Plenty on the line this week in the Southeastern Conference.
No. 1 South Carolina (25-0, 12-0) could already put a bow on the SEC regular season championship and lock up the top seed for the league tournament in a couple of weeks in Greenville, South Carolina with a win over Alabama inside Colonial Life Arena.
The Gamecocks haven’t lost this season and it’s hard to see a scenario where they don’t beat the Tide on Thursday.
On Sunday, LSU (22-4, 9-3) travels to Knoxville to battle Tennessee (16-9, 9-4) in a showdown where the winner will have the inside track to nail down the No. 2 seed for the conference tournament, barring any meltdown the last week of the regular season.
With the picture clearing up as we inch closer to March, onto the SEC power rankings.
1. South Carolina (25-0, 12-0)
Last week: No. 1
Up next: Feb. 22 Alabama; Feb. 25 at Kentucky
This is the third straight season Dawn Staley and South Carolina have won at least 24 of their first 25 games of the season. That. Is. Absurd.
2. LSU (22-4, 9-3)
Last week: No. 2
Up next: Feb. 22 Auburn; Feb 25 at Tennessee
Sunday’s showdown in Rocky Top could decide the No. 2 seed for the SEC Tournament between LSU and Tennessee. Kim Mulkey, Angel Reese and squad are peaking at the right time.
3. Tennessee (16-9, 9-4)
Last week: No. 3
Up next: Feb. 25 LSU; Feb. 29 Texas A&M
Kellie Harper should’ve been the one complaining about the SEC scheduling — not Dawn Staley — about her Lady Vols having to play South Carolina twice in the last two weeks of the regular season. Those meetings could prove costly if Ole Miss and Alabama continue to win.
4. Alabama (20-7, 7-5)
Last week: No. 4
Up next: Feb. 22 at South Carolina; Feb. 25 Mississippi State
Sarah Ashlee Barker scored her 1,000th career point in Alabama’s win over rival Auburn in Tuscaloosa and with the team trailing by 10 entering the fourth, it felt like she was going to need to score 1,000 to lift the Tide to victory.
5. Ole Miss (18-7, 8-4)
Last week: No. 6
Up next: Feb. 22 Georgia; Feb. 26 at Missouri
Rebels are hitting up at the right time and an overtime win over rival Mississippi State might be that final shot to the arm Coach Yo and company need to challenge for a top-3 seed in the SEC Tournament.
6. Mississippi State (20-7, 7-5)
Last week: No. 5
Up next: Feb. 22 Kentucky; Feb. 25 at Alabama
The second women’s basketball Egg Bowl of this season was for a top-5 spot in these power rankings. Ole Miss won so it jumps State for No. 5. Bulldogs have now lost two straight and seem to be trending downward.
7. Arkansas (18-9, 6-6)
Last week: No. 8
Up next: Feb. 22 at Texas A&M; Feb. 25 Vanderbilt
Arkansas skirted by a hapless Missouri squad at home by seven. Led by 20 and almost gave the lead away late. Nothing has come easy for Mike Neighbors and crew this year.
8. Vanderbilt (19-8, 6-7)
Last week: No. 9
Up next: Feb. 25 at Arkansas; Feb. 29 at Missouri
The way this season started, I felt like Vanderbilt would at least be able to challenge Tennessee on its own floor… I was wrong.
9. Texas A&M (17-8, 5-7)
Last week: No. 7
SOUTH CAROLINA WBB What lessons South Carolina women’s basketball learned in narrow victory vs Georgia
LADY VOLS How the Lady Vols proved they’re hitting their stride in 25-point win over Vanderbilt
LSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LSU women’s basketball has been working on its defense. Texas A&M win proves it’s close
Up next: Feb. 22 Arkansas; Feb. 25 at Auburn
A&M’s struggles to score have come to a head when it mustered 45 points in a home loss to Vanderbilt and 14 points in the first half against LSU. Joni Taylor is a great coach but this has been a tough season in College Station.
10. Auburn (16-9, 5-7)
Last week: No. 11
Up next: Feb. 22 at LSU; Feb. 25 Texas A&M
Johnnie Harris’ team has been solid in the fourth quarter all season long. Auburn could’ve made a statement by finishing off a sweep of Alabama but now it remains firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble.
11. Florida (13-11, 4-8)
Last week: No. 10
Up next: Feb. 22 Missouri; Feb. 25 at Georgia
Gators won’t beat many teams if Leilani Correa goes 1-for-12 in the game. She’s too vital to Florida’s success, as proven by the surprising loss at Kentucky.
12. Kentucky (10-16, 3-9)
Last week: No. 14
Up next: Feb. 22 at Mississippi State; Feb. 25 South Carolina
The late defensive performance from Kentucky in the Florida win was good enough to beat several teams in the lower half of the SEC right now.
13. Georgia (11-14, 2-10)
Last week: No. 12
Up next: Feb. 22 at Ole Miss; Feb. 25 Florida
Georgia was a 36.5-point underdog at South Carolina on Sunday and took a seven-point lead into halftime and lost by 14. Consider that a win.
14. Missouri (11-14, 2-10)
Last week: No. 13
Up next: Feb. 22 at Florida; Feb. 26 Ole Miss
Hayley Frank dropped 22 against Arkansas in her return from injury but it wasn’t enough. Missouri has lost seven straight and feels like it won’t win again this season.
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: SEC women’s basketball power rankings: South Carolina still undefeated
