SEC men’s basketball standings, March 3: Tennessee takes sole possession of top spot; double-bye race remains tight

Tennessee is in the driver’s seat to claim its first regular-season conference title since 2018.

Rick Barnes’ team went into Tuscaloosa and handed Alabama its first conference home loss of the season, notching an 81-74 win on Saturday night. The Volunteers had been tied with the Crimson Tide for first place in the SEC, but now have sole possession of the top spot at 13-3 in conference play.

Here’s a look at the updated conference standings:

• Tennessee – 13-3 SEC (23-6 overall)
• South Carolina – 12-4 (24-5)
• Alabama – 12-4 (20-9)
• Auburn – 11-5 (22-7)
• Kentucky – 11-5 (22-7)
• Florida – 10-6 (20-9)
• Mississippi State – 8-8 (19-10)
• LSU – 8-8 (16-13)
• Ole Miss – 7-9 (20-9)
• Texas A&M – 7-9 (16-13)
• Georgia – 5-11 (15-14)
• Arkansas – 5-11 (14-15)
• Vanderbilt – 3-13 (8-21)
• Missouri – 0-16 (8-21)

6-team race for 4 double-byes

The SEC Basketball Tournament in Nashville is less than two weeks away. The bottom 4 seeds will play in the First Round on Wednesday, March 13. Seeds Nos. 5-10 join the action in the Second Round. The top 4 seeds get double-byes to the Quarterfinals (Friday, March 15).

With 2 games to go in the regular season, here’s how the double-bye race looks:

Tennessee (13-3)

• March 6 at South Carolina (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
• March 9 vs. Kentucky (4 p.m. ET, CBS)

Tennessee controls its own destiny in the SEC title race, but the Volunteers have the toughest final week. UT is the only one of the 6 teams in the double-bye picture to have to face AP Top 25 teams in each of its two remaining games.

The Vols will be out for some revenge on the road Wednesday. The Gamecocks made a statement with a 63-59 win in Knoxville on Jan. 30.

Rick Barnes’ team will have the help of the home crowd against Kentucky in the regular-season finale. The Wildcats are on a 3-game winning streak.

South Carolina (12-4)

• March 6 vs. Tennessee (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
• March 9 at Mississippi State (2:30 p.m. ET)

As ESPN broadcasters like to remind their viewers, South Carolina was picked to finish 14th in 2023-24 by the conference media. With two games to go, Lamont Paris’ Gamecocks have a chance to finish first in the SEC.

Tennessee is playing some of its best basketball right now on a 6-game winning streak. South Carolina will have the help of the home fans as it looks to complete a season sweep of the Vols.

Mississippi State has been an up-and-down team this season, having lost its last two games. Humphrey Coliseum, better known as The Hump, is never easy for opposing teams.

Alabama (12-4)

• March 5 at Florida (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• March 9 vs. Arkansas (12 p.m. ET, ESPN)

A road trip to Florida is a tricky bounce-back draw for Alabama. The Crimson Tide, though, showed not too long ago that it can outscore UF even when the Gators are lighting up the scoreboard. Tuesday has a lot to live up to after Round 1 in Tuscaloosa delivered one of the best SEC games of the year.

Unlike many recent years, Arkansas is a favorable draw for the regular-season finale. Eric Musselman’s Hogs have had a rough year, going 5-11 against SEC teams.

Auburn (11-5)

• March 5 at Missouri (9 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
• March 9 vs. Georgia (6:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network)

Auburn has the most favorable draw for the final week of conference action.

Mizzou is the only SEC team without a conference win this season. Bruce Pearl will be sure to have his team take MU seriously, as AU is playing an SEC team away from home, but Auburn should pick up win No. 12 without too much trouble.

Georgia has won 1 of its last 10 SEC games. Round 1 in Athens went 97-76 to Auburn. It’s hard to see the Bulldogs fairing better in The Jungle.

Kentucky (11-5)

• March 6 vs. Vanderbilt (9 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
• March 9 at Tennessee (4 p.m. ET, CBS)

Kentucky finishes out the regular season with a couple of border wars. Facing a 3-13 Vanderbilt team at Rupp Arena should be a cakewalk. Back on Feb. 6, UK won 109-77 in Nashville

It doesn’t get much bigger than Kentucky-Tennessee in the regular-season finale with the conference title potentially on the line.

The biggest question: Will the Vols show signs of wear playing their fourth consecutive game against an AP Top 25 team? The Cats might be able to take advantage of Tennessee’s brutal schedule.

Florida (10-6)

• March 5 vs. Alabama (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• March 9 at Vanderbilt (4:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network)

To get a double-bye, Florida has to win out and hope for some help. It won’t be easy, but the door isn’t closed yet.

Todd Golden’s squad is 13-1 at home on the season, only losing to Kentucky by 2 points (87-85). UF showed on Feb. 21 that it can hang with Alabama, going up by double digits in the second half before falling by 5 in overtime.

Memorial Gym in Nashville can be a funky place to play, but Vanderbilt is a favorable draw if a team has to go on the road for its regular-season finale.

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Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.