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SEC Basketball Power Rankings for the 2024-25 Season

SEC Basketball Power Rankings for the 2024-25 Season

Each year for the past few years, the SEC has been home to some of the best college basketball teams in the country. If you thought that would change next season, think again.

Yes, the SEC is once again emerging as one of college basketball’s premier conferences, one that could potentially send double-digit teams to the NCAA Tournament in March. Additionally, there are two to three teams in the SEC that start the season as legitimate Final Four contenders, as well as a few others that could be just outside that group.

With a conference loaded with talent, it’s clear that the SEC will be a must-see this season. Here are our preseason SEC basketball power rankings for the conference heading into the 2024-25 season, starting at No. 16:

16

Vanderbilt Commodores

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  • 2023–24 record: 9-23 overall (4-14 in SEC)
  • Awards: N/A
  • Preseason rankings: Unranked in the AP Poll, unranked in the Coaches Poll
  • Season start: against Maryland Eastern on November 4th

We’ll start with the Vanderbilt Commodores, who are also the only SEC program set to usher in a new era in 2024-25. Mark Byington takes over as head coach of the Commodores with a new roster led by transfer guard AJ Hoggard.

15

Missouri Tigers

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  • 2023–24 record: 8-24 overall (0-18 in SEC)
  • Awards: N/A
  • Preseason rankings: Unranked in the AP Poll, unranked in the Coaches Poll
  • Season start: on November 4th in Memphis

The Missouri Tigers were by far the worst team in the SEC last season, failing to win double-digit games for the first time since 2016-17. Missouri should improve this season, however, led by a squad led by returning defender Tamar Bates.

14

Oklahoma Sooners

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  • 2023–24 record: 20-12 overall (8-10 in Big 12)
  • Awards: N/A
  • Preseason rankings: Unranked in the AP Poll, unranked in the Coaches Poll
  • Season start: against Lindenwood on November 4th

The Oklahoma Sooners join the SEC this season after coming off a 20-12 season as a member of the Big 12 in which they missed the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year under head coach Porter Moser. Now in the SEC, Oklahoma looks set to be in the bottom half of the conference, led by a squad that returns Jalon Moore.

13

LSU Tigers

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  • 2023–24 record: 17-16 overall (9-9 in SEC)
  • Awards: N/A
  • Preseason rankings: Unranked in the AP Poll, unranked in the Coaches Poll
  • Season start: against UL Monroe on November 6th

The LSU Tigers Enter the third year of the Matt McMahon era after a season in which they barely registered any wins. LSU should solidify itself in the bottom half of the SEC to start the year with returning Tyrell Ward leading the Tigers’ roster.

12

Georgia Bulldogs

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  • 2023–24 record: 20-17 overall (6-12 in SEC)
  • Awards: N/A
  • Preseason rankings: Unranked in the AP Poll, unranked in the Coaches Poll
  • Season start: against Tennessee Tech on November 4th

The Georgia Bulldogs They enter the third year of the Mike White era in Athens after not appearing in the NCAA Tournament since 2015. Georgia will certainly be fighting for a spot in March, albeit led by a roster that returns Silas Demary Jr. and also added highly touted freshman Asa Newell.

11

South Carolina Gamecocks

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  • 2023–24 record: 26-8 overall (13-5 in SEC)
  • Awards: No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament, appearing in the round of 64
  • Preseason rankings: Unranked in the AP Poll, unranked in the Coaches Poll
  • Season start: against North Florida on November 4th

The South Carolina Gamecocks had one of their best seasons in recent memory a year ago when the program won more than 25 games for the first time since 2016-17. Looking ahead, South Carolina lost some talent, but also brought back one of the SEC’s best forwards in Collin Murray-Boyles.

10

Mississippi State Bulldogs

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  • 2023–24 record: 21-14 overall (8-10 in SEC)
  • Awards: No. 8 seed in the NCAA tournament, appearing in the round of 64
  • Preseason rankings: Unranked in the AP Poll, unranked in the Coaches Poll
  • Season start: against West Georgia on November 4th

Mississippi State is one of the most interesting teams in the SEC heading into the 2024-25 season after the Bulldogs made their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Led by one of the SEC’s top scorers, returning guard Josh Hubbard, the Bulldogs are a potential sleeper team in the conference to keep an eye on.

9

Ole Miss Rebels

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  • 2023–24 record: 20-12 overall (7-11 in SEC)
  • Awards: N/A
  • Preseason rankings: No. 24 in the AP poll, No. 25 in the coaches poll
  • Season start: against Long Island on November 4th

The Ole Miss Rebels enter the second year of the Chris Beard era and are expected to appear in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. Leading the Rebels this season is one of the top guards in the SEC: Matthew Murrell.

