SEC Notepad - January 9
Photo by Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Welcome to Rocky Top Report’s latest adventure. Our new weekly series, SEC Notepad will bring you updated SEC power rankings and thoughts from Tennessee’s past week of action.
Rick Barnes has obviously done a tremendous job of turning around Tennessee’s program. It’s humorous in some ways. Just 2 seasons ago, the Vols finished the season 16-16. Now, some fans are upset that Tennessee is only ranked No. 3 in the nation. The Vols are No. 1 in our power rankings this week.
POWER RANKINGS
- Tennessee
- Auburn
- Kentucky
- Mississippi State
- LSU
- Florida
- Alabama
- Ole Miss
- Missouri
- Arkansas
- Vanderbilt
- Georgia
- Texas A&M
- South Carolina
Jotting down some notes…
Positive Aspects for the Vols: Jordan Bone continues to progress and excel, becoming the player Tennessee fans knew he could be. Unfortunately for the program, an opportunity to enter the NBA draft will soon be looming over Bone’s head. Lamonté Turner returned, and although he did not look like his former self, throwing him back in the rotation should work out the kinks. Tennessee is looking more and more like a National Championship team with each game they play.
Need to Improve On: Yves Pons? John Fulkerson? With outstanding performances from Jordan Bowden and Kyle Alexander, and quality outings for Admiral Schofield and Grant Williams, Yves Pons and John Fulkerson seemed like non-factors. Against a team such as Georgia, lackluster performances can be overcome. However, those two need to be difference makers when the Vols face the Auburn’s and Kentucky’s of the conference.
Up Next for the Vols: Tennessee plays at Florida on Saturday at 6:00. The Gators are 8-5 and play Arkansas on Wednesday night. Florida lost to No. 10 Michigan State, 63-59 in early December and dropped their SEC opener against South Carolina on Saturday, 71-69.
