The SEC couldn’t replicate its non-conference performance from 2024-25, but it was still a noteworthy start to the season.
Who have been the standout performers?
Let’s have some fun with SEC non-conference superlatives.
First Team All-SEC
Note: I'm an advocate for five players on a First Team all-conference list, but since it's midseason, we're gonna cheat and add a few more who deserve recognition. It just means more....until the official awards in March!
Labaron Philon (Alabama)
Philon leads the SEC in scoring at 21.9 points per game, but he does more than just that. The sophomore point guard is fourth in the conference in assists (5.6 apg) and fifth in field goal percentage (55.1 percent). His dynamic playmaking ability has been the catalyst for the No. 8 scoring team in college basketball, with Alabama averaging 93.0 points per contest.
Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas)
The dynamic freshman playmaker has been outstanding. He’s second in the SEC in assists (6.1 apg), fourth in scoring (18.9 ppg), and fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.1). Acuff has become the go-to-guy on John Calipari’s surging Arkansas team, and the Razorbacks look like an SEC title favorite when he’s on the court (fourth in minutes per game at 32.8 mpg).
Ja’Kobi Gilliespie (Tennessee)
Having to fill the Zakai Zeigler role wasn’t going to be easy. However, Gillispie has stuffed the stat sheet for the Vols by doing a little bit of everything. He is third in the SEC in assists (5.7 apg), fifth in minutes played (31.5 mpg), sixth in scoring (17.6 ppg), and sixth in 3-pointers made (33). Perhaps most importantly, his perimeter defense once again has Tennessee in the top 15 in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency.
Duke Miles (Vanderbilt)
The Commodores are going to rack up several superlatives due to their excellent play to this point in the season, and Miles (17.1 ppg, 4.7 apg, 2.8 spg) has been a game-changer for them. He ranks 10th nationally in KenPom’s POTY standings, and his experience is paying off huge in clutch moments. He’s also top 10 in the SEC in several categories, including steals, assists, points per game, assist-to-turnover ratio, and free throw percentage.
Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt)
Yes, it’s another Vanderbilt player. And there’s even an argument to be made for a third in Tyler Nickel (15.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 45 3-pointers). The numbers suggest Tanner is an easy choice. He averaged 15.4 points per game, 4.7 assists per game, and 2.7 steals per game, and Torvik has him ranked as the top player in the SEC. Tanner is third in Evan Miya’s ratings. The backcourt duo for the Commodores has been stellar.
Keyshawn Hall (Auburn)
Hall has been a huge addition for the Tigers. He is third in the SEC in scoring (20.3 ppg) and fourth in rebounding (8.3 rpg), ranking second to only a certain Florida player we'll mention shortly in minutes played (33.3 mpg). Hall's defensive metrics aren't ideal, but Auburn's overall defensive numbers shouldn't be that surprising with a gauntlet of a schedule that has included elite offensive teams like Michigan (102 points allowed), Arizona (97 points allowed), and Purdue (88 points allowed).
Thomas Haugh (Florida)
Haugh has been the SEC Iron Man to this point, averaging 33.6 minutes per game. Much was made in the offseason about how he would transition from the four to the three, but the 6-9 junior is still one of the best players in the conference. While he doesn't rank as high in top SEC categories as the other players on this list, his impact on both sides of the court is undeniable. He's seventh in the conference in scoring (17.3 ppg) and would likely have better rebounding numbers (6.3 rpg) if he weren't on the court with two of the top three in Reuben Chinyelu (10.8 rpg) and Alex Condon (8.9 rpg).
Best Player
Labaron Philon (Alabama)
There are several quality choices from the First Team All-SEC group, but Philon has been a notch above the competition. He ranks sixth in KenPom’s Player of the Year standings and has 20 or more points in nine of Alabama’s 12 games this season, thus justifying the argument for him as the frontrunner for SEC Player of the Year.
Best Team
Vanderbilt (12-0)
The Commodores still have one non-conference game left against New Haven (No. 348 in KenPom), but they’ve been dominant to this point. Vanderbilt has an average margin of victory of 21.9 points per game, including a 25-point win against Saint Mary’s, a 19-point win against SMU, a 15-point win against VCU, and a 12-point win at UCF. All four of those teams rank in the top 45 in KenPom. The most impressive performance came in a 31-point victory at Wake Forest. Just as we said a month or so ago, buy the hype.
Best Coach
Mark Byington (Vanderbilt)
Why has Vanderbilt been so good? It starts with Byington and his staff’s ability to build a cohesive roster in the offseason. They focused on bringing in more size, and that has played a role in the Commodores’ defensive success thus far (14th in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency metric). On offense, this team’s spacing and transition game is an absolute joy to watch, with Vanderbilt ranking seventh nationally in points per game (94.1 ppg).
Best Freshman
Darius Acuff Jr. (Arkansas)
Acuff is the clear frontrunner for SEC Freshman of the Year. One of the key reasons is that he has stepped up in most of Arkansas’s biggest games this season. He had 16 points and six assists at Michigan State. He posted 21 points, five assists, and four 3-pointers against Duke. He notched a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists in the win against Louisville. And then there were the 20 points and eight assists in a victory over Texas Tech, and 27 points and seven assists against Houston.
Best Defensive Player
Rueben Chinyelu (Florida)
The Florida frontcourt is starting to find its groove, and the Gators should be considered one of the favorites to win the SEC. A key attribute has been the defense, and the 6-10 junior has been impressive in that area. Chinyelu (10.5 ppg, 10.8 rpg) is the highest-rated defensive player in both Torvik and Evan Miya’s metrics, and he is going to be a handful for SEC opponents trying to find success in the paint.
Most Underrated Player
Blue Cain (Georgia)
The Bulldogs have been an offensive juggernaut, as they currently lead the nation in scoring at 99.8 points per game. Cain is averaging 16.0 points per game, but he means so much more than that to Mike White’s squad. The 6-5 junior leads the team and is fifth in the SEC in steals (2.1 spg) and is second on the team in rebounding (5.5 rpg). He has been invaluable to Georgia this season, and more people should be talking about him.
Most Improved Team
Vanderbilt
LSU and Georgia are top contenders, but again, the Commodores have to be the choice. The reason is simple: Vanderbilt finished No. 48 in KenPom a season ago, and it currently sits at No. 8. We only have half a season of data, so it’s not an equal comparison. But for a non-conference superlative, the Commodores have made more of a leap than any other team in the SEC.
Best Win
Tennessee 76, Houston 73
Other contenders could include Alabama’s 90-86 win against Illinois in Chicago, or Arkansas’s 93-86 victory against Texas Tech in Dallas. But the Vols proved they are a legitimate SEC title contender with the victory over Houston team in Las Vegas. While Tennessee followed it up with a three-game losing streak, Rick Barnes’ squad has been the only blemish on the Cougars’ resume.
Best NCAA Tournament Resume
Vanderbilt
Despite what the critics may tell you, Vanderbilt has played an above-average schedule (No. 70 nationally). Most bracketology projections currently have them at a No. 2 seed, and the numbers showcase why that is. With six combined Quad 1 and Quad 2 wins - Alabama has the next most in the SEC with four - the Commodores have a top-tier NCAA Tournament resume entering conference play.
