Men’s basketball SEC Power Rankings for Jan. 29: Vols near the top

Last week: Lost to South Carolina Gamecocks; Defeated Baylor Bears

Last rank: 1st

The Florida Gators had just taken the top spot back in our SEC Power Rankings last week. And we figured they’d be back on track to dominating the middle of the pack conference teams, especially in home games.

Well, that didn’t happen for these guys last week. They dropped a home game to the South Carolina Gamecocks. Sure, they followed it up with a win over the Baylor Bears, but the loss to South Carolina was enough for us to drop them to No. 3 in our SEC Power Rankings.

Even with a 6-2 record in the conference, it’s worth noting that the Gators haven’t been all that consistent. Sure, they got a road win against Kentucky when the Wildcats were slumping and figuring things out.

Otherwise, their conference schedule hasn’t been that brutal relative to the SEC. Now, as we said, that’s relative to the SEC. So perspective matters. But at 15-6 overall, you would think this SEC record would have them firmly in the NCAA Tournament. It doesn’t.

In fact, they are just barely in right now but on the bubble with a No. 36 RPI ranking thanks to their No. 29 ranked strength of schedule. The brutal test for them doesn’t come until the final four games of the season.

Up next, though, they have a bunch of bubble games, including against the Georgia Bulldogs twice, Alabama and LSU at home, and at South Carolina. This stretch will determine if they really belong in this upper-echelon of our SEC Power Rankings.