SEC Power Rankings: Alabama, Kentucky rising after impressive weeks

In what is the first update since Jan. 20, the latest SEC basketball power rankings have brought about a significant shakeup.

This latest update features the top of the rankings not changing as a result of that team remaining around the elite in the SEC, while the same however cannot be said for a few others. Among those are teams such as Georgia, Auburn, and Texas, each of which saw significant movement from their prior spots, while a few others such as Kentucky have also seen notable jumps.

Following is a look at the latest SEC basketball power rankings, starting with a new No. 16.

16. South Carolina Gamecocks

• Previous Ranking: No. 15

South Carolina (11-13 overall, 2-9 SEC) has simply struggled as of late. The Gamecocks are currently riding a five-game losing streak that dates back to Jan. 24, with three of those losses having come by 15+ points.

15. LSU Tigers

• Previous Ranking: No. 16

LSU (14-9 overall, 2-8 SEC) has lost four of their last five games dating back to Jan. 20. The Tigers lone win during that stretch was a 92-87 overtime road win at South Carolina.

14. Mississippi State Bulldogs

• Previous Ranking: No. 13

Mississippi State (11-12 overall, 3-7 SEC) has struggled throughout SEC play. The Bulldogs have lost seven of their last eight games dating back to Jan. 10, with Mississippi State's lone win during that stretch an 80-66 road victory at LSU on Jan. 28.

13. Oklahoma Sooners

• Previous Ranking: No. 14

Oklahoma (12-12 overall, 2-9 SEC) shocked the SEC basketball world this past Saturday with a 92-91 road upset of Vanderbilt. The win snapped what was previously a nine-game losing streak for the Sooners which dated back to Jan. 7.

12. Ole Miss Rebels

• Previous Ranking: No. 11

There are few teams, if any, who have struggled more since the most recent update than Ole Miss (11-12 overall, 3-7 SEC). The Rebels are currently riding a five-game losing streak, which dates back to Jan. 20.

11. Georgia Bulldogs

• Previous Ranking: No. 5

Georgia (17-6 overall, 5-5 SEC) snapped what was their roughest stretch of the season Saturday with an 83-71 road win at LSU. Prior to that, the Bulldogs had lost three-straight to Texas, Tennessee, and Texas A&M.

10. Auburn Tigers

• Previous Ranking: No. 12

Auburn (14-9 overall, 5-5 SEC) has had an up-and-down last couple of games, the latter two of which have included losses against Tennessee and Alabama. Prior to those defeats, Auburn had previously won four-straight.

9. Missouri Tigers

• Previous Ranking: No. 7

Missouri (16-7 overall, 6-4 SEC) enters the week riding a two-game winning streak. Prior to that stretch, the Tigers suffered a rough 90-64 road loss at Alabama.

8. Texas Longhorns

• Previous Ranking: No. 10

The Longhorns have done exactly as needed recently in hopes of improving their NCAA Tournament chances. Texas (15-9 overall, 6-5 SEC) is currently riding a three-game winning streak with wins against Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Ole Miss.

7. Vanderbilt Commodores

• Previous Ranking: No. 2

Vanderbilt (19-4 overall, 6-4 SEC) has remained among the best in the SEC after a strong start to the year, but have seen some struggles at times recently. An example of this came this past Saturday in which the Commodores were stunned at home by Oklahoma, 92-91.

6. Texas A&M Aggies

• Previous Ranking: No. 4

Texas A&M (17-6 overall, 7-3 SEC) saw their recent four-game winning streak snapped this week with two losses against some of the SEC's top teams. Those losses came at Alabama, as well as against Florida at home.

5. Tennessee Volunteers

• Previous Ranking: No. 9

Tennessee (16-7 overall, 6-4 SEC) saw a four-game winning streak snapped this past Saturday with a 74-71 road loss at Kentucky. The Volunteers top win during that prior streak was a 79-73 road win at Alabama.

4. Arkansas Razorbacks

• Previous Ranking: No. 6

Following a road loss at Georgia back on Jan. 17, Arkansas (17-6 overall, 7-3 SEC) has since responded by winning four of their last five games. The Razorbacks lone defeat in that stretch was an 85-77 loss at home to Kentucky.

3. Kentucky Wildcats

• Previous Ranking: No. 8

Dating back to Jan. 10, Kentucky (17-7 overall, 8-3 SEC) has won eight of their last nine games where the lone loss came at Vanderbilt, 80-55. The Wildcats are also currently riding a three-game winning streak that has included a pair of wins over ranked teams.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

• Previous Ranking: No. 3

Alabama (16-7 overall, 6-4 SEC) has bounced back nicely since a rough loss at Florida back on Feb. 1. The Crimson Tide picked up a pair of wins this past week by defeating Texas A&M at home by three, as well as winning at Auburn by four.

1. Florida Gators

• Previous Ranking: No. 1

After an impressive recent stretch, Florida (17-6 overall, 8-2 SEC) remains the clear No. 1 team in the SEC entering this week. Headlined by recent blowout wins over Alabama and Texas A&M, the Gators have now won eight of their last nine games dating back to Jan. 6, with the lone loss a 76-67 home defeat to Auburn.

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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama, Kentucky rise in updated SEC basketball power rankings