The first shot of the SEC season hasn't been fired ... and it's already looking as if the pundits missed the boat on projecting the SEC East.

Kentucky, the perennial pick, has struggled through the non-conference schedule, to put it mildly.

And Florida, the team that lost more firepower from last year than anyone in the division, is off to the best start in school history at 11-0.

Down south, the undefeated Gators have regrouped from losing their top three scorers and are looking like the class of the East.

Up north, coach Tubby Smith's Wildcats lost to freshman-dominated North Carolina in Rupp Arena and got bombed by Indiana. Finally, they got some good news when the NCAA reduced Randolph Morris' suspension from the entire year to 14 games.

Morris will be ready for the SEC opener and the win over Louisville indicates the Wildcats should be not taken lightly.

Elsewhere in the East, Vanderbilt might be poised to spring some surprises with transfer Derrick Byars making a difference. Tennessee is rejuvenated by new coach Bruce Pearl's uptempo game and stunned the nation with its easy win at Texas.

Georgia doesn't appear willing to go quietly into the cellar. South Carolina has already won a tournament, the Great Alaska Shootout.

The East could be the more-lively division to follow this winter. Four of the SEC's top six scoring teams are in the East.

Three of the top four shooting teams call the East home and Florida led the entire nation going into the holiday week. Five East teams rank among the top six in 3-point shooting.

Here's a capsule look at the East.

Florida (11-0)

Best win: Syracuse, 75-70.

Worst loss: Still waiting.

They miss: David Lee.

Impact newcomer: Walter Hodge. There isn't really an impact newcomer, but Hodge, a freshman point guard, is playing 18 minutes a game in reserve.

Most improved: Taurean Green. Take your pick of the sophomores, but Green has made the biggest jump, averaging 13.3 ppg and distributing the ball from the point. He is also an upgrade defensively from Anthony Roberson, the man he replaced in the starting lineup.

The Gators are surviving the loss of David Lee, Matt Walsh and Roberson (45.7 ppg, collectively) just fine, thank you. Last year's freshman class -- Al Horford, Corey Brewer, Green and Joakim Noah -- has made huge strides to take up the scoring slack. All four are scoring in double figures and Horford ranks among the nation's top rebounders.

Junior guard Lee Humphrey, meanwhile, is shooting 52.9 percent from 3-point range and averaging 11.2 ppg as a full-time starter.

This is a more-athletic team than a year ago. Brewer and Horford are blossoming into All-SEC-caliber players. Coach Billy Donovan has proved adaptable, tweaking his style of play to fit his personnel.

Georgia (7-3)

Best win: Georgia Tech, 91-75.

Worst loss: Old Dominion, 74-65.

They miss: Nobody.

Impact newcomer: Billy Humphrey. Fellow freshman guard Mike Mercer came more touted but Humphrey is leading the Bulldogs in scoring, averaging 12.6 ppg off the bench and shooting 47.7 percent from 3-point range. Humphrey got a scholarship offer only after signee Louis Williams skipped to the NBA.

Most impoved: Channing Toney. The sophomore wing's scoring is about the same but he's shooting a much higher percentage.

The Bulldogs have reinforcements and this winter won't be a guaranteed "W" for all comers. Eleven different players are averaging at least 11 minutes a game and the walk-ons have seen their role diminish from prime time to mop-up duty. Scoring (75.3 ppg) and shooting percentages (46.4) are up.

Humphrey and Mercer, who is Georgia's No. 3 scorer, are blue-chip additions, although neither is starting yet because Levi Stukes, Sundiata Gaines and Toney are veterans on the perimeter.

The knock on Georgia is the Bulldogs' talent is concentrated on the perimeter. At least there's more depth beneath the basket. Freshman big men Kendrick Johnson and Rashaad Singleton are getting minutes, but are not yet offensive threats.

Kentucky (8-3)

Best win: Louisville, 73-61.

Worst loss: Indiana, 79-53.

They miss: Chuck Hayes.

Impact newcomer: Rekalin Sims. The junior-college power forward has helped the frontcourt but probably not as much as his credentials suggested. His numbers have dropped to 7.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg.

Most impoved: Rajon Rondo. Other than beating Rick Pitino, the highlight for the Big Blue thus far has been Rondo's breakout play. The sophomore guard is one of the quickest players in the nation. That, however, doesn't explain how he's managing to average 9.1 rebounds a game to go with his 16.6 scoring average.

