AP and Coaches poll voters didn't have much sympathy for Nate Oats and Alabama basketball this week in the aftermath of the Crimson Tide's latest loss, a 79-73 home defeat to unranked Tennessee that dropped Alabama to 3-3 in SEC play and 13-6 overall.
That's despite how shorthanded Alabama was for the matchup. The Tide was down five scholarship players, including Aden Holloway and Amari Allen, who are second and third on the team in both scoring and assists.
Perhaps that's par for the course following the widespread angst about Oats adding Charles Bediako to the roster, who made a big impact in his first game in a Crimson Tide uniform in three years. There won't be much sympathy for anything this team goes through the rest of the way as a result.
Alabama fell six spots in both the AP and Coaches Polls following the loss to Tennessee, down to No. 23 from No. 17 last week. It is the lowest ranking for Alabama basketball in two years.
Alabama drops to No. 23 in both basketball polls
It has been a frustrating year for Oats and Alabama so far. This team is undeniably filled with talent, but we've yet to see them have an opportunity to play full strength.
Collectively, Alabama has 65 games missed among its scholarship players. Only Noah Williamson and Houston Mallette have played all 19 games for the Crimson Tide this year.
With Bediako in tow, this team has the potential to go far in March. But the only thing that currently matters is that they get healthy. That starts with Tuesday's home matchup against Missouri, which looks like a must-win for the Crimson Tide.
That's true if they want to stay in the Top 25, and also true if they want to maintain an outside shot at competing for the regular season league title.