Player of the Week:
Labaron Philon Jr, Alabama
Philon entered the season as a preseason First-Team All-SEC pick, and he has firmly backed it up as the conference’s leading scorer, averaging 21.4 points and 5.4 assists on 56.6 percent shooting and 40.4 percent from three. His recent surge has been especially impressive, delivering three straight 20-point games in Alabama’s wins over Maryland, Clemson, and UTSA. Across those outings, he averaged 23.7 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the field and 47.6 percent from deep, highlighted by a 29-point performance against Clemson and a 22-point, 7-rebound, 6-assist, 4-steal showing versus UTSA. This stretch has elevated his momentum as a projected first-round pick in 2026 and solidified his status as one of the most dynamic guards in college basketball.
Freshman of the Week:
Darius Acuff Jr, Arkansas
Acuff Jr., a former 5-star recruit and potential lottery pick, is quickly establishing himself as one of the top players in his conference as a freshman. He currently leads the 7-2 Arkansas Razorbacks, averaging 17.4 points and 5.4 assists per game, shooting 46% from the field and 42% from three-point range. In the past week, Acuff Jr. has averaged 17.5 points and nine assists in two victories, including a standout performance of 17 points and 10 assists in a 9-point win against #6 Louisville on December 3rd. In a recent loss to #4 Duke, Acuff Jr. scored 21 points and recorded five assists, shooting 47.1% overall and 50% from beyond the arc.
Who’s Hot?
Thomas Haugh, Florida
Haugh is projected to be a first-round pick, with some mock drafts even placing him in the lottery. He has established himself as one of the top players in the conference. After contributing to a national championship team last year and averaging 9.8 points per game, Haugh has nearly doubled his scoring this season, averaging 18.6 points over the first nine games. He shoots 48.6% from the field and 34.7% from beyond the arc. Standing at 6’9″, Haugh possesses exceptional length and a strong work ethic, which enables him to guard multiple positions and compete effectively on the boards, where he averaged seven rebounds per game in 2025.
Matas Vokietaitis, Texas
FAU transfer, Matas Vokietaitis, made a name for himself, logging 28 points and 6 rebounds against Southern on Monday. The 7-foot center comes from Marijampole, Lithuania. After Vokietaitis brought his talents to the United States, the Texas Longhorns were quick to bring him in via the transfer portal. So far, this move has turned out to be a huge success as Vokietaitis brings a paint presence that Texas hasn’t had in a while. Vokietaitis currently leads the Longhorns in scoring with 15.9 points per game to go along with 6.6 rebounds. With an upcoming matchup against No. 5 UConn, it will be exciting to see what Vokietaitis can do against top competition. A good showing against the Huskies could greatly improve his draft stock.
Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State
Although Mississippi State’s team has struggled this season, Josh Hubbard is emerging as one of the best players in the conference. He has made a strong start to the year, living up to the Preseason SEC 1st-team billing.. Hubbard is currently ranking second in the conference in scoring, just behind Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr. Hubbard is averaging 21.2 points per game with a 43% field-goal percentage. His best performance so far came in a close 2-point loss to New Mexico, where he scored 29 points, shooting 44% from the floor and 46.2% from beyond the arc.
Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt was predicted to finish outside the top 10 in the SEC in the preseason polls and started the year unranked. Now, nine games into the season, the Commodores are undefeated, sitting at the top of the conference and ranked #15 nationally. Head coach Mark Byington has the team off to a strong start, leading a balanced and defensively focused squad. The Commodores average over 96 points per game and have four players scoring in double digits. The additions of Duke Miles and Tyler Harris from the transfer portal have had an immediate impact, with both players serving as key leaders on the court.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Coming into the season, the Crimson Tide were among the favorites to win the SEC. With a 7-2 start and multiple wins against top 25 teams, they have proven why they belong at the top. After a devastating loss to No. 8 Gonzaga, the Tide have won four straight, with three of the games ending in 30-point-plus margins. A lot of the credit has to go to their sophomore guard and projected lottery pick, Labaron Philon Jr., who is averaging 21.4 points per game. However, Philon is the only one doing damage on offense, as Aden Holloway joins him, averaging 18.2 points per game. The depth on this Alabama team runs deep. With so many different playmakers on one roster, I find it hard to imagine anyone in the SEC dethroning Alabama for the top spot.
Otega Oweh, Kentucky
Despite the struggles this Wildcats team has faced, Otega Oweh has been the squad’s most consistent scorer as he is currently averaging 14.4 points per game. Oweh had his most notable performance of the season on Tuesday, as he scored 21 points to go with 7 rebounds against North Carolina Central. The senior guard comes from an athletic family; his brother Odafe Oweh is a defensive end for the Los Angeles Chargers. With similar physical traits to his older brother, Otega’s 6′ 4″, 220 lb frame allows him to bring a dominating presence on both sides of the ball.
