We are halfway through with conference play and have one month left of regular season basketball. We will break down where every team stands in conference play, and who will continue their season in March.

Current SEC Standings:

1.) Auburn (8-1)

Wow. Who saw this coming, Bruce Pearl has lead the Auburn Tigers to a two game lead atop the SEC. Bruce is making a run for national coach of the year. Yeah, and he’s doing this after the FBI scandal, and losing Austin Wiley and Danjel Purifoy, arguably Auburn’s top two players. Auburn has been successful due to the their ability to force turnovers, crash the offensive boards, bench play and Mustapha Heron, Bryce Brown, and Jared Harper have been outstanding. Jared Harper is the motor and gets the team running,3rd best in the SEC in assists per game. Bryce Brown may be the best three and D player in the conference, sits at number 5 in PPG, and is shooting a cool 40% from behind the stripe. Then, there is Mustapha Heron. Mustapha Heron just has so much talent, and should get a chance to test his talent at the next level in the NBA. Heron, currently sits at 10th in PPG and top ten in steals. Anfernee McLemore is like reincarnated version of Ben Wallace. Anfernee leads the SEC in blocks(3.0 per game). Then, Desean Murray who closes out the starting five is a monster on the offensive boards, and he is very good at creating his own shot. Auburn’s bench depth has been crucial in their success. Horace Spencer is the key off the bench. He provides the Tigers with experience and he is a beast on the defensive end, he sits in the top ten in steals and sits at number 12 in blocks in the conference. Malik Dunbar, Davion Mitchell, and Chuma Okeke provide valuable minutes off the bench, and Davion and Chuma are just freshmen, who should contribute a ton in the future. Auburn is in position to make their first NCAA tournament since the 2002-2003 season, and if they can keep playing well have a good chance to capture a top seed (currently sit at a 2 seed in ESPN Joe Lunardi’s Bracket).

What’s next: Auburn takes on Vanderbilt at Home on Saturday, Feb. 3rd, 7:30 CT

T-2.) Kentucky (6-3)

This may be the first Kentucky team in a long time not have a top ten draft pick. Kevin Knox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be close to top ten picks, they sit around number 10 on mock drafts. This Kentucky team has shown flashes of a team with deep tournament run talent, but they have struggled badly at points in the year. Just this past week Kentucky took down number 7 ,at the time, West Virginia in Morgantown, then they had to force overtime to beat Vanderbilt, the last place team in the SEC. The problem with Kentucky is they turn the ball over a lot, they shoot lots of threes without consistent success, and they are just a young team. Kentucky has the talent to win the SEC and go deep in the NCAA tournament. They just need to stay out of their own way. Kentucky faces another challenge, because it feels like their team chemistry is just not there. This could be due to the fact that Kentucky’s top talent Knox, Gilgeous-Alexander, Vanderbilt, and Diallo all naturally play similar positions, leaving many players in positions they are uncomfortable with. They have key games on Feb. 14th @ Auburn and a rematch @ Florida to end the season, two big challenges on the road to determine the SEC champion. It will be interesting to see if John Calipari can work his magic again and get this team hot heading into March.

What’s next: Kentucky travel to Missouri (Saturday @ 1:00 CT)

T-2.) Tennesse (6-3)

If it wasn’t for Bruce Pearl coaching out of his mind, Rick Barnes would be the easy favorite to win SEC coach of the year. Like Auburn, this team was not expected to be this good. Rick Barnes has already matched his high in wins during his Tennesse tenure with 16. Tennessee is on the verge of a 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. Grant Williams should be considered for All-SEC team. Tennessee is as capable as any of the top teams to win this conference, but they need help.

What’s next: Host Ole Miss on Saturday

T-2.) Florida (6-3)

Florida is another team that will challenge for the SEC championship. Florida is not helping themselves right now, they were just upset by Georgia on Tuesday. SEC player of the year candidate Chris Chiozza is nasty and plays his ass off every night. If Florida is going to win the SEC they need to fix their 3 point defense, which is just garbage, and they need KeVaughn Allen to start playing closer to the level he was playing at last year. Florida will live and die by the 3 ball, which is why they have fallen to some not so great teams this year like Loyola and Ole Miss.

What’s next: Huge game Saturday, Gators host Alabama

5.) Alabama (5-4)

One of the most talented team’s in the conference, and the only team to beat Auburn in conference play. Alabama is similar to Kentucky, where they have young talent that looks like a top team, but are just so inconsistent. Just this week they beat Oklahoma, then go on to lose to Missouri. Diaper Dandy, Collin Sexton has Alabama sitting in the 8-9 seed range for the NCAAs. Herb Jones and Donta Hall had their coming out party against Oklahoma. Both players are key to Alabama if they are going to make a run in the NCAAs. This is a talented team that top teams will not want to draw in March.

