The Sooners thought they escaped the best conference in college basketball when they left the Big 12, but instead, that heat followed them into the SEC.
Like the rest of the conference this weekend, Oklahoma tips off its time in the SEC on the hardwood against No. 5 Alabama at 5 p.m. CT Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
With 2024 and nonconference schedules now in the past, the SEC has proven to be the toughest conference in college basketball this season. There are 10 SEC teams ranked inside the latest AP Top 25, including half of the top 10 hailing from the SEC.
Combined, SEC teams put together a 185-63 record during nonconference play. That's a 74.6% wining percentage as a conference.
Now, they get to battle each other, and here's a look at how they all stack up heading into conference play.
16. South Carolina (10-3)
South Carolina has the worst record of the entire bunch still with only three losses. Two aren't so bad against ranked Indiana and Xavier teams in November, but one was an ugly blemish against North Florida in the season-opener.
However, after a 4-3 November, the Gamecocks went undefeated in December and are going into SEC play on a seven-game winning streak that includes a victory over instate rival and then-No. 25 Clemson in overtime.
15. Vanderbilt (12-1)
Vanderbilt has just one loss to Drake, which started the season 12-0. However, Drake just lost to the University of Illinois Chicago. Vandy has also coasted through an easy schedule to this point.
14. LSU (11-2)
The Tigers are at the bottom of a cluster of two-loss teams in the conference. LSU hasn't played a ranked team yet this season. Obviously that'll change during the Tigers' SEC slate, but we really don't know much about this LSU team yet.
13. Missouri (11-2)
Missouri lost to a pair of unranked teams, but the Tigers proved they're dangerous by beating rival Kansas, which was ranked No. 1 at the time.
12. Texas (11-2)
The Longhorns are traditionally solid but haven't proved anything yet this season. Texas has respectable losses to Ohio State and UConn but no good wins.
11. Georgia (12-1)
The Bulldogs just kept winning, even if it was through a pretty soft schedule. Georgia's only loss was to then-No. 15 Maquette on Nov. 23 and hasn't lost since while riding a seven-game winning streak with one ranked victory over then-No. 22 St. John's.
10. Ole Miss (11-2)
The first ranked team to pop up, and the Rebels aren't even in the top half of their conference. The SEC is loaded.
Ole Miss is just inside the top 25 at No. 24 after recently dropping because of an 87-70 loss to Memphis at the end of its nonconference schedule. The Rebels' other loss was to No. 13 Purdue.
Although the Rebels don't have a bad loss yet, they also don't have a good win. But, hey, that would be enough for Lane Kiffin to put them at the top.
9. Arkansas (11-2)
Arkansas will be scary now led by John Calipari. The Razorbacks lost to No. 8 Baylor and Illinois in November but have only grown stronger since with six wins in a row and ranked 23rd.
8. Mississippi State (12-1)
Another ranked team at No. 17, Mississippi State has slipped up just once to Butler at the end of November. It's been six straight wins for the Bulldogs since then, including ranked victories over Pitt and Memphis.
7. Texas A&M (11-2)
The Aggies had two tough losses in November to UCF and Oregon but have rebounded nicely since. Texas A&M has also had a pretty challenging schedule while beating No. 21 Ohio State, No. 21 Creighton and No. 11 Purdue.
6. Kentucky (11-2)
Kentucky is always going to be near the top, even with new leadership. The Wildcats sit at No. 10 in the AP Top 25, while Oklahoma has that 10th spot in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
The Wildcats have head-scratching losses to Clemson and Ohio State, but have also beaten No. 6 Duke and No. 7 Gonzaga.
5. Florida (13-0)
Florida is one of three undefeated teams left in the country, all of which are in the SEC. The Gators haven't beaten anyone worth noting yet, though.
4. Oklahoma (13-0)
The Sooners, ranked 13th in the AP Top 25, have literally done nothing but win so far. However, OU is behind a few teams because of who it's played to this point. Both of the Sooners' ranked wins against Arizona and Michigan are no longer in the top 25 of any poll.
3. Alabama (11-2)
These three and four spots could flip soon with OU and Alabama meeting on Saturday. The Crimson Tide are 11-2 but ranked fifth in the country after enduring a daunting schedule with losses to Purdue and Oregon, but with wins over No. 25 Illinois, No. 6 Houston and No. 20 North Carolina.
2. Auburn (12-1)
Auburn is ranked second in these SEC power rankings and in the country. Many still believe the Tigers are the best team in the nation with just one loss to No. 9 Duke, 84-78. They've beaten the brakes off teams like No. 12 North Carolina, Memphis, Ohio State and No. 16 Purdue. They also took down No. 4 Houston, 74-69.
1. Tennessee (13-0)
Although some might argue Auburn is better, Tennessee still hasn't lost to prove otherwise. The Volunteers are currently the No. 1 team in the country after a perfect nonconference schedule.