4. Tennessee Volunteers
Previous Ranking: 3
Currently sitting at 6-1 overall, Tennessee drops a spot to No. 4 this week, but that is no fault of their own as the Volunteers have had an impressive start to the year. During that span is their lone loss at the hands of Colorado, along with winning the Battle 4 Atlantis with victories over Butler, USC, and Kansas.
Looking ahead, Tennessee has a few key non-conference matchups remaining before SEC play, most notable against Maryland, as well as at Arizona. If the Volunteers were to win those games, then Tennessee is likely a Top 10 team nationally entering conference play.
3. Kentucky Wildcats
Previous Ranking: 1
Previously top ranked Kentucky drops two spots in this week’s update to No. 3 coming off their 5-2 start to the 2022-23 season. Included in that stretch for the Wildcats were those two losses coming at the hands of Michigan State and Gonzaga, as well as the season debut of reigning SEC Basketball Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe who is averaging 14.4 PPG and 13.4 RPG across five games.
The Wildcats have a few notable non-conference games remaining before SEC play, most notably against Michigan and UCLA. Kentucky will likely be favored in those two matchups, as well as the additional non-conference games, and should enter conference play as a Top 15 team nationally.