Player of the Week:
Labaron Philon Jr, Alabama
Labaron Philon Jr. was named a preseason first-team member in the SEC and is currently the leading scorer in the conference. Projected as a first-round pick in 2026, Philon Jr. is having an impressive season with Alabama, averaging 21.4 points and 5.4 assists per game, while shooting 56.6% from the field and 40.4% from three-point range. Over the past week, he has helped lead Alabama to two victories against UTSA and Clemson, averaging 24.5 points, 4.5 assists, and four rebounds per game, with a shooting percentage of 64.2% and 46.1% from beyond the arc.
Freshman of the Week:
Darius Acuff Jr, Arkansas
Darius 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?
Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State
Although Mississippi State’s team success has been lacking this season, Josh Hubbard is emerging as one of the best players in the conference. He has made a strong start to the year as a Preseason SEC 1st-teamer. 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.
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.
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.
Who’s Not?
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the reigning NCAA National Champions and were projected to finish first in the SEC. However, Florida has faced a challenging schedule, playing against three current Top-10 teams, and has struggled to compete with the nation’s best. Thomas Haugh is the standout player on the Florida roster but transfers Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee have not met expectations early in the season. The Gators are currently 0-3 against top-15 opponents and are on a two-game losing streak, following a narrow 1-point loss to #4 Duke and a 4-point loss to #5 UConn.
Jasper Johnson, Kentucky
The transition to college basketball has not been easy for Jasper Johnson, a former Top 20 recruit who has struggled at the start of the season. After spending the summer with Team USA, Johnson has yet to find his rhythm in the first ten games of the Kentucky season. He is averaging 8.6 points per game with shooting splits of 42.4% from the field and 36.1% from three-point range, while playing just under 18 minutes per game. Johnson was expected to be a key contributor for Kentucky this year, but he has struggled to perform when the lights are brightest. In four contests against top 25 opponents, he is averaging only 4.5 points with a shooting percentage of 27%, including a scoreless performance against Louisville, where he went 0-for-4 from the floor in just six minutes of play.
Kentucky
The Kentucky Wildcats were ranked second in the SEC preseason polls, but they have struggled to maintain a record above .500 after 10 games. This offseason, the Wildcats invested $22 million in their roster, making them the most expensive team in college basketball. While Kentucky has achieved six wins this season, it currently holds a 0-4 record against top-25 teams, including two significant double-digit losses. The challenges continue for Kentucky, as they have a matchup against #22 St. John’s just before Christmas, followed by a top-15 conference road game against Alabama to begin the new year.
Nate Ament, Tennessee
A potential top-5 pick, Ament has struggled early this season, experiencing difficulties in several areas of his game. Despite averaging 16.3 points per game, his offensive performance has been inconsistent. He is shooting 37.4% from the floor and a disappointing 28.9% from beyond the arc. Much of his shooting struggles stem from an inability to create space from defenders, leading him to settle for long jumpers or attempt contested mid-range shots frequently. Increasing his weight and strength may help him gain some separation on the court. Ultimately, his continued development this season will significantly influence his draft position in 2026.
Top Five SEC East Teams
1.Vanderbilt (9-0)
After being ranked #11 in the SEC preseason, the Vanderbilt Commodores have started 2025 strong, currently holding the #15 spot in the national rankings as the only undefeated team in the SEC. The Commodores are averaging 96.8 points per game on 53% shooting from the field. Their defense has also been solid, allowing an average of 73 points per game. Duke Miles leads the Vanderbilt offense, averaging 17.8 points per game while shooting over 52% from the floor. As SEC play approaches, Vanderbilt will face another top 25 team, Alabama, at home shortly after the New Year.
2. Georgia Bulldogs (8-1)
The Georgia Bulldogs were projected to finish 14th in the SEC preseason, but they have started the season strong with several new players on their roster. The Bulldogs welcomed a solid recruiting class and found considerable success through the transfer portal. Currently, Georgia boasts the #1 offense in the nation, averaging 99.9 points per game in their first nine games. California transfer Jeremiah Wilkerson has been a key player, leading the offense with an average of 17.1 points per game. Additionally, the Bulldogs have two other players scoring in double digits this season, while former four-star recruit Jake Wilkins is contributing 9.2 points in just 14.2 minutes per game off the bench. The Bulldogs will face tough challenges early in 2026, with three top 25 matchups in their first five SEC games.
3. LSU Tigers (8-1)
The LSU Tigers have not participated in the NCAA Tournament since 2022, but they have started the 2025 season on a positive note. Dedan Thomas Jr., who was added in the offseason, has made an immediate impact in the LSU lineup, averaging 15.2 points and a team-high 6.3 assists per game. Although the Tigers have not faced much tough competition so far this season, they have performed well. Their only loss came by double digits in their sole top-25 matchup against Texas Tech. This weekend, the Tigers will face a solid test against SMU, followed by several games to close out 2025. Once the SEC season begins, the Tigers will face more formidable challenges, and their chances of making the tournament will become clearer.
4. Missouri Tigers (8-2)
Missouri is continuing its program turnaround this season after achieving 10 conference wins last year. The Tigers were predicted to be a middle-of-the-pack team in the preseason, but have performed better than expected so far this year. Despite currently being on a two-game losing streak, the Tigers have shown promise early in the season. Junior Mark Mitchell is leading the team, averaging 18.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, as anticipated. The Tigers have an essential matchup against #13 Illinois just before Christmas, and they will dive into SEC play after the New Year. With three of their next seven games against ranked teams, the Tigers are set to learn a lot about themselves in the coming weeks.
5. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-2)
Alabama was projected to finish third in the SEC this season, but the team has faced some challenges at the start of the year. Nonetheless, the Crimson Tide has the potential to become the top team in the conference, thanks to a roster filled with future pros, highlighted by the conference’s player of the week, Labaron Philon Jr. Alabama boasts a deep and talented lineup and has already faced tough competition with four matchups against top 15 teams this season. They have suffered losses to #12 Gonzaga and #1 Purdue at home. However, Alabama has secured a neutral-site victory against #8 Illinois and a win over #5 St. John’s at Madison Square Garden. A crucial upcoming matchup against #1 Arizona could significantly impact Alabama’s season as the Crimson Tide head into the new year.
