NCAAW: The best SEC games to watch, beginning with LSU vs. Kentucky

Finally, conference play arrives for the best conference in women’s college basketball: the SEC.

All eight of the conference ranked teams—No. 2 Texas, No. 3 South Carolina, No. 5 LSU, No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 11 Kentucky, No. 12 Vanderbilt, No. 15 Ole Miss and No. 23 Tennessee—are in action, with two, the Tigers and Wildcats, meeting in a head-to-head battle.

Here’s the must-watch scale for the seven SEC showdowns.

No. 11 Kentucky vs. No. 5 LSU (8 p.m. ET, SECN+)

This is what we’ve been waiting.

Congratulations to LSU for compiling a 14-0 record while playing against no ranked opponents. Rather that racking up more 100-point scoring milestones, it’s time for the Tigers to show that all those big-scoring blowouts prepared them for the rigors of the SEC. First up? A visit from the ‘Cats.

Although much attention, understandably, will be on the Tigers’ trio of perimeter talents in senior guard Flau’Jae Johnson, junior wing Mikaylah Williams and junior guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, sophomore center Kate Koval could prove to the be “separator” for LSU, to borrow the term South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley once used to describe Kamilla Cardoso. A 6-foot-5 sophomore center who transferred to LSU from Notre Dame, Koval has started eight of the Tigers’ 14 games, averaging under 19 minutes while scoring 12.1 points on 60.6 percent shooting and grabbing 7.1 rebounds, including 3.5 offensive boards. Considering the talented bigs that populate the SEC, Koval’s ability to log more minutes, protect the paint, clean the glass and cash in on offensive rebounds will be crucial for LSU.

Her first test arrives with 6-foot-5 Kentucky junior center Clara Strack, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year who is almost averaging a career-best double-double of 16.8 points and 9.9 rebounds for the Wildcats. Strack’s partnership with senior point guard Tonie Morgan, who leads the SEC in assists per game, not only will test Koval’s defensive viability, but the defensive discipline of LSU’s entire unit.

In the end, however, the Tigers probably have too much talent for the Wildcats to contain them for 40 minutes, especially as freshmen Grace Knox, ZaKiyah Johnson and Bella Hines all appear capable of contributing quality minutes, even against an SEC opponent.

Florida vs. No. 23 Tennessee (2 p.m. ET, SECN+) & Georgia vs. No. 15 Ole Miss (3 p.m. ET, SECN+)

Tennessee and Ole Miss disappointed in non-conference play, with both programs’ improved talent, at least on paper, not resulting in improved results.

The Lady Vols lost to every ranked opponent they’ve played, doing so in uncompetitive fashion to now-No. 4 UCLA and now-No. 13 Louisville. Their execution of head coach Kim Caldwell’s offensive system, premised on a fast pace and high volume of shots, has not been as effective as last season, as the Lady Vols are making just over 30 percent of their nation-leading 34.5 3-point attempts per game. Their offensive rating is more than four points below last season’s mark, and that’s against a still mostly friendly non-conference schedule. Tennessee’s aggressive defense also has been substandard, especially against elite opponents; the Bruins and Cardinals eventually solved, sliced and diced the Lady Vols. Caldwell is also refusing to sugar coat her team’s issues, bluntly declaring that she does not believe they are prepared for conference play.

With some concerning non-conference losses of their own, Florida does not profile as the kind of opponent that can exploit Tennessee’s weaknesses. However, the Gators, led by SEC leading scorer Liv McGill, will not be afraid to try. The sophomore guard is putting up 24.4 points per game, opting for volume over efficiency as she carries a heavy load for the Gator offense. Sophomore forward Me’Arah O’Neal has emerged as Florida’s secondary star, raising her scoring average by almost 10 points per game while leading the Gators in rebounding.

Rather than being blown out by better teams, Ole Miss’ non-conference experience featured a few bad loss, and a couple of near-disastrous defeats. Most recently, the Rebels trailed Alcorn State, which entered the game 3-7, at the half on their homecourt. Although the Rebels eventually righted their way to a 20-point win, they still managed to score just 64 points, shooting 36 percent from the field and nine percent from 3. While not that bad, Ole Miss’ season-long offensive numbers are uninspiring, and that’s with a career-best season from senior forward Cotie McMahon. The Ohio State transfer is producing as expected, putting up almost 19 points per game, albeit with inconsistent efficiency.

Despite advancing to 14-0 against an incredibly soft non-conference schedule, defensive-minded Georgia should have confidence in their ability to cause problems for inconsistent Ole Miss. And similar to the Gators, the Dawgs have a potentially-explosive sophomore guard who could deliver an upset. The most prolific 3-point shooter in the SEC, with a conference-leading 44 makes at 47.3 percent, Dani Carnegie, who switched from Georgia Tech to Georgia, has been a salve for the Bulldog offense, elevating an offense that ranked 224th last season to 18th—at least so far. The visit to Oxford will reveal how real, or not, the Dawgs are.

Alabama vs. No. 3 South Carolina (2 p.m. ET, SECN+)

This one probably (or definitely) belongs in the category below. However, we’ll extend some respect to undefeated Alabama, even if the Tide’s perfect record is likely to be swept away by a South Carolina onslaught.

The absence of senior guard Ta’Niya Latson, who suffered an ankle injury on Sunday, could, theoretically, make things a little tricker for South Carolina. But in reality, head coach Dawn Staley has other talented players ready to take advantage of an extended opportunity, even if incoming midseason addition Alicia Tournebize, a 6-foot-7 center from France, still will not be in a Gamecock uniform.

Freshman wing Agot Makeer, however, is back on the court for South Carolina and at the top of the list of players who can ensure that the Gamecocks begin SEC play with a comfortable win. Out of concussion protocol after missing five games, Makeer wasted no time making an impact against Providence, securing a 10-point and 10-rebound double-double in 23 minutes of off-the-bench action.

If Makeer shares the court more frequently with fast-rising sophomore star Joyce Edwards, South Carolina will deploy a degree of athletic dynamism that Alabama, and most any team, cannot keep up with.

No. 12 Vanderbilt vs. Arkansas (2 p.m. ET, SECN+), No. 2 Texas vs. Missouri (7:30 p.m. ET, SECN+) & No. 8 Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M (8 p.m. ET, SECN+)

Vanderbilt shouldn’t need a Mikayla Blakes showcase to light up the scoreboard in Fayetteville. Arkansas looks to be the worst team in the SEC, while the Commodores have demonstrated that their depth of talent extends beyond their high-scoring sophomore guard. Senior wing Justine Pissott has almost tripled her scoring production, adding 11.5 points per game for the Commodores while shooting almost 45 percent from 3. The return of senior forward Sacha Washington, who missed all of last season due to a blood clot, has given Vandy almost 10 points and nearly seven boards per game.

Texas has been torturing opponents of late, and Missouri is unlikely to escape a similar fate. While one shouldn’t expect to see any extra-curricular celebrations from the Longhorns, head coach Vic Schaefer will look for his squad to apply a full 40 minutes of relentless defense. The contest will also be junior forward Madison Booker’s first official entry in her campaign for back-to-back SEC Player of the Year honors.

Oklahoma likewise should overwhelm Texas A&M. The Sooners rank second only to LSU in points per game, with their 96.2 points per game a product of their fast pace and excess of shot attempts. The two players most responsible for those traits are freshman point guard Aaliyah Chavez, who brings zip, zest and nearly 19 points per game for the Sooners, and senior center Raegan Beers, who is posting career highs in scoring and rebounding as she averages an 18.7-point and 10.7-rebound double-double.