Alabama Crimson Tide: Overall No. 1 seed and latest Big Dance Bracketology

The Alabama Crimson Tide took it on the chin in College Station. With one exception the loss changed nothing for the Tide’s post-season chances. Alabama is no longer a lock to be the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, but it also has not lost that opportunity.

Sunday morning bracketology, now a week away from Selection Sunday, still favors the Crimson Tide. Jerry Palm of CBS Sports and top bracketologist, 1-3-1 Sports still have the Alabama Crimson Tide as the overall No. 1 seed. Joe Lunardi, stating it is very close among the top three teams on the S-curve, gives the nod to Kansas with its 15, Quad 1 wins.

All three sources have eight SEC teams making the Big Dance. Jerry Palm has six SEC teams solidly in the field, with the SEC’s only bubble teams being Auburn and Mississippi State.

What Alabama Basketball needs from SEC Tournament

An SEC Tournament Championship would be outstanding. But, in terms of the NCAA Tournament, Alabama likely needs just one win in Nashville to cement a Big Dance 1-seed. Two wins might be enough to gain the overall No. 1 seed on Selection Sunday.

From a less optimistic perspective, if Kansas wins the Big 12 Tournament, Alabama, even as the SEC Tournament Champion, might not end up with the overall No. 1 seed.

Regardless, as a 1-seed, Alabama will be in the South Regional, with an opportunity to play two games in Birmingham. Most important for the Crimson Tide is rest and regeneration, leading to better starts to games than it has delivered in its last four outings.

Alabama Crimson Tide and SEC Bracketology

• Alabama Crimson Tide; 1-seed from all credible sources. Jerry Palm has the Tide opening the NCAA Tournament against the winner of a Fairleigh Dickenson (FDU) vs. Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) play-in game; with a second-round matchup against the winner of Maryland vs. North Carolina State. Joe Lunardi has the Tide opening against UNC-Asheville; then the winner of Maryland vs. Florida Atlantic (FAU). 1-3-1 Sports has the Tide opening against the winner of Alcorn St. vs. SEMO; then the winner of Maryland vs. FAU.
• Tennessee Vols; 3-seed by Lunardi and 1-3-1; 4-seed by Palm
• Texas A&M Aggies; 5-seed (Lunardi); 6-seed (1-3-1); 7-seed (Lunardi)
• Missouri Tigers; 6-seed (Palm); 8-seed (Lunardi and 1-3-1)
• Kentucky Wildcats; 6-seed (1-3-1); 7-seed (Palm and Lunardi)
• Auburn Tigers; 8-seed (Palm); 10-seed (1-3-1); 11-seed (Lunardi)
• Arkansas Razorbacks; 8-seed (1-3-1); 9-seed (Palm and Lunardi)
• Mississippi State Bulldogs; 11-seed by all three

Alabama is not exactly rolling into March, but that is the same situation for many teams as college basketball’s second season begins.