8

Kentucky Wildcats

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  • 2023–24 record: 23-10 overall (13-5 in SEC)
  • Awards: No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, appearing in the Round of 64
  • Preseason rankings: No. 23 in the AP poll, No. 23 in the coaches poll
  • Season start: against Wright State on November 4th

A new era begins in Lexington this season as Mark Pope takes over Kentucky program for the late longtime head coach John Calipari. Pope takes over a new-look Kentucky team that added several newcomers in the offseason, most notably BYU transfer Jaxson Robinson.

7

Texas Longhorns

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  • 2023–24 record: 21-13 overall (9-9 in SEC)
  • Awards: No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, appearing in the Round of 32
  • Preseason rankings: No. 19 in the AP poll, No. 19 in the coaches poll
  • Season start: against Ohio State on November 4 in Las Vegas, Nevada

The Texas Longhorns They officially join the SEC this season after making their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Texas will certainly bring a talented team to the SEC, led by two of the conference’s best guards: Tramon Mark and freshman Tre Johnson.

6

Texas A&M Aggies

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  • 2023–24 record: 21-15 overall (9-9 in SEC)
  • Awards: No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, appearing in the Round of 32
  • Preseason rankings: No. 13 in the AP poll, No. 15 in the coaches poll
  • Season start: at UCF on November 4th

Texas A&M had an impressive season a year ago, reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year under head coach Buzz Williams. The Aggies should have a similar season in 2024-25, led by one of the SEC’s best return guards, Wade Taylor IV.

5

Florida Gators

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  • 2023–24 record: 24-12 overall (11-7 in SEC)
  • Awards: No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, appearing in the Round of 64
  • Preseason rankings: No. 21 in the AP poll, No. 21 in the coaches poll
  • Season start: against South Florida on November 4th in Jacksonville, Florida

The Florida Gators took a significant step forward a year ago, in the second year of the Todd Golden era, reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021. Florida is now a sleeper team to watch in the SEC this season as the Gators return a talented roster led by Walter Clayton Jr. and Alex Condon.

4

Arkansas Razorbacks

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  • 2023–24 record: 16-17 overall (6-12 in SEC)
  • Awards: N/A
  • Preseason rankings: No. 16 in the AP poll, No. 16 in the coaches poll
  • Season start: against Lipscomb on November 6th

A new era begins in Fayetteville this season as former Kentucky head coach John Calipari will lead the Arkansas Razorbacks program through 2024-25. The Razorbacks have a revamped roster that includes some highly touted rookies as well as transfers like Jonas Aidoo and Johnell Davis and are poised to make some noise in the SEC this season.

3

Tennessee Volunteers

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  • 2023–24 record: 27-9 overall (14-4 in SEC)
  • Awards: SEC regular season champion, No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Elite Eight appearance
  • Preseason rankings: No. 12 in the AP poll, No. 12 in the coaches poll
  • Season start: against Gardner-Webb on November 4th

The SEC regular season champion a year ago, Tennessee was also one of the conference’s top-performing teams in the NCAA Tournament and made it to the Elite Eight. Tennessee will be tasked with replacing some talent, including SEC Player of the Year Dalton Knecht, but also bringing back some prominent names like Zakai Zeigler.

2

Auburn Tigers

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  • 2023–24 record: 27-8 overall (13-5 in SEC)
  • Awards: SEC Tournament champion, No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Round of 64 appearance
  • Preseason rankings: No. 11 in the AP poll, No. 11 in the coaches poll
  • Season start: against Vermont on November 6th

The Auburn Tigers were one of the best teams in the SEC a year ago, winning the SEC Tournament before suffering a surprising loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Auburn is expected to be one of the SEC’s top teams throughout the season, led by one of the best players in the country, forward Johni Broome.

1

Alabama Crimson Tide

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  • 2023–24 record: 25-12 overall (13-5 in SEC)
  • Awards: No. 4 seed in NCAA Tournament, Final Four appearance
  • Preseason rankings: No. 2 in AP pollNo. 2 in Coach survey
  • Season start: against UNC Asheville on November 4th

The Alabama Crimson Tide lead our 2024-25 SEC Basketball Preseason Power Rankings after their first-ever Final Four appearance. Nate Oats will begin the season with perhaps his most talented team in Alabama, led by Mark Sears, preseason SEC Player of the Yearand are among the preseason favorites to win the 2024-25 national championship.