What’s next: Big matchup with Florida this weekend

T-6.) Mississippi State (4-5)

All of these teams sitting here in the middle of the pack, are in or around the bubble. Mississippi State is a good team, but plagued by a weak non-conference schedule. This makes SEC games extremely important, if they plan on punching their ticket to March Madness. They are coming off two big wins against Missouri and South Carolina. They have a favorable schedule the rest of the way, taking on the lower half of the SEC. If they can split their games against Tennessee and Alabama, they should be in good position to make the tournament as an 10/11 seed.

What’s Next: Host Georgia, Saturday Feb. 3rd

T-6.) Arkansas (4-5)

Another bubble team. Arkansas is sitting at a number 9 seed in Bracket Matrix. Arkansas has beaten themselves up this year. They are the 2nd best scoring team in the SEC. They have one of the best freshman in the conference, Daniel Gafford. They have two top 5 scorers in the country, Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon. They just cannot win on the road. If Arkansas can win a few games away from home, they will finish in the top half of the SEC. Mike Anderson and the Hogs should be dancing come March.

What’s Next: Saturday rivalry match-up in Baton Rouge.

T-6.) Missouri (4-5)

Losing Michael Porter Jr. many columnist wrote off Missouri. Missouri has stepped up well in his absence. Cuonzo Martin’s first year at Missouri has been masterful. He lost a superstar, and has his team in position to dance come March. It helps that he has a couple top recruits to fill the void of Porter Jr. Missouri sits on the right side of the bubble. If the Tigers, win at home the rest of the way they should be fine. Mizzou has a big chance to boost that Resume this weekend, they host Kentucky. A win against Kentucky, and a win earlier in the week against Bama, should place Missouri around an 8 seed in many brackets.

What’s next: host Kentucky, Saturday Feb. 3rd

T-6.) Georgia (4-5)

I still believe this a good team that has good basketball left to play. Yante Maten should win the SEC player of the year. Georgia just knocked of Florida, which is HUGE for that tournament resume. The problem is Georgia is not providing enough help for their star. Derek Ogbeide is a freaking monster, but at points in games just seems to shut down. Georgia fans are also getting restless and giving up hope in head coach Mark Fox. Mark Fox is on the hot seat, if Georgia doesn’t make the NCAA, I would not be surprised if Georgia and Fox part ways. Georgia is a desperate team, which can make for a dangerous team. We saw Georgia knock of Florida on Tuesday, and are playing in towards the bubble conversation. It’s do or die in Athens.

Next up: Georgia travels to Starksville against Mississippi State, where two bubble teams square off.

T-6.) South Carolina (4-5)

Frank Martin and the Gamecocks started off slow, but they are finding their rhythm. In the last few games they have knocked off Florida and Kentucky, and they were so close to knock off #12 Texas Tech. Big man Chris Silva is one of my favorite players in the conference, he is a game-changer. He can take this team to the tournament. South Carolina is sitting right outside the bubble, but they still have some big games to build that resumé.

Next up: This weekend they travel to Texas A&M in a must win, the best SEC game of the weekend in my opinion.

T-12.) Texas A&M (3-6)

This is the strangest team in the SEC. Arguably, the Aggies have the most talent in the SEC, but they have been hurt by suspensions and injuries. They have NBA talent like, Robert Williams and Tyler Davis. They have DJ Hogg, who can be one of the best scorers in the conference. The next 5 games for A&M will be brutal, taking on S. Car, Auburn, Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas. That schedule is a slaughterhouse and does not help A&M’s chances to make the tournament. They played so well in non-conference, and were a favorite to win the SEC. They still have time to get hot and play well going into the conference tournament, which they are capable of winning. They just need to stay healthy and figure out whatever chemistry problems they are going through. They are currently seeded as an 10 seed according to Bracket Matrix. If this team gets hot, they will be a problem, a big, big problem. I just don’t think A&M can get it together, and I predict the Aggies will be headed to the NIT.

What’s Next: HUGE match-up with South Carolina on Saturday.

T-12.) LSU (3-6)

Former VCU Head Coach Will Wade has exceeded every expectation in his first year in Baton Rouge. He has a good team, that is capable of knocking off anyone in the SEC. They have a star in Freshman point guard Tre Waters. This kid is a baller, he can score from anywhere on the court, he grinds on defense, and is so fun to watch. Unfortunately for LSU, the SEC is just so tough this year and LSU just is not ready yet. Next season LSU should be competing for a NCAA bid and maybe even a top spot in the SEC, and that has everything to do with how great of a job Will Wade is doing.

14.) Vanderbilt (2-7)

Here we are in the cellar. Vanderbilt is not that bad of team. They beat TCU, a team on the bubble, this past weekend. They almost knocked off Kentucky on Tuesday in Lexington. They would have beat them too, if it was not for a bad loose ball foul that sent the game to Overtime. They just do not stack up very well in a very tough conference. They are the team that could pull a big upset, so do not overlook them. Unfortunately, Vanderbilt just is not good enough to compete game in and game out, in the SEC.

What’s Next: @ Auburn on Saturday