Alabama basketball had been disrespected in both the AP and Coaches Polls the last couple of weeks, none more so than a week ago, when the Crimson Tide sat at just No. 25 in the AP Poll and remained unranked in the Coaches Poll.
It was easy to read into it as a pseudo-Charles Bediako-related punishment for the Crimson Tide. We said then that all Nate Oats and his team could do was erase any doubts about the team's quality in a post-Bediako world.
They've done just that.
After two more wins last week - a thrilling double-overtime win over Arkansas and a road win over LSU - the Crimson Tide has now won six consecutive games. And they are 4-0 since the Bediako ruling.
As a result, finally, both the AP and Coaches Poll voters have taken note.
Alabama went from unranked to No. 18 in the Coaches Poll. Alabama was the first team left out a week ago, which means it was an eight-spot jump this week. The same jump was seen in the AP Poll, with the Crimson Tide going from No. 25 last week to No. 17 this week:
BREAKING: College Basketball AP Poll🏀https://t.co/AEi68UWgnQ pic.twitter.com/LuYhcscgfI
— On3 (@On3) February 23, 2026
Alabama basketball is getting hot at the right time
You always want to be playing your best basketball this time of the year. It might be a stretch to say the Crimson Tide is playing its best, but it's hard to ignore the results. Six straight wins have Alabama at 10-4 in SEC play and 20-7 overall. The Crimson Tide is firmly in position for a double-bye in the SEC Tournament in Nashville, and is a projected 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament, according to Joe Lunardi.
Alabama should get to seven consecutive wins if it handles its business at home on Wednesday night against Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide will be heavy favorites to do so.
That would then set up a pivotal showdown on Saturday in Knoxville when Alabama faces off against Tennessee with hopes of ending a miserable streak of losses to the Volunteers.
The winner of that game will all but guarantee itself a double-bye in Nashville, and likely set itself up on the opposite side of the bracket from surging Florida.