a four-game win streak. But then they ran into Alabama’s defense and went cold on 3s by going 4-of-20. Tennessee still has a chance to finish in the top half of the SEC. The schedule of hosting Ole Miss and going to South Carolina this week puts UT in a favorable position. The final two (at LSU, hosting rival Vandy) could decide this team's SEC fate.

8. Auburn: The Tigers jump up to No. 8 above Ole Miss and Arkansas simply because they played the most efficient game of the week. The win over Mississippi State was one of Auburn’s best of the season. Of course, the next game for the Tigers is at Florida, and Auburn still has to go to Alabama, so the good vibe could be short-lived. But Auburn’s defense was on lockdown against the Bulldogs, and that’s a positive sign.

9. Arkansas: The Hogs had their worst performance at home against Florida. Arkansas headed into the game as a team that had an unbeaten home résumé, but nothing to show for itself on the road. But the complete meltdown at Bud Walton essentially eliminates the Hogs from contention for an at-large bid. It’s hard to justify Arkansas, barring a run through the SEC, after losing by 30 to Florida for its fourth loss in five games.

10. Ole Miss: The Rebels were blitzed at home by Vanderbilt in embarrassing nature. Ole Miss then found a way and mustered up a solid effort in the first half against Kentucky. And then reality hit. The Wildcats ran past the Rebs. Credit Andy Kennedy for trying to keep this team together in the short term, but it has been an exceedingly difficult season for Ole Miss and it looks like it will only get more difficult.

11. South Carolina: The Gamecocks get the nod over Georgia with a win over the Bulldogs in Columbia. This has been a humbling season for South Carolina and it will likely get worse over the final couple of weeks. The next three are against Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Mississippi State.

12. Georgia: The Bulldogs are in the infancy stages of a major rebuild and while the Mississippi State road win was a high, losing to South Carolina was another setback for a team that's now 3-9 in the SEC.

The SEC waited to see how Kentucky would fare with "College GameDay" at fired-up Vanderbilt in what appeared to be UK's toughest road test to date.

Well, the Wildcats passed -- and now the SEC must deal with the possibility that Big Blue could run the table and win the conference handily. There are no givens, but UK appears to be as much of a lock to win its league title as any other favorite in the country.

1. Kentucky: The one potential problem for the Wildcats was at the point. Well, Marquis Teague played one of his best games of the season at Vanderbilt, dishing out eight assists. If Teague can distribute the ball, make smart decisions and not turn the ball over, the Cats have a legit shot to win the national title, not just cruise to an undefeated SEC record.

2. Vanderbilt: The Commodores are in the No. 2 spot by default. No one else appears to want this position, and Vandy did push Kentucky 'til the end this past weekend and had the Wildcats on the ropes. But the Dores got rushed at the end and tried to shoot over Anthony Davis -- a big mistake. Vanderbilt needs to be more patient in late-game situations.

3. Florida: The Gators are also in this spot because no one else stood up and grabbed it. Florida should know better than to come out flat against a Tennessee team that clearly played with more purpose and passion on Saturday. UT was the aggressor on the offensive backboard and found the holes in the Gators’ defense. If Florida doesn’t shoot its way to a win, it simply can't physically outmuscle teams. This loss was a major concern for UF going forward.

4. Mississippi State: Hey, look: We have a full-blown trend here. The Bulldogs could easily be at No. 2 in the SEC Power Rankings had they actually won a home game against a lower-level team. Instead, State fell flat in overtime to Georgia and took the air out of the marquee remaining home game against Kentucky on Feb. 21. The Bulldogs still have the frontcourt talent, shot-blocking ability and perimeter shooting to be a dangerous team in the NCAA tournament. But their lack of consistency makes them a hard team to back in March.

5. Tennessee: The Volunteers are playing their best basketball of the season at the right time, having won three in a row and five of their past seven. If Tennessee can bottle the way it played at Florida, this team has danger written all over it going into the SEC tournament. The Vols could be a major spoiler, as UT has the size and strength to cause serious problems for teams. The win in Gainesville showed how defense and board work can get this team far during the next three weeks. Cuonzo Martin may be the coach of the year in the SEC if he continues on this run.

6. LSU: The Tigers took advantage of a depleted Alabama squad and won a convincing home game Saturday night. LSU is making shots, looking like it has figured out how to score efficiently and defending at the right time. The Tigers won't be an NCAA tournament team but now are playing like a team that could at least make the NIT. Trent Johnson’s rebuilding plan is finally looking like it took a turn upward.

