This week in SEC basketball
Each Tuesday, we'll take a look ahead at the week in SEC hoops. What lies ahead for Mizzou and how will the games impact the standings?
Team | SEC Record | Overall Record | RPI* |
---|---|---|---|
Florida |
6-1 |
14-5 |
24 |
Auburn |
5-1 |
17-2 |
8 |
Alabama |
5-2 |
13-6 |
26 |
Kentucky |
4-3 |
14-5 |
20 |
Tennessee |
4-3 |
13-5 |
12 |
Missouri |
3-3 |
13-6 |
36 |
Arkansas |
3-4 |
13-6 |
32 |
Georgia |
3-4 |
12-6 |
51 |
South Carolina |
3-4 |
12-7 |
53 |
Ole Miss |
3-4 |
10-9 |
100 |
Mississippi State |
2-4 |
14-5 |
76 |
LSU |
2-4 |
11-7 |
99 |
Texas A&M |
2-5 |
13-6 |
34 |
Vanderbilt |
2-5 |
7-12 |
144 |
THE WEEK AHEAD
Tuesday, Jan. 23: Arkansas at Georgia, 5:30, SEC Network
Vanderbilt at Tennessee, 6:00, ESPNU
Alabama at Ole Miss, 7:30, SEC Network
Mississippi State at Kentucky, 8:00, ESPN
Texas A&M at LSU, 8:00, ESPNU
Wednesday, Jan. 24: South Carolina at Florida, 6:00, SEC Network
Auburn at Missouri, 8:00, SEC Network
Saturday, Jan. 27: Texas Tech at South Carolina, 11:00 a.m., ESPN2
Baylor at Florida, 11:00 a.m., ESPN
Ole Miss at Texas, 1:00, ESPN2
Georgia at Kansas State, 1:00, ESPNU
Oklahoma at Alabama, 1:15, ESPN
Tennessee at Iowa State, 3:00, ESPNU
TCU at Vanderbilt, 3:00, ESPN2
Texas A&M at Kansas, 3:30, ESPN
LSU at Auburn, 5:00, SEC Network
Oklahoma State at Arkansas, 5:00, ESPN2
Kentucky at West Virginia, 6:00, ESPN
Missouri at Mississippi State, 7:30, SEC Network
WHAT MIZZOU NEEDS TO DO
Missouri did what was necessary last week. The Tigers picked up a huge win over Tennessee before falling at Texas A&M. Various bracket projections have the Tigers in the field, most between a 9 and an 11 seed.
This week brings big opportunity for the Tigers. The home game against Auburn on Wednesday gives Mizzou a chance at a second top 25 RPI win in a week. The visiting Tigers are No. 8 in the RPI and would be Missouri's biggest win of the season in those terms. Saturday has the Tigers facing a winnable road game at Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are 76th in the RPI, so it wouldn't be a bad loss or a great win, but the tournament committee takes road wins into consideration and a win in Starkville would at 5-5 in road/neutral games and 3-3 in true road games.
A split would not hurt Missouri this week, but a sweep would go a long way toward putting them in solid tournament shape as the second half of the schedule gets somewhat easier. Getting swept wouldn't kill all chances, but it would mean the Tigers would have to pick up another road win or two in the back half of the schedule.
The Tigers are one of four teams not involved in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday, so all league teams will be even with eight conference games played by Sunday. Mizzou could be as high as 2nd or as low as 12th in the standings by the end of the week.