Who’s Not
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators enter the season as the reigning NCAA National Champions and were projected to finish first in the SEC. However, they have struggled against elite competition, facing one of the toughest schedules in the country with three games against Top-10 teams. Forward Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon has been bright spots, but transfers Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee have not met expectations early on. Florida is currently 0-3 against top-15 opponents and riding a two-game losing streak following narrow defeats, including a 1-point loss to No. 4 Duke and a 4-point loss to No. 5 UConn.
Jasper Johnson, Kentucky
The transition to college basketball has been challenging for Jasper Johnson, a former Top-20 recruit who has yet to find a consistent rhythm through Kentucky’s first ten games. After spending the summer with Team USA, Johnson is averaging 8.6 points per game on 42.4 percent shooting from the field and 36.1 percent from three while playing just under 18 minutes per contest. Expected to contribute immediately, he has struggled in marquee matchups. In four games against Top-25 opponents, he is averaging just 4.5 points on 27 percent shooting, including a scoreless outing against Louisville in which he went 0-for-4 in six minutes.
Kentucky Wildcats
The Wildcats were projected to finish second in the SEC, but they have struggled to stay above .500 through their first ten games. After investing $22 million into the roster, Kentucky entered the year with enormous expectations, yet sits at 0-4 against Top-25 competition with two of those losses coming by double digits. The schedule does not lighten up, as the Wildcats face No. 22 St. John’s heading into Christmas before opening conference play with a difficult road matchup at Alabama.
Nate Ament, Tennessee
Viewed as a potential top-five draft pick, Nate Ament has experienced early-season inconsistency. He is averaging 16.3 points per game, but his efficiency has dipped, shooting 37.4 percent from the field and 28.9 percent from three. Ament has struggled to create separation, often settling for contested mid-range jumpers or deep attempts off limited space. Adding strength could help him generate cleaner looks. His development throughout the season will play a major role in determining where he ultimately lands in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the 2025-2026 season is already becoming one they’d prefer to forget. Despite only facing one ranked team, the Bulldogs have already dug themselves into a 4-5 hole. Even with explosive performances from junior guard Josh Hubbard, the Bulldogs’ offense has looked poor as they are averaging just 78.3 points per game as a team. Sitting at dead last in the SEC, the Bulldogs have to make some serious adjustments if they want any chance of making the tournament.
Max Mackinnon, LSU
LSU’s 8-0 start was something that not a lot of people saw coming into the season. Unfortunately, their streak came to an end after an 82-58 loss against No. 16 Texas Tech. This was the team’s first game against a top-25 team, and all of the players who have been so promising for them all season didn’t rise to the occasion. Particularly, senior guard Max Mackinnon, who has looked been the team’s best long-range shooter this past month. Mackinnon shot an underwhelming 0-9 from the field and 0-5 from three. This was a performance I’m sure Mackinnon wishes he could have back.
Top 5 upcoming matchups
5. Indiana vs Kentucky, December 13th
After a bumpy start for the Wildcats, this game is the perfect opportunity for them to regain momentum before conference play begins in less than a month. They are coming off one of their best performances of the season after beating North Carolina Central 103–67. Indiana, meanwhile, has suffered two disappointing losses to Minnesota and No. 11 Louisville. This matchup carries weight for both programs, but if Kentucky wins, it would not be surprising to see them string together a run over the next few weeks.
4. Texas vs No. 5 UConn, December 12th
Texas enters at 7–3 with a solid résumé, including a competitive showing in their loss to No. 3 Duke. Their upcoming matchup with UConn gives them a prime chance to secure a high-quality win. A key battle to watch will be between 7-footers Matas Vokietaitis and Eric Reibe. Both provide interior size, but Vokietaitis may hold a clearer offensive advantage, which could ultimately swing the matchup.
3. No. 11 Louisville vs No. 20 Tennessee, December 16th
Any game featuring Tennessee is must-watch thanks to scorers Jakobi Gillespie and Nate Ament. But after dropping three straight, the Volunteers are firmly in must-win territory. That will be difficult against a Louisville team that has looked like one of the ACC’s best. It’s hard to see Tennessee pulling this out given their recent play, and things are beginning to look concerning in Knoxville.
2. No. 17 Arkansas vs No. 16 Texas Tech, December 13th
This matchup has March Madness energy written all over it. Both teams sit at 7–2 with similar profiles. For Texas Tech, the offense flows through JT Toppin and Christian Anderson, each averaging over 19 points per game. Arkansas counters with one of the nation’s top freshman duos in Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas, both hovering around 17 points. Expect offensive fireworks on both sides in what should be a highly competitive showdown.
1. No. 12 Alabama vs No. 1 Arizona, December 13th
Arizona enters at 8–0 with ranked wins over Florida, UCLA, UConn, and Auburn, giving them arguably the strongest résumé in college basketball. Their challenging schedule rolls on as they face Alabama and star freshman Labaron Philon Jr. This matchup will be loaded with NBA Draft talent, elite pace, and highlight plays, making it one of the premier games of the early season.
*Cameron Ross contributed to this report.