The SEC’s encore to a historic 2024-25 season has been underwhelming thus far.

What’s going on with the (former?) best basketball conference in America?

Let’s find out.

4 SEC Basketball Topics On My Mind

This Isn’t The SEC Of 2024-25

The SEC had four teams in the Elite Eight last season.

They were four wins away from an all-SEC Final Four, and it was an impressive feat that two of the four - Auburn and Florida - got there, with the Gators cutting down the nets to give the conference its first national title since 2012.

It’s early, but the only team playing like a Final Four team at the moment is Alabama.

And not even the Tide looks invincible. Then there’s Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee, who were picked as the top three in the preseason media poll. They’re all a work in progress (more on Kentucky in a second) and have some glaring issues that need fixing.

It also remains to be seen whether Arkansas, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Ole Miss, and others can be second weekend and beyond kind of teams.

The good news? The Final Four isn’t played in November.

But there is a clear difference in the raw stats from a season ago. You’ve heard about the SEC’s remarkable 185-23 record in non-conference play in 2024. Fast forward, and the SEC has already lost more than half of that number of games (13) in 2025, and it’s only the second week of the season.

Why the drop-off? Replicating a historic season is tough. That’s why it’s historic. Add in injuries to key players, teams having to replace program legends, and building chemistry with lots of new faces, and you’ve got a recipe for a somewhat disappointing start with fewer dominant teams.

However, it’s only disappointing in comparison to the heights the SEC achieved last season.

It should still be one of the best conferences in the country, even if a step back from the previous campaign was inevitable.

Why Kentucky Is Struggling

Kentucky is one team that can be classified as a disappointment through five games.

I said last week that the Wildcats were trying to define roles, and it may take a bit to get everyone on the same page.

That was on full display in Kentucky’s embarrassing loss to Michigan State in the Champions Classic. The lack of chemistry was jarring, and no one seemed to have the answers for how to fix it.

"I know there's one team that's really, really well coached and one team that was really poorly coached," Mark Pope said after the game. "My message isn't resonating with the guys right now. That's my responsibility."

He even used the description “disappointed and discouraged and completely discombobulated right now” to describe his team.

But wait, there’s more.

Here’s what Otega Oweh, the preseason player of the year in the aforementioned best conference in college basketball entering the season, had to say about his own effort.

"With me, it's just a matter of me playing hard and having effort 100%. That's something that I have to go out there and do. Everything else will fall into place after that."

Not ideal.

The question is, can Pope actually fix the issues with this team?

Yes, they’re still missing a starting point guard in Jaland Lowe and a starting forward in Jayden Quaintance. But I’m not sure those guys can fix a team lacking an identity, cohesion, or toughness.

Teams in this position have two choices: Go further in the wrong direction by blaming one another or someone else, or come together and do what it takes to find the solution.

Kentucky should win its next two games by 30 or more points. Then, it’s an 18-day stretch with games against North Carolina (home), Gonzaga (Nashville), Indiana (home), and St. John’s (Atlanta).

It’s not an exaggeration to say those four games could make or break Kentucky’s season.

Tennessee Can Make A Statement

I put the Vols in the category of top teams with more to prove.

Tennessee is off to a 5-0 start, but the average KenPom ranking of its opponents is 259th.

The defense has been Rick Barnes-esque. After finishing in the top five in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency metric the past five seasons, the Vols currently rank - you guessed it - fifth in the country.

Offensively, there may be a few more questions.

Nate Ament (19.8 ppg) and Ja’Kobi Gillespie (16.5 ppg) have been the guys. That’s no surprise since you could have polled 100 people and had 99 of them say they’d be the top two scorers on the team.

The most interesting development is that JP Estrella is third in that category, posting 14.0 points per game in only 17 minutes per game.

Of course, the problem is that Estrella suffered a left leg injury in Monday’s 91-66 win over Rice. According to Ryan Schumpert of Rocky Top Insider, the return timeline isn’t clear, but Tennessee is declaring him day-to-day with a bone bruise.

Beyond those three, the scoring production could be a storyline to watch. Estrella has been one of the nation’s best offensive rebounders, grabbing 16 in the first three games. That has helped Tennessee post the top offensive rebounding percentage (52.6 percent) in college basketball.

Without him on the floor, the Vols will hope that a season-high 15 points against Tennessee State gets Amaree Abram going. He previously had 11 total points in the first four games. Felix Okpara (31 points in the past two games) and others will be needed to add consistent scoring production if this team wants to avoid some of the scoring woes that were prominent several seasons ago.

Either way, Tennessee has a chance to make a big statement next week.

Barnes’ team will play Rutgers, Houston, and an opponent to be determined in the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas.

This is the first big test for the new-look Vols, and we should learn a lot about this team’s outlook as a possible SEC title contender.

How Good Are LSU and South Carolina?

I’m not sure just yet.

But the two teams that didn’t make the NCAA Tournament last season appear to be on the right path.

I know the opponents for both have left a bit to be desired, but if you watch LSU and South Carolina play, there’s a different energy about them.

