The first week of SEC women’s basketball has come and gone – and we saw it all. The good, the bad and the ugly.
The top of the conference looks as strong as ever, but the bottom looks worse than projected with three teams losing their season openers. The good news is, the league added two excellent teams to the conference – and both are looking as good as advertised.
Rankings based on games as of Nov. 13.
1. South Carolina
Last week: 1
This week: Coppin State, East Carolina
What to know: Te-Hina Paopao dropped 23 points in the Final Four rematch with NC State. Looks like she had something to say about the SEC Preseason Player of the Year being a three-way tie that didn’t include her.
2. LSU
Last week: 2
This week: Murray State, Troy
What to know: Kim Mulkey complained her two stars weren’t getting enough national attention. Maybe if LSU played a Power Four opponent in the first three weeks instead of Charleston Southern, there’d be something to discuss.
3. Texas
Last week: 3
This week: Lamar, at DePaul
What to know: It’s hard to draw much useful information from a 119-47 win. But what I can tell you is, Rori Harmon is so back. And that’s a win for everyone.
4. Oklahoma
Last week: 4
This week: Western Carolina, at Wichita State
What to know: Everyone knew the Sooners’ shooting paired with Raegan Beers could be lethal. Western Carolina found out in a whooping that ended with Oklahoma setting its scoring record with a 122-56 win.
5. Ole Miss
Last week: 5
This week: at Delaware State, Jackson State
What to know: That Ole Miss defense travels, as USC found out in Paris. But unfortunately, so does the offense. The Rebels get credit for playing a title contender in their opener, though.
6. Kentucky
Last week: 6
This week: Wofford, Louisville, Purdue Fort Wayne
What to know: Kenny Brooks’ twin towers are leading the way for the Wildcats – and somehow, they’re both named Clara S. What are the odds?
7. Alabama
Last week: 7
This week: Norfolk State, Alcorn State, at ULM
What to know: Welcome back to the SEC, Zaay Green. Dropping 24 points in 31 minutes against Troy is a promising sign that the former Tennessee standout is the final piece needed to get Alabama over the hump.
8. Tennessee
Last week: 8
This week: Liberty
What to know: November has not been pretty so far, as new coach Kim Caldwell predicted, but the Lady Vols are still cranking out wins and that’s not nothing.
9. Auburn
Last week: 9
This week: Little Rock, at Oregon
What to know: I didn’t know Virginia University-Lynchburg existed until Auburn beat it 128-36. But the Tigers weren’t killing teams like that in years past. Consider this your warning – they might do some damage.
10. Mississippi State
Last week: 13
This week: Chattanooga, Mercer
What to know: If you didn’t know the name Madina Okot before, you do now. The center from Kenya has logged double-doubles in two of her three outings and could be a force in SEC play.
11. Florida
Last week: 10
This week: Miami
What to know: Florida’s freshmen are doing their thing, but the real test is coming up with in-state Power Four competition – including a true road game against Florida State.
12. Vanderbilt
Last week: 11
This week: at South Florida, Butler, Hampton
What to know: Vanderbilt spent the first week of the season beating the brakes off mid-majors in its backyard. But hey, two years ago, that was about all the Commodores could handle in nonconference – that’s what we call progress.
13. Georgia
Last week: 14
This week: Georgia State, at Georgia Tech
What to know: The Bulldogs will settle the debate of who’s the top Division I team in the state – the fact that I can’t tell you it’s Georgia right away anymore speaks volumes.
14. Arkansas
Last week: 15
This week: UT-Arlington, at UCLA
What to know: You know it’s bleak when you’re saying things like, “Well, at least they lost to a good mid-major on opening night.” Start the prayer circles for the Razorbacks’ road game at UCLA.
15. Texas A&M
Last week: 12
This week: at West Virginia, Northwestern State
What to know: The Aggies won the contest for most embarrassing opening-game loss by an SEC team. Texas A&M quite literally lost to its little sister on its home court – things are off to a great start.
16. Missouri
Last week: 16
This week: at Western Illinois, Saint Louis
What to know: The only thing worse than starting the season 1-2 is the shame of being so bad you handed two teams their first SEC win in program history in the same week.
