By The Associated Press
Mississippi center Dwight Coleby (23) goes up for a shot against Texas A&M forward Kourtney Roberson (14) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Oxford, Miss., Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/The Daily Mississippian, Thomas Graning)
Keaton Miles
Arkansas forward Keaton Miles (55) scores against Auburn during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Jacob Kurtz, Karl-Anthony Towns
Florida forward Jacob Kurtz, left, defends Kentucky forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday, Feb 7, 2015. Kentucky defeated Florida 68-61. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)
Mike Anderson
Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson, center, reacts to a foul call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015, in Fayetteville, Ark. Arkansas defeated South Carolina 75-55. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Mississippi State Tennessee Basketball
Tennessee’s Isabelle Harrison blocks the shot of Mississippi State’s Victoria Vivians in Tennessee’s 79-67 win Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015, at Thompson Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/The Daily Times, Tom Sherlin)
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A few things to watch in Southeastern Conference basketball this week:
GAME OF THE WEEK: No. 24 Arkansas at Mississippi: It’s clear that Kentucky is the best team in the league, but the battle for second might come down to these two teams. The Rebels went on the road and handed the Razorbacks an embarrassing 96-82 loss at Bud Walton Arena on Jan. 17. Nearly a month later, Arkansas will try to return the favor at Tad Smith Coliseum. Whatever happens, it should be an entertaining evening featuring the SEC’s two highest-scoring teams. Arkansas averages 80.3 points per game, while Ole Miss is scoring 74.3 points per game.
LOOKING AHEAD: Now that top-ranked Kentucky (24-0, 11-0) has survived Tuesday night’s trip to LSU, the chances of the Wildcats entering the NCAA tournament unbeaten look more and more realistic. The Wildcats’ remaining regular-season schedule includes home games with South Carolina, Auburn, Arkansas and Florida plus trips to Tennessee, Mississippi State and Georgia.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Kentucky’s deep rotation has kept most of its players from putting up big numbers this season, but Karl-Anthony Towns has stood out of late. The 6-foot-11 freshman has had two double-doubles in his last three games and is averaging 15.3 points and 11.3 rebounds over that span. His 12 points and 13 rebounds on Tuesday were especially important as the Wildcats barely slipped past LSU 71-69 in Baton Rouge.
NUMBERS GAME: Arkansas’ 101-87 victory over Auburn on Tuesday marked the first time this season an SEC team had hit 100 points in league play. It’s the sixth time Arkansas has reached the century mark during the coaching tenure of Mike Anderson, who’s in his fourth season. Arkansas has won its last three games by an average margin of 18 points.
ON THE WOMEN’S SIDE: No. 1 South Carolina suffered its first loss of the season Monday when it fell 87-62 to No. 2 Connecticut in a game that likely will move the Huskies to the top spot in next week’s rankings. … No. 6 Tennessee has won 17 consecutive home games since falling 75-71 to Kentucky on Feb. 16, 2014. The Lady Vols will put that home streak on the line Sunday when they host the 10th-ranked Wildcats. Tennessee has won by one point in each of its last two meetings with Kentucky.
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Compiled by AP Sports Writers Steve Megargee in Knoxville, Tennessee, and David Brandt in Jackson, Mississippi.