All for Tennessee
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All for Tennessee Women’s Basketball SEC Power Rankings for Jan. 31: Lady Vols Rise

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 4, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Lady Volunteers head coach Holly Warlick speaks with her team during the second half against the Tennessee Lady Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena. Baylor won 88 to 66. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Lady Volunteers head coach Holly Warlick speaks with her team during the second half against the Tennessee Lady Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena. Baylor won 88 to 66. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 6, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs head coach Vic Schaefer yells from the bench in the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the women's SEC basketball tournament at Jacksonville Memorial Veterans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs head coach Vic Schaefer yells from the bench in the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the women’s SEC basketball tournament at Jacksonville Memorial Veterans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /

The Mississippi State Bulldogs are finally sitting atop the SEC Power Rankings. It may be controversial when you consider that they lost to the South Carolina Gamecocks just a week ago.

But that was a three-point loss on the road to a team that just lost at home to the Tennessee Lady Vols, a team the Bulldogs beat in Thompson-Boling Arena fairly easily.

As a result, at 21-1, they belong in this No. 1 spot.

Throwing out South Carolina, only the Arkansas Razorbacks have come within single-digits of the Bulldogs in SEC play. And they lost at home by eight points.

So Mississippi State is clearly the top team in the SEC, and their schedule strength questions are being alleviated.

At 21-1 and 7-1 overall, they are only one spot behind the Gamecocks in the RPI.

But their schedule strength will continue to rise with the Auburn Tigers and Missouri Tigers this week. If they win both games, the No. 1 seed looks closer and closer because after that, they get the Vanderbilt Commodores, Ole Miss Rebels, and Georgia Bulldogs.

Like South Carolina, Mississippi State is at the point where they only think about winning, not exterior factors for their resume.

And that is why they have actually earned this No. 1 spot, sitting atop the SEC Power Rankings.