SEC Power Rankings, Notes

LSU might be without its second-leading scorer Keith Hornsby (hernia) for the rest of the season.

LSU might be without its second-leading scorer Keith Hornsby (hernia) for the rest of the season.

Published on Tuesday, 2/23/16, at 10:01 a.m. Eastern.

1-Kentucky – Should get Alex Poythress back soon. Cats need to make a strong push from here to Selection Sunday to get a high seed for the Tournament.

2-Texas A&M – Huge home win over Kentucky in OT this past Saturday. Aggies better not sleep on a suddenly hot Mississippi St. squad that comes to College Station on Wednesday.

3-South Carolina – Frank Martin’s club gets Tennessee at home Wednesday without its top scorer. Gamecocks want to go at least 3-1 in last four: vs. UT, at MSU, vs. UGA & at Arky.

4-Florida – Crushing OT loss at South Carolina on Saturday, but Gators still in good shape due to great non-conference schedule. Most bracket gurus have UF in an 8/9 game at this point. Vandy comes to O’Dome tonight as a four-point underdog.

5-Alabama – 12-5 ATS with nine outright wins as an underdog. Tide +13.5 tonight at Rupp, but coming off a terrible home loss to Mississippi St. when Malik Newman was sidelined with a back injury and Gavin Ware was given his fourth foul early in the second half. Still, Avery Johnson would get my vote right now for SEC Coach of the Year.

6-Vanderbilt – Needs a road win tonight at UF, but Vandy is winless and 1-5 ATS in six games as an underdog this year. Commodores have seen the ‘over’ hit in five straight.

7-LSU – Keith Hornsby (13.1 PPG) could be out for the rest of the season (hernia). The Tigers need to win at Arkansas tonight and then take care of business at home vs. UF and Mizzou. If not, they’ll be NIT bound for sure.

8-Georgia – Crushing losses vs. Florida and at Vanderbilt have them staring at an NIT bid. To get back in hunt for at-large berth, Bulldogs must win last four (@ Auburn, vs. Ole Miss, at S-Car. & vs. Bama) and then at least two at the SEC Tournament.

9-Ole Miss – Rebels are 0-4 ATS as double-digit ‘chalk’ this year. They’re laying double digits to Mizzou in Oxford tonight.

10-Tennessee – Kevin Punter, the nation’s 11th-leading scorer, didn’t play in Saturday’s home win over LSU and won’t play Wednesday at South Carolina. Vols continue to play great basketball at home.

11-Mississippi St. – Ben Howland’s recruiting class for next season is ranked fourth nationally by Rivals.com. The Bulldogs posted solid wins vs. Vandy and at Bama last week. This program is on the rise.

12-Arkansas – This should be the SEC’s second-best program based on tradition, facilities and fan support. Instead, the Razorbacks have only four NCAA Tournament invites and two wins since firing Nolan Richardson 14 years ago.

13-Missouri – Tigers have showed some life and ripped off six straight spread covers. They are 6-2 ATS as double-digit ‘dogs going into Ole Miss tonight.

14-Auburn – Somehow managed to beat Arkansas at Bud Walton last week.

Coach of the Year Candidates:

1-Avery Johnson (Alabama)

2-Frank Martin (South Carolina)

3-John Calipari (Kentucky)

4-Billy Kennedy (Texas A&M)

5-Mike White (Florida)

If the season ended today, my SEC honors would look like this…

Player of the Year: Kentucky sophomore point guard Tyler Ulis

1st-Team All-SEC:

G-Tyler Ulis (Kentucky)

G-Retin Obasohan (Alabama)

G-Jamal Murray (Kentucky)

F-Dorian Finney-Smith (Florida)

F-Ben Simmons (LSU)

2nd-Team All-SEC:

G-Stefan Moody (Ole Miss)

G-J.J. Frazier (Georgia)

F-Alex Caruso (Texas A&M)

F-Michael Carrera (South Carolina)

C-Damian Jones (Vandy)

Gamblers can also check out my college hoops Tip Sheet for tonight posted to VegasInsider.com.

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