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We’re less than a month away from the SEC Women’s Basketball tournament. A week later, the NCAA Tournament will be underway, and March Madness will be in full swing.
It’s been a good year for the SEC. The conference has steadily improved in women’s basketball, and now it’s one of the deepest leagues in the sport.
Texas and Oklahoma joining the fold helped, too. The Longhorns, in particular, look primed to contend for a national title. South Carolina and Texas sit atop the conference, but LSU has the pieces to make a run, too.
Today, we’ll take a look at where each team stands with March fast approaching.
It’s never a bad time for power rankings. These are solely based on where I’d slot these teams moving forward. Don’t confuse it with a poll or resume ranking.
Lets jump right in, power ranking every SEC women’s basketball team.
16. Arkansas Razorbacks
With a 2-9 conference record, Arkansas is looking at its fifth-straight year of a losing record in the SEC. Nonconference struggles accompanied Arkansas’ lackluster conference play and the Razorbacks will have a losing record overall too. That hasn’t happened since 2017-18 — head coach Mike Neighbors’ first year in Fayetteville.
Earlier this week, Arkansas had a chance to get in the win column vs. Georgia but fell one point short.
Arkansas allows 77 points per game. That ranks dead last in the SEC by an entire seven points.
Georgia was able to capitalize on Arkansas’s struggles, but there haven’t been many bright spots.
According to HerHoops, Georgia has the worst offensive rating in the SEC. The Dawgs are shooting 44.1% on two-point field goals, also last in the conference.
Despite a relatively easy schedule to this point, Georgia is 10-15 on the year and out of NCAA Tournament consideration.
14. Auburn Tigers
At 11-12, Auburn is one game under .500 on the year. The Tigers will look to get to .500 by upsetting Vanderbilt on Thursday night, but that doesn’t seem likely.
Auburn can play defense, but not enough to make up for an offense that only scores 69 points per game. Auburn shoots just 43.6% from the field, and with only 3.7 three-point field goals per game, the threat is nonexistent behind the arch.
Auburn doesn’t generate many extra possessions on the boards, either. The Tigers average 9.5 offensive rebounds per game in conference play, ranking No. 15 in the SEC.
The Aggies’ offense ranks last in the SEC in points per game by a significant margin. The issue was only made worse when leading scorer Aicha Coulibaly was lost for the year. She was the only Texas A&M scorer averaging in double figures.
A&M averages just 58.3 points per game in SEC play. They struggle in the paint, can’t shoot from deep, and are inefficient at the free-throw line.
A&M’s defense is decent, allowing 70.4 points per game in conference play.
Missouri comes in one spot ahead of Texas A&M after a 69-59 win over the Aggies on Sunday.
Missouri beat up on bad teams in nonconference play but has struggled in the SEC. The Tigers are just 2-9 in conference games.
They can score and rank No. 11 nationally in three-point shooting percentage, but the defense holds them back. Missouri allows 1.10 points per scoring attempt in conference play, ranking No. 12 in the SEC. Fouls are a key issue for a Missouri defense that ranks dead last in the SEC in foul rate.
Florida has allowed 78.3 points per game since conference play began. That makes the Gators one of the worst defenses in the SEC. On the year, they’re allowing over seven three-point field goals per night.
On the offensive side of the ball, UF is shooting a respectable 45.3% in conference play. The offense is one of the SEC’s most efficient from deep. Despite the efficiency numbers, Florida is still middle of the pack with 77.8 points per game on the year.
The Gators don’t score enough to make up for what’s allowed on defense. UF is 13-13 against a schedule that is on the easier side compared to most SEC teams.
10. Mississippi State
Now we’re getting into tournament team territory. In Charlie Creme’s last bracket update, he has the Bulldogs as a No. 9 seed. MSU is on the bubble, but it’s in the dance for now.
Mississippi State boasts an above-average defense, allowing 62.6 points per game. It’s hard to score on the Bulldogs, and their opponent field goal percentage of 37.5% ranks top five in the conference. They lack a signature win, but they beat decent Oklahoma and Utah squads.
MSU’s manageable schedule down the stretch should keep the Bulldogs in tournament consideration.
9. Kentucky Wildcats
At 19-3, Kentucky owns one of the top records in the conference. The Wildcats are led by former Virginia Tech guard Georgia Amoore with 19.2 points per game.