7. Arkansas: If the games are at home, the Hogs have a shot to be in the NCAA tournament. But they’re not. Arkansas simply can’t win a road game this season -- the latest evidence being that beatdown it took in Athens. The Razorbacks can still beat Florida, Alabama and Ole Miss at home to finish with eight wins in the conference. But there is no indication that this young group will win a road game -- which is essential for any bubble team.

8. Alabama: The Crimson Tide are now the big unknown. Anthony Grant made a choice of choosing character in his program over possible wins and the NCAA tournament when he suspended Tony Mitchell, JaMychal Green, Trevor Releford and Andrew Steele. There is no timetable for any of their returns. If they don’t come back soon, the Tide won’t be on the bubble any longer. But it’s the right choice for Grant to show that he has a program built on character.

9. Georgia: The Bulldogs have won two in a row and are now a team that may be trouble going forward. Georgia blew out Arkansas and then won at Mississippi State, a home court that had become as difficult as any other in the SEC. UGA didn’t hesitate to go right at Arnett Moultrie and challenge him in the post. The Bulldogs are playing loosely and without the pressure of making the Dance. That’s a dangerous combination in the final three weeks of the season for teams that need wins to impress the selection committee.

10. Ole Miss: The depleted Rebels are playing hard and staying in games, but they just don’t have the personnel to finish. Andy Kennedy had to make a similar choice to Grant when key players were suspended. In his case, they won’t return. That was the end of the Rebels’ NCAA chances. But it was worth the risk. He has to run a program with ethics and character. This squad simply doesn’t have enough scoring to win key games late.

11. Auburn: The Tigers’ rebuilding progress has hit a serious bump with losses in five of their past six games. Auburn looked like it could turn its season around with a home win over Alabama after nearly winning at Mississippi State. But the Tigers couldn’t score against their archrival and lost by 18. Losing to Auburn from this point forward will be considered a bad loss for teams trying to impress the selection committee (see Alabama, Mississippi State and Florida).

12. South Carolina: Darrin Horn has tried to turn the Gamecocks around during his tenure, but it’s getting harder to believe that this will happen in the short term. This team is simply struggling to put together two quality halves. The five-game losing streak needs to end against Georgia and LSU this week, or it could continue all the way to the SEC tournament.

Now that Florida has clearly established itself as the top challenger to No. 1 Kentucky, here is where we stand in the Southeastern Conference.

1. Kentucky: Anthony Davis is having not just an SEC Payer of the Year season but is now a serious candidate for the national honor. He was simply dominant against Tennessee and South Carolina.

2. Florida: The Gators are making 3s in bunches, beating Vanderbilt to set up a top-10 showdown at Kentucky on Tuesday. The Gators can shoot the 3-pointer as effectively any team in the country. Now they’ve got to board and defend.

3. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs need to continue to hold serve at home, but that 91-88 victory over Auburn on Saturday was a little too close for comfort. Though after losing to rival Ole Miss last month, any win over the Rebels this week would be welcome.

4. Vanderbilt: The Commodores had a rough road swing, losing at Arkansas and at Florida. The Commodores had chances in both games but still aren’t ready to win and close out late. I’m still convinced the Dores can advance in March in a single-elimination format.

5. Alabama: For now, at least, the Crimson Tide have re-emerged as a top-five SEC team after a much-needed double-overtime win over Ole Miss. Bama easily could have given this game away but made the necessary plays down the stretch, notably guard Andrew Steele, who was clutch from the field and the free throw line. Remember, Steele was out with concussion symptoms earlier this season.

6. Ole Miss: Coach Andy Kennedy has had to remake this team and has turned Ole Miss into a tough out. But the Rebels continue to fall flat in crucial moments. They had a double-figure lead on Florida and couldn’t hold the Gators down in Oxford and had multiple shots to beat the Tide in Tuscaloosa. Those wins have to come soon if we're to take them seriously as a bubble team.

7. Arkansas: Coach Mike Anderson has Bud Walton Arena rocking again, but now the challenge is for the Hogs to bottle up that consistency when they hit road. Don’t hold your breath just yet. That weekend loss in Baton Rouge was highly disappointing for a team that had started to talk bubble.

8. Auburn: The Tigers nearly clipped Mississippi State on the road in Starkville. Auburn has suddenly found its offense and has a legit shot to upset archrival Alabama this week.

9. LSU: This group has meandered through the season without any kind of flow. But LSU's home victory over Arkansas may change the confidence level of this crew. The problem is that a trip to Nashville to face Vanderbilt is next.

10. Tennessee: The Vols are one of the hardest-working teams in the SEC, but the consistent results aren’t there yet. Tennessee is tough at home but pretty awful on the road. Give coach Cuonzo Martin time and this team will be a factor again.

