Tucker’s Preseason SEC Basketball Power Rankings: Part 3
Credit: University of Florida Athletics
By Tucker Harlin
This is the third part of my SEC preseason basketball power rankings, featuring rankings 5 through 8 in ascending order.
I’ve posted the links to rankings 9 through 16 at the bottom of this page if you would like to check them out.
8. MISSISSIPPI STATE
Chris Jans’ squad hasn’t played the prettiest form of basketball in his two years on the job. But that’s not the intent.
Mississippi State has found its way into two consecutive NCAA tournaments under Jans, something it hadn’t done in a 15-year period.
The Bulldogs should still have that tough element to them in the form of Cameron Matthews, but the guards they’ll have in the backcourt should bring a different look to what we saw in Jans’ first two seasons.
Josh Hubbard took the league by storm last season with his incredible scoring capabilities. Now he’s accompanied by Penn State transfer Kanye Clary, Florida transfer Riley Kugel, and Claudell Harris Jr, all of which were capable scorers at their previous stops.
The other two transfers of importance are R.J. Melendez from Georgia and Michael Nwoko from Miami. Melendez was an important outside shooter for the other Bulldogs in the SEC last season while Nwoko will play a more important role as a big man this season than he did last with the Hurricanes.
7. TEXAS A&M
There’s a lot to like about Texas A&M in 2024-25. The Aggies are coming off their best season in the Buzz Williams era while retaining many of the pieces that contributed to their success.
Wade Taylor IV is back for round four in College Station. One of the best point guards in the SEC, Taylor averaged over 19 points per game for the Aggies last season.
Jace Carter is also back at guard, and Zhuric Phelps and C.J. Wilcher transfer in from programs who had solid seasons in SMU and Nebraska.
There’s a physical group of big men on this Aggies team.
Henry Coleman III and Solomon Washington were constant presences last seasons, and the rebounding machine that is Andersson Garcia also returns. Add in Minnesota transfer Pharrell Payne and you have possibly the most formidable group of forwards in the SEC.
So, why is Texas A&M at #7 in my rankings?
It’s actually a pretty simple answer. Buzz Williams always starts his seasons horribly at Texas A&M but ropes everyone back in near the end of January or beginning of February.
Regardless of how they start or finish, the Aggies will be a tough out for the SEC this season.
6. KENTUCKY
This is me assuming Kentucky is better than most think because of a name brand, not because I actually think it will have rekindled energy under Mark Pope.
Pope strikes me as the classic beloved alum hire; he won just enough to get BYU into an NCAA tournament, but his credibility outside of his status as a player isn't really there.
Kentucky has nine transfers this season.
There’s a trio of streaky shooters in Kerr Kriisa, Koby Brea, and Jaxson Robinson in this group. The best guard transfer in this group is likely Lamont Butler, a physical point guard who played for the San Diego State team that went to the national title two seasons ago.
The Wildcats bring in two transfers from the state of Oklahoma: Otega Oweh and Brandon Garrison.
Oweh is a smaller forward who will score the majority of his points inside the arc. Garrison is a physical center, one of the few bright spots on a bad Oklahoma State last season.
One thing’s for sure about this team: it’s an experiment.
Chemistry isn’t always a guarantee out of the portal, so Kentucky is either going to float near the top of the league or sink in the depths.
5. FLORIDA
Todd Golden took a big step forward with the Gators last season, and we can expect another step forward in 2024-25.
Let’s start with the big men.
The Gators lose Tyrese Samuel and won’t have Micah Handlogten due to the injury he suffered in the SEC championship. Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh are both returning, they bring in Reuben Chinyelu from Washington State, and 7-9 (that’s not a typo) Olivier Rioux comes in from IMG.
At guard, Walter Clayton Jr. is getting all kinds of preseason media attention. Clayton will have Will Richard and Florida Atlantic transfer Alijah Martin in the mix to spread the scoring.
I fully expect this offense to present challenges to some of the very best teams in the country.
https://www.fanrunradio.com/sports/tuckers-preseason-sec-basketball-power-rankings-part-2
https://www.fanrunradio.com/sports/tuckers-preseason-sec-basketball-power-rankings-part-1
