SEC Basketball Tier List: A&M Slowly Climbs, Surprise Team Right Behind
![Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl talks with forward Johni Broome (4) as Auburn Tigers takes on Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl talks with forward Johni Broome (4) as Auburn Tigers takes on](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2500,h_1406,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/273/01hmydhs487z3zdjr8pt.jpg)
A Tier: In the Tourney
8. South Carolina | NET Ranking: 48
The Gamecocks just took a huge jump after demolishing Kentucky at home. Even more impressive: they were able to take the Cats down without Myles Stute, one of their top players. Lamont Paris’s squad, after a very down first year, looks to be a formidable force in the league this season.
7. Florida | NET Ranking: 46
The Gators stand at 12-6; 0-5 in Quad 1 games, 4-1 in Quad 2, and undefeated in Quads 3 and 4. They’ve played an extremely tough schedule thus far, but will have the chance to get a top-shelf win when they take on Kentucky and Texas A&M basketball next week.
6. Mississippi State | Net Ranking: 40
The Bulldogs have been something of an upstart squad this year. Doubtless buoying their ranking is a home win over Tennessee; that is their lone Quad 1 win, but it is an extremely impressive one. They’re staring down the barrel of four straight Quad 1 games, starting tonight on the road versus Florida.
5. Texas A&M | NET Ranking: 39
The Aggies have notched an incredible 8 Quad 1 games thus far, managing to go .500 over those contests. Their best win is over Iowa State (10th in NET) but a Quad 3 home loss to LSU is dragging them down a bit. The Ags have the potential to make a deep run in the conference and NCAA tournaments, but they just need to put the pieces together.