![[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_2690,h_1513/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/187/01kgfh62pyg1sjh2rffq.jpg "[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
Alabama Basketball, unranked in the AP Poll, matters little. Some would say it means nothing. The rankings that do matter are from computer models. For the Crimson Tide, getting blown out by the Florida Gators lowered Alabama's rankings, but not drastically.
Based on Monday morning rankings by Ken Pomeroy, Bart Torvik, Kevin Paugh, the NCAA NET, ESPN's BPI, and Torvik's important 'Wins Above the Bubble' stat (WAB), the Crimson Tide is the SEC's fourth-best team. Paugh's KPI is a bit of an outlier with Alabama ranked at No. 19, making it the SEC's second-best team.
In the five models, plus the WAB, Alabama Basketball is No. 22 (NET), No. 21 (KPom), No. 18 (Torvik), No. 19 (KPI), No. 19 (BPI), and No. 21 (WAB).
The two main reasons to follow the models are what they indicate for future games and NCAA Tournament bracket projections. The Crimson Tide has a must-win game Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa. The SEC leader in standings, Texas A&M, will go into the game at 17-4 and 7-1 in SEC play.
For a solid reason, the computer models continue to downgrade the Aggies because of their weak out-of -conference schedule. According to ESPN's BPI, the Aggies have a non-conference Strength of Schedule (SOS) rank of No. 232, among the 300-plus Division 1 teams. A&M's over SOS is No. 82, which is last among SEC teams. Alabama's SOS is No. 4 nationally, and No. 1 among SEC teams.
The Aggies have lost only one game since Dec. 7 (SMU), and that loss came in double overtime to Tennessee in Knoxville. In the computer rankings, Texas A&M is ranked from No. 24 to No. 35 (NCAA NET). In SEC play, the Aggies have won in Auburn, Austin, and Athens. Bucky MCMillan is the current favorite to become the SEC Coach of the Year. The Aggies will not be intimidated by a Wednesday crowd in Tuscaloosa. That the Crimson Tide will be the betting favorite seems irrelevant.
Alabama Basketball NCAA Tournament Projections
After Alabama's loss to the Florida Gators, the Crimson Tide is teetering on 6-seed status in projections. A win could boost Alabama back to a solid 5-seed projection. Going back to 1985, only 1.9% of 6-seeds have advanced to a Final Four, compared to 5.6% for 5-seeds and 9.4% for 4-seeds.