Men’s basketball SEC Power Rankings Feb. 12: Vols fall back to pack

Last week: Defeated Georgia Bulldogs; Lost to Arkansas Razorbacks

Last rank: 13th

Something’s happening in Nashville, and nobody wants to talk about it. Okay, so the Vanderbilt Commodores lost a road game at one of the toughest places to play over the weekend against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

That doesn’t mean they did not deserve this jump in our SEC Power Rankings. And if they keep this up, they could rise more than anybody thinks. Sure, this team is 9-16. A winning regular season record is now out of the question. And Bryce Drew’s team overall has been a huge disappointment.

But these guys are only 3-4 in their last seven games, much better than how they started. That includes a huge upset win over the TCU Horned Frogs, a very close loss at the Kentucky Wildcats, and wins over the LSU Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs.

These guys are still No. 127 in the RPI. But they have the No. 4 ranked strength of schedule, and they have a great chance at a strong finish to the season given how they’re playing.

That finish involves three potential upset games coming up. Their recent performances suggest they could upset the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Florida Gators and home along with the LSU Tigers on the road. Heck, the final three games against the Texas A&M Aggies and Missouri Tigers at home before visiting the Ole Miss Rebels could all be wins as well if the chips fall the right way. So keep an eye on this team. There’s not much to play for, but they could be dangerous.