Mississippi State

The Bulldogs face a tough stretch with road games at Vanderbilt and Florida this week.

Mississippi State (16-5, 4-2) has played much better at home (10-1) this season, while the road has been rocky (3-3) with two straight road losses at Alabama and Arkansas.

Rick Stansbury’s Bulldogs face an accomplished Vanderbilt team that had won 10 straight games prior to its 85-72 loss to Kentucky on Saturday.

“We’ll have our work cut out for ourselves Wednesday night,” Stansbury said.

Up next: at Vanderbilt, Wednesday, 8 p.m.

Previous game: Defeated LSU, 67-51

LSU

There is irony in LSU’s scoring struggles this season.

The Tigers (9-12, 0-7) were held to a season-low 38 points in a loss at Alabama last week, and this week the Tigers will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Pete Maravich breaking Oscar Robertson’s collegiate scoring record when they face Tennessee on Thursday. Then on Saturday against Kentucky, LSU will retire the jersey of the school’s all-time No. 2 scorer Rudy Macklin.

“Those are two guys obviously that we all know in the college basketball ranks that were pretty special players and could score, so I’d like to have half of them right now going into these two upcoming games,” LSU coach Trent Johnson said.

Up next: vs. Tennessee, Thursday, 7 p.m.

Previous game: Lost to Mississippi State, 67-51

Arkansas

The Razorbacks (10-11, 2-3) are not overlooking a Georgia team that has only won one conference game.

Arkansas coach John Pelphrey noted that the Bulldogs have played a lot of close games this season.

“They have given everybody they’ve played all they’ve wanted,” Pelphrey said.

Pelphrey pointed to Georgia’s frontcourt depth and physicality as issues that the Razorbacks will have to deal with.

Up next: at Georgia, Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Previous game: Defeated Ole Miss, 80-73

Alabama

The Crimson Tide (13-8, 3-4) have won two of three heading into coach Anthony Grant’s big game against his mentor, Florida coach Billy Donovan.

The one loss in that series came in the Tide’s last game, a one-point loss to Auburn.

Alabama associate head coach Dan Hipsher pointed to how closely Grant has mirrored Donovan’s program at Florida.

“I’m not so sure either of them wants to coach against each other,” Hipsher said.

Up next: vs. Florida, Thursday, 7 p.m.

Previous game: Lost to Auburn, 58-57

Auburn

The Tigers will use their bye week to prepare for a tough road game against the Razorbacks.

Auburn coach Jeff Lebo calls Bud Walton Arena “one of the toughest places to play” in the country.

The deck has been stacked against Auburn (11-11, 2-5) this year as the Tigers had to replace four starters (Korvotney Barber, Rasheem Barrett, Quantez Robertson and Tay Waller) from last year as well as dealing with a difficult schedule.

Auburn has got some solid play out of seniors DeWayne Reed and Lucas Hargrove, who made a free throw with three seconds left to edge Alabama on Saturday.

“We’re still trying to put 40 minutes together,” Lebo said.

Up next: at Arkansas, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Previous game: Defeated Alabama, 58-57

Ole Miss

Defense in the post is an issue for a Rebels frontcourt that is lacking in size.

Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said the key to stopping Kentucky’s dangerous big men DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson will be positioning.

The Rebels (16-5, 4-2) host Alabama on Saturday after their big road game against Kentucky.

Up next: At Kentucky, Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Previous game: Lost to Arkansas, 80-73