FAYETTEVILLE - The tiers of Southeastern Conference basketball are not all that far apart when it comes to wins and losses. Nine teams have as many wins as losses. Another two have a chance, however small, to win the league in the regular season.
The tiers, too, though, are discernible.
The contenders: Kentucky, LSU
The good ones: South Carolina, Texas A&M, Florida
The mid-pack: Ole Miss, Alabama, Georgia, Vanderbilt
The step-behind: Arkansas, Tennessee
The cellar dwellers: Mississippi State, Auburn, Missouri
Arkansas is 1-1 against those bottom teams. The third team, Auburn, awaits Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena at 6 p.