11. Georgia: The Bulldogs have struggled to score during a four-game losing streak, failing to reach 64 points in any of the four games. Playing three of the next five on the road won’t help cure the offensive woes.

12. South Carolina: The Gamecocks got obliterated at home by Kentucky 86-52, and it wasn’t ever close. South Carolina can’t allow itself to get run out of its own house like that against anyone.

Anthony Davis passes Shaquille O'Neal, setting the freshman SEC record for blocks, as Kentucky rolls to its 15th consecutive victory, beating South Carolina 86-52.

Kentucky is at the top of the national rankings and the conference rankings. But who comes next in the SEC?

1. Kentucky: The Wildcats continue to take everyone's best shot and keep on winning. The problems of winning on the road in conference play seem to be a thing of the past. Still tough spots to come at Florida, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, but smooth sailing so far.

2. Florida: The Gators haven't lost since the SEC opener at Tennessee. If you jumped off this bandwagon, it was probably a mistake. Florida had arguably its best week of the season with a comeback win at Ole Miss and a convincing home win over Mississippi State.

3. Vanderbilt: The Commodores hold steady at No. 3 with two solid home wins over rival Tennessee and dangerous mid-major Middle Tennessee, who entered Saturday's game 20-2. It was a good week for Vandy, but the consistency has been lacking. Let's see another good week from the Dores.

4. Mississippi State: Yes, the Bulldogs won at Vanderbilt in overtime the previous week but they looked overmatched in their road loss at Florida. Mississippi State needs to get back on track this week. Still, this is at worst the fourth-best team in the SEC.

5. Alabama: The Crimson Tide have been all over the map during the conference season. But after a terrible loss at South Carolina, they did hold on to beat Arkansas at home over the weekend and this team clearly has SEC top-five talent. Still think this is the right spot for them.

6. Arkansas: Mike Anderson has made the Razorbacks a tough out even though they are depleted. Winning in Fayetteville is a chore for any team this season. Don't be surprised to see Arkansas cause trouble in the conference tournament.

7. Tennessee: The Vols have hit a bit of a skid lately, but the effort has been solid. The addition of Jarnell Stokes changes the dynamic for this team and makes them a force inside. UT will likely pull another upset here soon, although don't expect one Tuesday night in Lexington.

8. Ole Miss: Andy Kennedy has done a fine job reconstituting this team after two dismissals. The Rebels had Florida down by double digits at the half in Oxford and then still had a chance after giving up the lead to force overtime. But poor late-game decisions cost them dearly. Still, Ole Miss is 4-2 over its past six games.

9. LSU: The Tigers were legitimately playing like one of the four best teams in the league in December. But reality hit during this rebuilding process. The play against Kentucky was a bit chippy and the Tigers were blown out at home. I'm not sure if LSU can be a major factor in the second half of the conference season. Doesn't appear so.

10. Auburn: The Tigers were dreadful on offense Saturday in Knoxville, but give Tony Barbee some time to see if he can make this team into a pest by season's end. They did just miss out on winning at Arkansas earlier in the week and were coming off home wins against Ole Miss and South Carolina.

11. Georgia: Mark Fox has to be patient with this team because it is still incredibly young and inexperienced. The Bulldogs are 1-5 in the SEC and play four of their next five on the road. Ouch.

12. South Carolina: The Gamecocks did beat Alabama at home, but that's their only conference win so far and it might be their last for a while. Of their next four games, three are on the road at Florida, Tennessee and Arkansas -- with a home game against No. 1 Kentucky squeezed in between.

After a banner weekend in the SEC during which a pair of midlevel teams (Arkansas, Tennessee) beat ranked foes (Michigan, Connecticut) in nonconference play, let's attempt to rank the conference 1 to 12:

1. Kentucky: The Wildcats got pushed by Alabama more than I thought they would. That's a credit to the Tide. Kentucky still won but has to get tougher.

2. Mississippi State: The Bulldogs again looked like the second-best team in the league with a gritty overtime win at Vanderbilt on Saturday night. If they had played like that to start the SEC, they wouldn't have ever slipped out of this slot in the first place.

3. Vanderbilt: The Commodores had the Bulldogs beat -- at the half. But Vandy allowed MSU back in it and then failed to make a stop in overtime. Tough home loss. This team still can't quite find its footing.

4. Florida: The Gators are now getting the consistent play from Erik Murphy and Bradley Beal that will make a difference in March. Now can this group consistently win on the road? Big one Thursday at Ole Miss.

