SEC women's basketball power rankings: Amid LSU chaos, South Carolina continues to roll
If you thought 2022-23 was a down year for the SEC's depth in women's basketball, this season might end up with an even bigger fall-off.
No. 1 South Carolina continues to roll, but the Gamecocks are the only team in the conference without either a bad loss or a single-score win over a mid-major opponent. No. 7 LSU's off-court disaster continues to unfold, and No. 20 Tennessee can't seem to figure things out with Rickea Jackson injured. Conference play is still a month away, but it could be a top-to-bottom disappointment if current trends continue.
Onto the rankings:
1. South Carolina
Last week: No. 1
Up next: Nov. 30 at North Carolina; Dec. 3 at Duke
The final score against Mississippi Valley State speaks for itself: 101-19. Good luck to anyone trying to slow down this offense.
2. LSU
Last week: No. 2
Up next: Nov. 30 vs Virginia Tech
Aneesah Morrow is finally getting the minutes she deserves, but the circus around Angel Reese and Kateri Poole probably wasn't the opening Kim Mulkey wanted.
3. Tennessee
Last week: No. 3
Up next: Nov. 29 vs Notre Dame, Dec. 3 vs Ohio State
Kellie Harper called her team "a group of nice young women" after losing to Indiana, but a 12-30 record against ranked teams is bigger than this roster.
4. Ole Miss
Last week: No. 6
Up next: Nov. 29 vs Louisville; Dec. 2 at Southern Mississippi
The Rebels stabilized after their Week 1 upset, but KK Deans' season-ending injury feels like a bad omen as another ranked opponent comes to Oxford.
5. Mississippi State
Last week: No. 5
Up next: Nov. 29 vs Miami; Dec. 3 at Chattanooga
The Bulldogs have now escaped two potentially disastrous upsets in eight games, making it almost more impressive that they're still undefeated.
6. Alabama
Last week: No. 7
Up next: Nov. 30 at Syracuse
Alabama fans rode an emotional rollercoaster this week. A huge win over No. 22 Louisville quickly soured on a 10-point loss to Gonzaga the next day.
7. Florida
Last week: No. 8
Up next: Nov. 29 at Georgia Tech; Dec. 2 at Marshall
They say everything's bigger in Texas, but transfer Aliyah Matharu's impact just keeps growing in Gainesville after her career-high 26 points vs Columbia.
8. Vanderbilt
Last week: No. 12
Up next: Nov. 29 at NC State; Dec. 3 vs Louisiana Tech
For the first time in over a decade, the Commodores are 7-0 to start the season. It hasn't been pretty, but the win column doesn't care about aesthetics.
10. Texas A&M
Last week: No. 4
Up next: Nov. 30 at Wake Forest; Dec. 3 vs Kansas
The Aggies' schedule doesn't have another difficult game until SEC play begins, but Purdue shouldn't have been one either.
9. Arkansas
Last week: No. 10
Up next: Nov. 30 at Florida State; Dec. 3 vs UCLA
Marquette cracked the top 25 for the first time after beating Arkansas, and that loss is about to turn into a skid with two more top-15 teams on deck.
11. Georgia
Last week: No. 14
Up next: Nov. 30 vs Duke; Dec. 3 vs Furman
The Bulldogs should consider moving the rebuilt Stegeman Coliseum to the Bahamas, because Georgia looked like a legitimate SEC team at the Pink Flamingo Championship.
12. Auburn
Last week: No. 9
Up next: Nov. 30 vs Clemson; Dec. 3 at UAB
With back-to-back losses to Cal and UCF, a promising start by the Tigers came crashing down. Where have Auburn fans seen that before?
AP TOP 25 RANKINGS: How Lady Vols writer Cora Hall voted in the AP Top 25: NC State proves it belongs in top 5
13. Missouri
Last week: No. 3
Up next: Nov. 30 at Virginia; Dec. 2 vs Southeast Missouri
It's getting bleak for Missouri after a one-point win over Tennessee Tech and a loss to Kent State, and the Tigers haven't even seen a Power Five team yet.
14. Kentucky
Last week: No. 11
Up next: Nov. 30 vs Boston College; Dec. 3 vs Tennessee Tech
Getting beat to Austin Peay felt like rock bottom, but the Wildcats tried to outdo themselves at Paradise Jam with three straight losses by 20-plus.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: SEC Power Rankings: South Carolina, Dawn Staley in class of their own
