Men’s basketball SEC Power Rankings for Jan. 8: Vols in top half

This is where we break from our head-to-head criteria for these SEC Power Rankings. Mike Anderson and the Arkansas Razorbacks had a great comeback overtime win to beat the Tennessee Vols in their conference opener.

However, since then they have suffered two key losses in the conference. To be fair to them, both games were on the road. So there’s a chance they could still turn things around. Also, they are a Top 20 team in the RPI with their 11-4 record and No. 8 ranked strength of schedule.

With all this, they are still sitting in good position. But the Hogs had no business winning that opener against Tennessee, which was at home in overtime and required terrible officiating that took the Vols’ two key big men out of the game.

As a result, we aren’t ready to give them too much love just yet. They are running Anderson’s high-tempo style very well. But with their top two players in Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon logging over 30 minutes a game, how long can that last?

Such a question is going to be huge going forward. Arkansas returns home this week and has a game that it should win against the LSU Tigers on Wednesday. Following that, they face Cuonzo Martin’s Missouri Tigers, who have been amazing so far this year.

It’s still a long season, but last week’s two losses knocks them down here in our rankings. If they can win both games next week, which they’re more than capable of doing, they’ll move up.