5. Alabama: The Crimson Tide did lose twice this week, at home to Vandy and at Kentucky, but the effort and production at Rupp on Saturday proves this team has the potential to be a pest going forward.

6. Tennessee: The Vols pulled off a huge win over Connecticut, the second signature victory under Cuonzo Martin. The addition of just-turned-18 freshman Jarnell Stokes makes this team a tough matchup to deal with. Expect a few more upsets out of UT.

7. Arkansas: The Razorbacks held off Michigan at home for another quality win at Bud Walton Arena. Mike Anderson's chore is to get the Hogs to hunt their shots on the road, too.

8. Ole Miss: Andy Kennedy has done a great job of rallying this team after some off-the-court turmoil. The Rebels beat Mississippi State at home and won at Georgia last week. They aren't at-large worthy, but can make the NIT.

9. LSU: The Tigers have been given a reality check lately and it hasn't been pretty, having dropped four of their past six games. It's evident LSU is still a young team learning how to win on the road.

10. Georgia: The Bulldogs can't seem to break through with that signature conference win this season, even though they did gut out an OT win against Tennessee. But would it have been too much to ask for a follow-up home win against Ole Miss?

11. Auburn: The Tigers need to ensure they have an identity during this rebuilding phase and at least they're proving themselves to be a tough out at home. They've knocked off South Carolina and Ole Miss in Auburn and pushed Kentucky 'til the final few minutes.

12. South Carolina: The Gamecocks have become a team you can pick up a win against. That needs to change fast or Darrin Horn is in trouble.

Kentucky is No. 1. That much we know. The rest is anyone's guess at this point. Vanderbilt's games at Alabama and against Mississippi State this week should tell us a lot about slots 2 through 5. But for now ...

1. Kentucky: The Wildcats struggled in two road games at Auburn and Tennessee. But they still found ways to win. UK has two consistent stars in freshmen Anthony Davis (now at both ends of the court) and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist; look for those two to continue to shine at home this week against Arkansas and Alabama.

2. Vanderbilt: The Commodores have won seven straight, including three in a row in the SEC. But it was against three of the league's worst teams. Now Vandy gets to the thrust of its schedule with games against Alabama, Mississippi State, rival Tennessee and then one of the surging teams outside the Big Six in Middle Tennessee State.

3. Mississippi State: Some nerves were frayed in Starkville last week after nail-biting wins over Tennessee and Alabama. But the threesome of Arnett Moultrie inside and Dee Bost and Rodney Hood on the perimeter make the Bulldogs a formidable force.

4. Florida: The Gators finally won a road game, albeit against struggling South Carolina. Freshman Brad Beal is starting to find his groove. If that continues, the Gators will be in the thick of this race in March.

5. Alabama: The Crimson Tide weren’t able to steal a road win at Mississippi State, but the game was in the 50s, a real indication of how tough Bama is defensively under Anthony Grant. But the schedule continues to get tougher with Vanderbilt and a road game at Kentucky this week.

6. Tennessee: The Volunteers didn’t beat Mississippi State or Kentucky, but they came darn close, and Tennessee's effort and overall quality of play against three of the top four teams in the SEC tells me UT will end up finishing in the upper half of the conference.

7. Arkansas: The Hogs had a disappointing loss at Ole Miss, but recovered by beating LSU by nine. Mike Anderson has again made Bud Walton Arena one of the toughest places to play for opponents. Michigan had better be on upset alert Saturday when the Wolverines come to Fayetteville.

8. LSU: The Tigers were one of the surprise teams in the SEC a few weeks ago, but LSU is starting to show its inexperience. That’s why beating Auburn is a must, and giving a great show at Florida later in the week would also be encouraging.

9. Auburn: Meanwhile, these Tigers deserve plenty of credit for the way they played last week, even in a losing effort against Kentucky. Auburn was in the game well into the second half, flustering UK multiple times. Then the Tigers held on to beat Ole Miss by one in double overtime.

10. Ole Miss: The Rebels are a thin bunch after multiple dismissals. But they’ve remained competitive at least after an initial drubbing at LSU. Ole Miss beat Arkansas and then lost a heartbreaker at Auburn.

11. Georgia: The Bulldogs are better than their talent has shown of late. Georgia has really struggled to score in its first three SEC games, getting blown out against Alabama and at Florida before a better effort in a loss at Vandy.

12. South Carolina: The Gamecocks had a rough schedule to start the SEC with a road trip to Kentucky and visits from Vanderbilt and Florida. But the difference between a team like South Carolina and Tennessee is the home court. The latter has a distinct advantage in that category.