Men’s basketball SEC Power Rankings Feb. 5: Vols remain among elites

Last week: Lost to Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide

Last rank: 3rd

The Florida Gators had a red-hot start in conference play. It was enough for us to vault them all the way up to No. 1 in our SEC Power Rankings. However, they seemed to be playing a bit over their head, and that looks like it was clearly the case now.

Mike White’s team has hit reality. They have lost their last three SEC games, and this past week it was bad. Losing on the road to the Georgia Bulldogs was a real hit against them. But then getting blown out at home by the Alabama Crimson Tide showed how hard they’re falling.

Right now, it’s just that 6-4 conference record that keeps them ahead of the other teams in our SEC Power Rankings. But we easily could have dropped these guys below the Dawgs or the LSU Tigers. That just seemed a bit excessive for now.

Still, they have a lot to prove to show they weren’t just a fluke at the start of the season. Right now, Florida’s RPI has fallen to No. 49 in the country. Their 15-8 record with their No. 29 ranked strength of schedule isn’t helping them right now.

This week will really test them. A home game against the LSU Tigers is an absolute must-win. However, after that, they visit the South Carolina Gamecocks, host the Georgia Bulldogs and then visit the Vanderbilt Commodores. All four of those games likely need to be win, but they at least need to be 3-1.