It’s an efficient offense that ranks in the top 10 nationally in two-point field goal percentage and points per play. They protect the basketball and sit No. 9 nationally in assists-to-turnover ratio.
UK plays solid defense, ranking No. 11 in the sport in field goal percentage allowed.
However, the Wildcats struggle to generate extra possessions. They don’t force many turnovers, and they don’t rebound well on the offensive side of the ball. That limits UK’s upset potential when we get into March.
8. Oklahoma Sooners
The Sooners are led by one of the best forwards in college basketball, Raegan Beers and her 16.9 points per game. They’re one of the few teams in the SEC that has been ranked from the start of the season and maintained a position in the poll.
The offense scores 85.7 points per game — ranking No. 3 in the SEC.
Oklahoma has an argument to be higher on this list, but a defense that allows 68.7 points per game is keeping OU from being a contender in March.
The scoring duo of Mikayla Blakes and Khamil Pierre gives Vanderbilt a chance in any game. Both players average over 20 points per game.
Blakes and Pierre contribute on defense, too, combining for 5+ steals per game. The Vandy defense owns a steal rate of 14.3%, one of the best in women’s college basketball.
At times, Vanderbilt is too reliant on forcing those turnovers. The Commodores don’t defend well from the field, and if offenses protect the ball, they’re going to score.
Vanderbilt is a No. 6 seed in ESPN’s latest bracket prediction.
6. Ole Miss Rebels
With a 7-4 record in conference play, Ole Miss is tied for fifth in the SEC.
They allow 54.6 points per game, which leads the SEC, even ahead of South Carolina’s vaunted defense. Six Rebels average at least one steal per night, and Ole Miss ranks top five nationally in steal rate. Turnover potential offers a high upside for what this team can do in March.
On offense, Ole Miss ranks top 20 in assists/turnover ratio and free-throws made. They won’t wow you from deep, but they find ways to score and win games.
According to HerHoops, Alabama ranks top 20 nationally on both ends of the court. This is a balanced squad that can win in different ways.
The Crimson Tide shoot the three-ball as well as anyone, ranking No. 4 in the country in three-point field goal percentage.
Three players average 14+ points per game, but Sarah Ashlee Barker leads with 16.9 per night. Aaliyah Nye provides support from behind the arch.
4. Tennessee Volunteers
This team has an identity and it sticks to it. Tennessee likes to play fast and it likes to shoot the three-ball. The Vols score 90 points a night, ranking No. 2 nationally.
Tennessee allows a ton of points, but some of that is related to the pace of play. The Vols have a signature win over UConn and put up fights in both losses to LSU. This isn’t a team you want to see in the NCAA Tournament, but Tennessee needs a little more consistency if it hopes to make a final four run.
The lone loss on LSU’s record remains the contest at South Carolina. LSU’s scoring margin of +23.4 ranks No. 9 nationally, and the Tigers have a handful of wins over quality opponents. Kim Mulkey’s squad owns a No. 2 seed in ESPN’s latest bracket projection.
LSU scores 87.4 per game, which ranks No. 4 in women’s college basketball. The Tigers are powered by Flau’Jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow, two of the best players in the country.
LSU can be turnover-prone and doesn’t offer much from behind the arch, but it is consistent elsewhere. The ceiling is a national championship, but LSU has a big test this weekend with Texas on deck.
2. Texas Longhorns
Texas just beat South Carolina, so you may be wondering why I have them at No. 2. But like I said, this is about where teams stack up moving forward.
According to BetMGM, Texas’ national title odds remain at +1000, well behind where South Carolina sits at +250. The market doesn’t like the Longhorns chances if the two meet again in the postseason.
Texas is one of the most efficient shooting teams in the country, but they rarely score from three and can be too reliant on free throws. That doesn’t sound too different than criticisms that can be made of LSU.
Still, Texas is clearly one of the best teams in the country and a national title contender.
1. South Carolina Gamecocks
Dawn Staley’s group is the most talented team in the country, and it may not be that close. The Gamecocks defense is scary.
Opponents are shooting 34.6% from the field vs. South Carolina. That’s the best mark in women’s college basketball. South Carolina plays agressive defense, yet only grants 12.3 free throw attempts per game to opponents.
On offense, a deep roster means anyone can get hot. South Carolina doesn’t have one dominant scorer but it has several options on any given night.
South Carolina remains the best team in the SEC despite the recent loss to Texas.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: SEC women’s basketball power rankings | Massive week brings shakeup