Things didn't exactly go according to plan when Chris Jans and his Mississippi State basketball team went to Gainesville. Unfortunately for Mississippi State men's basketball fans, the Florida Gators were more than capable of defending their home court (as they've been able to do all season) and they sent the Mississippi State Bulldogs back to Starkville with a frustrating 79-70 loss.
Now, as the MSU Bulldogs are set to play in the Hump, it's important to remember who the Bulldogs' next opponent is and where the Mississippi State men's basketball team sits in the SEC standings relative to where that next foe sits.
Let's go over those updated 2024 SEC basketball standings and get a look, shall we?
SEC basketball standings, January 26th, 2024 - before Mississippi State basketball vs. Auburn Tigers
With February right around the corner, here is an updated look at the SEC men's basketball records and standings:
- Auburn Tigers (5-1 SEC, 16-3 overall)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1 SEC, 13-6 overall)
- Tennessee Volunteers (4-1 SEC, 14-4 overall)
- South Carolina Gamecocks (4-2 SEC, 16-3 overall)
- Kentucky Wildcats (4-2 SEC, 14-4 overall)
- Georgia Bulldogs (4-2 SEC, 14-5 overall)
- Ole Miss Rebels (3-3 SEC, 16-3 overall)
- Florida Gators (3-3 SEC, 13-6 overall)
- Texas A&M Aggies (3-3 SEC, 12-7 overall)
- LSU Tigers (3-3 SEC, 11-8 overall)
- Mississippi State Bulldogs (2-4 SEC, 13-6 overall)
- Arkansas Razorbacks (1-5 SEC, 10-9 overall)
- Missouri Tigers (0-6 SEC, 8-11 overall)
- Vanderbilt Commodores (0-5 SEC, 5-13 overall)
Mississippi State basketball record
Prior to Saturday afternoon's matchup with the Auburn Tigers, the Mississippi State Bulldogs sit at 13-6 overall (which isn't that bad, all things considered) and 2-4 in SEC action (which isn't great at all, all things considered). After Wednesday's loss at Florida, MSU dropped down a bit and is now towards the bottom of the SEC.
That makes this home game against Auburn pretty important. The Tigers have shown that, so far, they can be a tough team to beat. How will the MSU Bulldogs fare against them in Humphrey Coliseum?
Auburn basketball record
The Tigers come into this game with a 16-3 overall record (that's really good) and 5-1 mark in conference play (that's also really good). This will very clearly be a tough test for the Mississippi State Bulldogs as they welcome what is arguably one of the best teams in the country into Starkville.
Should Mississippi State find a way to win this one, there's a good chance we see the Bulldogs bump themselves up a bit in those SEC basketball standings given how close everyone is at the moment. But MSU would need a marquee win against a really good team for that to take place. We'll see if the Bulldogs can spring the upset.