Men’s basketball SEC Power Rankings for Jan. 22: Vols lose ground

Last week: Lost to South Carolina Gamecocks and Florida Gators

Last rank: 3rd

John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats are now outside of the Top 25 and looking like a bunch of freshmen. To be fair, they have played a miserable schedule to start the conference season and still have a winning record.

Nonetheless, at 14-5 and 4-3, losing to both the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Florida Gators was not good for this team. The Wildcats are not looking like the Wildcats and have a ton of work to do to get back on track.

Although the voters don’t respect them, the RPI still does, as these guys are 14-5 and tied with Texas A&M for the No. 10 ranked strength of schedule. That’s enough for a No. 19 ranking in the RPI. But last week also was enough for us to knock them two spots in our SEC Power Rankings.

Losing on the road is one thing to South Carolina. But that team just lost on Saturday at home, so it doesn’t look as good. And to lose to Florida at home makes it worse.

This team, going forward, has a mix of easy wins and huge opportunities. The Mississippi State Bulldogs at home this week should be a win. But the West Virginia Mountaineers on the road may not be.

Then they host the Vanderbilt Commodores, which is almost a sure win. But following that is a trip to the Missouri Tigers, another brutal test. Kentucky should shoot to win all four games coming up, but 3-1 has to be the baseline. Then they can have some momentum for the next game, a chance at home to avenge an earlier-season loss to the next team in these SEC Power Rankings.