Alabama Basketball ranked AP No. 2, highest preseason ranking in school history

Nate Oats keeps leading Alabama basketball to new heights. After leading the Crimson Tide to the Final Four for the first time in program history last season, Alabama is now the preseason AP No. 2 team in the country, its highest preseason ranking in program history.

Kansas edged Alabama in the preseason poll for the No. 1 spot. The Crimson Tide is the only SEC team in the Top-10, but Auburn (11th), Tennessee (12th), Texas A&M (13th), Arkansas (16th), Texas (19th), Florida (21st), Kentucky (23rd), and Ole Miss (24th) were all ranked, giving the SEC nine teams in the Top-25.

Alabama received 14 first-place votes, and finished just 21 total points behind Kansas for No. 1.

Alabama's highest ranking in the AP poll in the preseason previously was No. 7 prior to the start of the 1990-1991 season. That team ultimately made it to the Sweet 16 before falling, slamming into that glass ceiling that Oats finally broke through in his fifth season as the team's head coach.

Two seasons ago, Oats led Alabama to the AP No. 1 ranking heading into the NCAA Tournament, with the Crimson Tide landing a No. 1 seed in the tournament for the first time in program history.

Oats has led Alabama to unparalleled success on the hardwood. The only accomplishment that is left is delivering a national championship, something that once felt like a pipe dream, but now feels like a reality.

Oats knows this is a special group, and he hasn't shied away from expectations about it, either. Alabama has a talented and deep roster, led by returning contributors Mark Sears (a preseason player of the year candidate), Grant Nelson, and Latrell Wrightsell.

Alabama added top talent out of the transfer portal such as rim protecting center Clifford Omoruyi (Rutgers), co-AAC player of the year Chris Youngblood, and sharpshooting guard Aden Holloway (Auburn), among others.

On top of that, Alabama signed the No. 2 ranked recruiting class in the country, led by five-star Derrion Reid.

This is the deepest, most talented roster the Crimson Tide has ever had. Whether they achieve the lofty preseason goals remains to be seen, but the talent and confidence is at an all time high in Tuscaloosa.