Classic SEC Standings

Here's the latest from the Classic SEC in men's hoops.  Auburn has the SEC's best chance to go all the way since 2015.  Florida is riding a six-game winning streak.  Tennessee picked up a huge win at Texas A&M.  Alabama had little trouble with a defeated UK team down in Tuscaloosa.  But the Cats stay ahead of Ole Miss, who lost at Vandy.

2.  Auburn:  25-2

4.  Florida:  24-3

5.  Tennessee:  22-5

6.  Alabama:  22-5

16.  Kentucky:  18-9

22.  Mississippi:  19-8

29.  Mississippi St:  19-8

43.  Vanderbilt:  18-9

45.  Georgia:  16-11

80.  Louisiana St:  14-13

Rick Pitino's St. John's team (24-4) crushed UConn 89-75 in Madison Square Garden, and the Johnnies are up to number 13 on Ken Pom.

Arkansas (16-11) beat Mizzou 92-85 on Saturday, and the Razorbacks are squarely on the bubble -- ranked 36 on Ken Pom.  When February began, Arkansas was ranked 61.

Louisville (21-6) has gone 15-1 since losing to UK, and the Cards are up to 23 on Ken Pom.

Duke (24-3) blasted Illinois 110 to 67 in New York on Saturday.  The Blue Devils are second in the country in offensive efficiency (128.6) and 4th in defensive efficiency (90.5).  The gap between those two numbers (38.13) is the largest for any team in Ken Pom's database, going all the way back to 1997.  The Dukies will be a very tough out in the NCAA's.  But four other teams -- Auburn (35.91), Houston (35.16), Florida (34.15), and Tennessee (31.55) -- also have gaps greater than 30.  It's unusual to have that many teams with a gap of plus 30 in the same season -- the last time it happened was in 2019, and the last time before that was 2015 (when there were six such teams).  It is no coincidence that 2015 and 2019 were two of the most dramatic tournaments in recent history.  I am really starting to get excited about this year's tournament.