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Alabama Basketball: Tide Hoops picked to finish No.4 in SEC

By Ronald Evans

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 10: Avery Johnson the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide gives instructions to his team in the game against the Ole Miss Rebels during the second round of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 10, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 10: Avery Johnson the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide gives instructions to his team in the game against the Ole Miss Rebels during the second round of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 10, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Alabama basketball is predicted to take a leap forward this season. The SEC released the preseason choices of SEC and national media on Wednesday.

At the end of the 2016-17 regular season, Alabama basketball was in a three-way tie (with Ole Miss and Vanderbilt) as No. 5 in the SEC. Last season’s league record of 10-8 in conference play and 19-15 overall record was not enough to gain a NCAA Tournament bid.

In the new preseason poll, Alabama basketball is picked to finish one place higher in 2017-18 at 4th in the league. Above the Tide in the preseason poll are 1. Kentucky, 2. Florida and 3. Texas A&M.

Following the Tide are No. 5 Missouri, No. 6 Arkansas and No. 7 Vanderbilt. The bottom half of the league based on the preseason poll will be No. 8 Georgia, No. 9 Auburn, No. 10 Ole Miss, No. 11 South Carolina, No. 12 Mississippi State, No. 13 Tennessee and No. 14 LSU.

The biggest predicted movers from last season are Missouri and South Carolina. Those moves are the result of talent lost and talent gained. The Gamecocks no longer have last season’s SEC Player of the Year, Sindarius Thornwell. The Missouri Tigers have a new coach in Cuonzo Martin. Martin strengthened the Tigers’ roster considerably by bringing in 5-Star, No. 2 rated player in the nation, Michael Porter.

Preseason ALL-SEC teams

The preseason poll also predicted the top players for the 2017-18 season. Alabama basketball had one player chosen to the seven-member ALL-SEC Second Team, super freshman Collin Sexton.

Kentucky, Texas A&M and Ole Miss were the only schools to have two players selected to the preseason first and second ALL-SEC teams. The Wildcats were represented by Hamidou Diallo (1st) and true freshman Kevin Knox (2nd). The Aggies placed Tyler Davis (2nd) and true freshman Robert Williams (1st). Ole Miss selections were Terrance Davis (2nd) and Deandre Burnett (2nd).

The other player selections were first team, KeVaughn Allen (Florida), Michael Porter (Missouri) and Yante Maten (Georgia), Additional second-team selections were Quinndary Weatherspoon (Mississippi State) and Matthew Fisher-Davis (Vanderbilt).

Alabama basketball fans know all too well the Tide has not made the Big Dance since 2012. The selection committee looks at overall record and out-of-conference wins weigh heavily into bid selections. A strong conference record is no guarantee of a NCAA bid.

Former Alabama basketball player, Bryan Passink weighed in with his thoughts about the Tide and the NCAA Tournament in 2018.

Any seed in the Big Dance will be welcome relief for Alabama basketball fans. A five seed would signify a Tide team who could make a good run in the tournament.

Next: Avery building a top roster for 2018-19.

The SEC press release can be seen here. Alabama basketball opens the regular season on November 10th against Memphis.

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