The Wildcats have no answer for the departed Chuck Hayes down low. That will change somewhat, at least, when Randolph Morris is reinstated for SEC play. Morris wasn't exactly dominating as a freshman and is bound to be rusty. Still, he's an improvement over any other option. None of the three 7-footers has shown the ability to be a significant factor as a starter. Junior forwards Bobby Perry and Sheray Thomas are better suited to be role players than go-to guys.

The backcourt picture is more encouraging. Rondo is a star in the making. Sophomores Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley will only get better. Senior Patrick Sparks is still capable of a lights-out shooting streak.

Kentucky is vulnerable heading into SEC play. Coach Tubby Smith hasn't been able to draw out this team's toughness quotient yet. But it would be a mistake to count out either Smith or the Wildcats this early.

South Carolina (7-3)

Best win: Alaska-Anchorage, 65-60.

Worst loss: Clemson, 82-63.

They miss: Carlos Powell.

Impact newcomer: Bryce Sheldon. The California juco transfer is the only newcomer seeing double-figure minutes.

Most improved: Renaldo Balkman. The junior forward has been inconsistent through his first two years, but that appears to be changing now that he's a full-time starter. Balkman's minutes have increased from 18 to 28 a game, his scoring is up to 11.7, his rebounding to 7.2, and he's shooting 67 percent from the field.

The Gamecocks haven't made a dent in the NCAA tournament under Dave Odom, but they have enriched the trophy case. Carolina ended last year with an NIT title and opened this season by winning the Great Alaska Shootout.

This team has experience, with all of its top six players having played extensively last season. The Gamecocks lost their offensive leader in Carlos Powell but Balkman and guard Tarence Kinsey (16.5 ppg) are taking up the slack.

The 3-point shooting has improved from woeful to decent (41.3 percent). Interior defense could hurt the Gamecocks as neither Brandon Wallace nor Antoine Tisby has shown any consistency.

Tennessee (6-1)

Best win: Texas 95-78.

Only loss: Oklahoma State, 89-73.

They miss: Brandon Crump.

Impact newcomer: Ryan Childress. By default. The 6-9 freshman is the only newcomer. His role is to bang for seven or eight minutes a game and give the starters a breather.

Most improved: Stanley Asumnu. This is a crowded category, but Asumnu gets the nod for resurrecting his career as a senior. His scoring is up from 2.4 to 9.6 and his shooting percentage has improved from 39.7 percent (previous career) to 50 percent.

Major Wingate and Dane Bradshaw have also seen noticeable improved production under new coach Bruce Pearl, but C.J. Watson shouldn't be overlooked. The senior point guard is having the best scoring season of his career (16.3 ppg) and is red hot from 3-point range (57.1 percent).

Watson and Chris Lofton (18.6 ppg), as expected, are thriving in Pearl's system and are as good a 3-point tandem threat as any in the league.

In SEC play, Tennessee could be exposed for its lack of muscle and defense down low. Wingate must take a cue from Andre Patterson and be more aggressive on the boards. The other issue that could trouble the Vols is the lack of depth. Pearl is getting significant contributions out of everybody, but one key injury could be devastating.

Vanderbilt (8-1)

Best win: Georgetown, 68-61.

Only loss: Cincinnati, 92-83.

They miss: Corey Smith.

Impact newcomer: Derrick Byars. The 6-7transfer from Virginia will make a run at newcomer of the year in the SEC. He's giving the Commodores 11.4 ppg and is the best 3-point shooter at 43.8 percent.

Most improved: DeMarre Carroll. The 6-7 sophomore forward doesn't start but is playing starter minutes and scoring in double figures.

The Commodores have looked good, other than getting whacked by athletic Cincinnati. They've ventured outside of friendly Memorial Gym only once, notching a solid win at Georgetown.

Sophomore Shan Foster (14.9 ppg) is better than a lot of people realized and Byars is proving to be quite a catch. Alex Gordon and Mario Moore are virtually splitting point guard duties.

If Julian Terrell could put together a consistent senior year around the basket, Vandy will be tough to beat. That remains to be seen. Ted Skuchas is hardly a marquee center but if Terrell continues on his present pace (10.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg), maybe the Commodores can get by with him.