By: Michael Spiers

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Preseason chatter suggested that as many as 11 SEC schools could make the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

While it’s too early to confirm or dispute that bold prediction, recent rankings hint at the conference’s strength.

Currently, nine SEC programs are listed in the latest NCAA Men’s Top 25 basketball rankings:

No. 4 Auburn

No. 7 Tennessee

No. 8 Kentucky

No. 9 Alabama

No. 18 Florida

No. 19 Arkansas

No. 20 Texas A&M

No. 23 Ole Miss

No. 25 Mississippi State

No other conference boasts more than six teams in the Top 25, underlining the SEC’s depth. Still, claiming it as the strongest league isn’t a given.

The Big 12, while having fewer ranked teams, features three in the top seven: No. 1 Kansas, No. 5 Iowa State, and No. 6 Houston.

As the season unfolds, on-court performances will ultimately determine which conference reigns supreme.

So far, though, the SEC has been dominant, posting a collective 77-10 record with notable wins over powerhouses like Houston, Baylor, Duke, Ohio State, and Illinois.

While this doesn’t guarantee Final Four representation in April, it underscores the league’s potential to send teams deep into the tournament.

The red-hot Kentucky Wildcats are off to a 5-0 start, jumping three spots to No. 8 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.

While they haven’t received first-place votes, they’re building momentum after commanding wins over Lipscomb and Jackson State. The Wildcats now prepare for tougher opponents, with matchups against Western Kentucky, Georgia State, Clemson, Ohio State, and Gonzaga in the weeks ahead.

Auburn remains the SEC’s top-ranked team at No. 4, followed by Tennessee at No. 7, making Kentucky the conference’s third highest-ranked squad. Overall, the SEC has an impressive four teams in the Top 10, part of the nine in the Top 25.

Closer to home, the Georgia Bulldogs rebounded from a tough loss to No. 15 Marquette with a thrilling 66-63 victory over No. 22 St. John’s at the Imperial Arena in Nassau, Bahamas.

This marked Georgia’s first win against a ranked opponent since January 2023, when they defeated No. 22 Auburn, and their first ranked non-conference win since December 2021 against No. 18 Memphis.

Freshman standout Asa Newell led the Bulldogs with 18 points and five rebounds, while sophomore guard Silas Demary Jr. added 15 points, including two clutch free throws to seal the win.

Graduate guard Tyrin Lawrence contributed 11 points and a season-high nine rebounds, nearly achieving a double-double.

The Bulldogs return to Athens to host Jacksonville on Saturday, Nov. 30, at Stegeman Coliseum, tipping off at 7 p.m.

As the season progresses, the SEC’s early success suggests it will be a league to watch when March rolls around.