ESPN released its preseason NCAA basketball power rankings with the Tigers just outside of the top-15, sitting at No. 16 overall.

LSU ranks behind SEC schools Kentucky (No. 2), Auburn (No. 7) and Tennessee (No. 8). The Tigers rank ahead of Mississippi State (No. 17) and Alabama (No. 24) to round out the top-25 of SEC competition.

“In terms of talent, Will Wade has enough to stay in the top four of the SEC,” according to ESPN. “Tremont Waters is one of the nation’s best point guards, and Wade brings in three high-level recruits in Ja’vonte Smart, Emmitt Williams and Naz Reid. This is a team that showed flashes last season and has now given Waters a lot more help at both ends of the floor.”