No. 16 Tennessee, No. 23 Arkansas two of SEC's hottest teams
By GARY B. GRAVES - Feb. 18, 2022 03:28 AM EST
LSU forward Tari Eason (13) drives past Georgia's Jaxon Etter (11) during an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, in Baton Rouge, La. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate via AP)
LSU forward Tari Eason (13) drives past Georgia's Jaxon Etter (11) during an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, in Baton Rouge, La. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate via AP)
Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) drives against Kentucky guard Davion Mintz (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
South Carolina forward Aliyah Boston (4) tries to shoot as Georgia center Jenna Staiti (14) defends her during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley yells to her players on the court during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Georgia Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Alabama guard Jahvon Quinerly (13) lays up a shot past Kentucky forward Lance Ware (55) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman talks with guard Chris Lykes (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Alabama, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
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A look at weekend action around the Southeastern Conference:

Two of the SEC’s hottest teams face off as No. 16 Tennessee (19-6, 10-3) visits No. 23 Arkansas (20-6, 9-4). The host Razorbacks have won 10 of 11 and are ranked for the first time since Dec. 13 at No. 24. Arkansas is coming off a 76-57 defeat of Missouri to stand third behind the Volunteers, who have won five in a row. Tennessee topped No. 4 Kentucky 76-63 on Tuesday night to forge a second-place tie (for now) behind No. 2 Auburn. Meanwhile, Kentucky (2-15, 10-3) looks to get back on track at home against No. 25 Alabama (17-9, 7-6) after its six-game winning streak ended in Knoxville. The Wildcats won 66-55 two weeks ago in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide rejoined The Associated Press Top 25 on Monday for the first time since Jan. 3 at No. 15 and outlasted Mississippi State 80-75 on Wednesday night.

PLAYER TO WATCH

LSU forward Tari Eason is averaging 23 points and nine rebounds during the Tigers' three-game winning streak after losing six of seven. His run includes 21 points, nine rebounds and three steals in Wednesday night's 84-65 rout of Georgia. The 6-foot-8 sophomore is averaging 19.5 points and 6.3 boards this month. Eason ranks fifth in SEC scoring (career-best 16.8 points per game) on 53% shooting and is eighth in rebounds (7.0).

TEAM TO WATCH

Tennessee has won eight of nine since last month’s 107-79 blowout loss at Kentucky that no doubt motivated the Volunteers' 76-63 payback Tuesday night in Knoxville. Their only loss in this stretch was 52-51 to Texas in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Jan. 29. Since then they’ve won by an average margin of 13 points and held South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Kentucky below 41% shooting. The Vols face a challenging stretch with a visit to Missouri on Tuesday before a Feb. 26 showdown against first-place Auburn at home, where they are 14-0 this season. A return match against Arkansas looms on March 5.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Alabama junior Jahvon Quinerly had 21 points in Wednesday's victory over MSU, his fourth 20-point outing this season. ... LSU senior forward Darius Days had 15 points and 12 rebounds against Georgia and is averaging 11.7 points and 8.0 boards during the Tigers' three-game winning streak. ... Arkansas coach Eric Musselman achieved his seventh consecutive 20-win season and third in a row with the Razorbacks, who reached the milestone for the 35th time in school history. ... Kentucky shot a season-low 34% (23 of 67) at Tennessee and allowed a season-high eight blocks. ... Last-place Georgia has dropped 14 of 15 and lost by an average margin of 13.6 points this month alone.

ON THE WOMEN’S SIDE

Top-ranked South Carolina (23-1, 11-1) faces No. 13 Tennessee (21-4, 10-2) on Sunday in a nationally televised game between the league’s top two teams. The Gamecocks beat Auburn on Thursday night for their 12th consecutive victory. Included in the run was Sunday’s 72-54 defeat of No. 17 Georgia. The Lady Vols had consecutive 14-point wins over Missouri and Vanderbilt before falling to Alabama on Thursday night.

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