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

Last week: Defeated South Carolina Gamecocks and Vanderbilt Commodores

Last rank: 11th

The Arkansas Razorbacks did just enough to rise only one spot in our SEC Power Rankings. Considering their standing and overall 17-8 record, it’s fair to say that they likely deserve a higher ranking here.

However, Mike Anderson’s team is one of the most wildly inconsistent teams in the conference. So we could only bump them up one spot in these rankings. His teams can be fun to watch and are very dangerous, but we don’t know what to make of them.

What’s clear, though, is that home wins over the South Carolina Gamecocks and Vanderbilt Commodores aren’t that impressive this year relative to the rest of the conference. That’s why we only bumped them one spot in our SEC Power Rankings.

Fortunately for the Hogs, though, where we put them here doesn’t matter. They are right now firmly in the NCAA Tournament with a No. 35 ranked RPI thanks to their No. 34 ranked strength of schedule and three quality wins over the Oklahoma Sooners, Tennessee Vols and Missouri Tigers.

To prove their consistency, though, they need to follow that up with a road win over the Ole Miss Rebels this week. There’s no excuse to lose that game. Then they have some major tests with home games against the Texas A&M Aggies, Kentucky Wildcats and Auburn Tigers while also facing the Alabama Crimson Tide and Missouri Tigers on the road. They need to win at least two of those five brutal tests to remain safely in the Big Dance.