The Tigers lacked an offensive punch in 2024-25, but the transfers are doing work. Mike Nwoko (20.3 ppg), Marquel Sutton (15.8 ppg), Dedan Thomas (14.0 ppg), and Max Mackinnon (11.3 ppg) are all making key contributions, and they’re playing well off of each other.

It’s also great to see Jalen Reed (11.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg) back in action. Don’t forget that the 6-10 junior was averaging 12.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per contest before suffering a season-ending injury in the eighth game of the season.

As for the Gamecocks, Lamont Paris clearly has the most perimeter depth he’s had since he took the job in 2022.

The guard play - led by the returning Meechie Johnson and 6-9 Utah transfer Mike Sharavjamts - has been fun to watch, and freshman Eli Ellis is going to be hard to keep off the floor this season. The drastic improvement from the 3-point line - 31.6 percent to 36.0 percent - could make this team sneaky come SEC play.

South Carolina’s schedule ramps up in the Greenbrier Tip-Off, where Johnson and company will play Butler on Friday and Northwestern on Sunday.

Those two games are crucial for the Gamecocks to make a push at returning to the NCAA Tournament.

Other Random SEC Basketball Thoughts

  • Vanderbilt’s point total in five games this season: 105, 105, 92, 104, and 109. I know opponents matter, but there's growing confidence that this could be one of the best offensive teams in college basketball this season.
  • Jacob Crews may be the X-factor for Missouri. The 6-8 senior is currently seventh on the team in minutes per game (19.4), but he’s fourth in scoring. Where he’s scoring from is even more important, as Crews has made 16 of his 26 attempts from 3-point range. If he can provide some of those Caleb Grill-like elements come SEC play, look out.
  • Florida’s 3-point percentage is still atrocious (23.7 percent, 349th nationally), and there are understandable questions about the depth of this team. However, I’m sticking with what I said a few weeks ago in this column: The Gators are going to be fine. The frontcourt is going to win the champs a lot of games, and there's no way Xaivian Lee is shooting 25.5 percent from the floor and 17.6 percent from three (6-of-34) the entire season.
  • Texas A&M needs Mackenzie Mgbako. The Aggies have already dropped two games in ugly fashion, losing by 24 at Oklahoma State and blowing a 14-point second-half lead to lose by 12 at home to UCF. Texas A&M’s NCAA Tournament resume could be defined by an upcoming three-game stretch against ACC foes in Florida State (November 28 in Tampa), Pitt (December 2 at Pitt), and SMU (December 7 in Arlington).

Ranking The Top 5 SEC Feast Week Games

5. Iowa vs. Ole Miss - November 25, 9:30 PM ET on CBS Sports Network (Palm Springs)

Sign me up for this coaching matchup. Ben McCollum and Chris Beard have distinct styles, and it should make for an entertaining back-and-forth in the Acrisure Series in California. To take it a step further, how about the incredible point guard matchup between Bennett Stirtz and Ilias Kamardine? On second thought, this game might be too low in my rankings.

4. Auburn vs. Michigan - November 25, 8:30 PM ET on TNT (Las Vegas)

This is one of two highly anticipated rematches from the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Auburn got the best of Michigan in the Sweet 16 a season ago, but the Tigers will likely be the underdog this time around. A big reason is the status of top scorer and rebounder Keshawn Hall, who was in a walking boot for Wednesday’s game against Jackson State. Yes, Auburn scored 112 points without him, but Michigan’s top-five defense presents a much different challenge.

3. Houston vs. Tennessee - November 25, 6 PM ET on TNT (Las Vegas)

The Cougars led early and often against the Vols in the Elite 8 showdown between these two teams back in March. Houston and Tennessee were loaded with experience last season. However, both are relying on freshmen in the early going this time around. Kingston Flemings (17.3 ppg, 5.3 apg) and Chris Cenac Jr. (10.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg) have made a huge impact for the Cougars, and Nate Ament has been one of the most productive players in college basketball (19.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.8 spg). Watch this game for the diaper dandies, baby!

2. Arkansas vs. Duke - November 27, 8 PM ET on CBS (Chicago)

It wouldn’t be Feast Week without a primetime showdown worthy of the spot. This is the ultimate prove-it game for Arkansas, as the Razorbacks had a frustrating finish in the loss at Michigan State a few weeks ago. Arkansas held on for a four-point win against Samford and a one-point win against Winthrop, but consistency will be key against one of the most talented lineups in the sport. John Calipari’s team needs better shot selection and defense to upset Duke.

1. Alabama vs. Gonzaga - November 24, 9:30 PM ET on TNT (Las Vegas)

The gauntlet continues for the Crimson Tide. After losing by seven at home to Purdue, and then defeating Illinois by four at the United Center in Chicago, Nate Oats’ squad heads to Vegas on Monday for a tilt with the Zags. The contrast in offensive approach could be interesting. Alabama is getting 39.6 percent of its points from three (42nd nationally), while Gonzaga is getting 61.7 percent of its points from two (5th nationally). Some have said this could be a Final Four preview. I say this could be a National Championship Game preview.