Fansided

SEC baseball power rankings: Bulldogs own top 2 spots

By Justin Strawn

STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 10: Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium on the campus of the Mississippi State Bulldogs before a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Davis Wade Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Starkville, Mississippi. The Bulldogs defeated the Gamecocks 27-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
STARKVILLE, MS - SEPTEMBER 10: Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium on the campus of the Mississippi State Bulldogs before a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Davis Wade Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Starkville, Mississippi. The Bulldogs defeated the Gamecocks 27-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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GAINESVILLE, FL – FEB 22: Tyler Dyson (18) of the Gators delivers a pitch to the plate during the college baseball game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Florida Gators on February 22, 2019 at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL – FEB 22: Tyler Dyson (18) of the Gators delivers a pitch to the plate during the college baseball game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Florida Gators on February 22, 2019 at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Nick Mingione was hired as the new head coach before the 2017 season to lead the Kentucky Wildcats back among the elite of the SEC baseball teams. He put together a great first year, and things looked promising. But after missing the NCAA Tournament in 2018 and starting the 2019 season off 0-6 in SEC play, things do not look as promising as they once did. Things could get turned around, but the Wildcats opened up a new stadium this year, and underachieving will not be tolerated for an extended amount of time.

The Alabama Crimson Tide have shown some signs of life in their two weeks of play in the SEC baseball season. The problem is they are trying to win with a talent deficiency in an ultra-competitive conference. A lot of people assumed there was a good chance Alabama would get swept in their first two series of SEC play. To come out with at least a win in each series against Ole Miss the first weekend and Arkansas this past weekend can go a long way to keeping the heads of the Tide above water.

Florida suffers the biggest drop in the Power Rankings this week. The Gators are talented, but they are young. And the first two weeks of SEC play have exposed their lack of experience. After losing their first series against Mississippi State, the Gators were humiliated in a sweep to the Vanderbilt Commodores, getting outscored 34-6 in the three games. Florida should be better in May than they are now, but they are going to have to ride out some tough times until their experience catches up with their talent.