With four games left in the regular season, Alabama Basketball and 12 other SEC basketball teams are poised to advance to the NCAA Tournament. For four of the 13 SEC teams, the SEC Tournament can affect making the 68-team field. The other nine teams will not miss the Big Dance because of poor performance in Nashville, though any of them could slide down on the NCAA Tournament seed line.
The Alabama Crimson Tide is close to lock as either a 1-seed or a 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament. A win over Mississippi State would guarantee not dropping below a 2-seed. After the State game, at least one more win, and possibly two will be needed for the Crimson Tide to hold on to a 1-seed.
Below are current bracket projections for 14 SEC teams. Only LSU and South Carolina are excluded. Both teams would need an SEC Tournament Championship to reach the NCAA Tournament. The sources are Jerry Palm, Joe Lunardi, 1-3-1 Sports, and the aggregate projections provided by the Bracket Matrix.
- Auburn Tigers (25-2; SEC,13-1) - No. 1 overall seed from all four sources
- Alabama Crimson Tide (22-5 and 11-3) - 1-seed and overall No. 3 seed by every source but the Bracket Matrix where Alabama is the No. 4 overall seed.
- Florida Gators (24-3 and 11-3) - 1-seed and overall No. 4 seed by every source but the Bracket Matrix, where the Gators are the No. 3 overall seed.
- Tennessee Vols (22-5 and 9-5) - The Vols are a 2-seed by all sources
- Texas A&M Aggies (20-7 and 9-5). The Aggies are a 2-seed except for Joe Lunardi who has them as a 3-seed.
- Kentucky Wildcats (18-9 and 7-7). - The Wildcats are a 3-seed except for Jerry Palm who has UK as a 4-seed.
- Missouri Tigers (20-7 and 9-5) - The Tigers are a 5-seed except for Jerry Palm who has them as a 4-seed.
- Mississippi State Bulldogs (19-8 and 7-7) - The Bulldogs are a 5-seed except for Lunardi who has MSU as a 7-seed.
- Ole Miss Rebels (19-8 and 8-6) - The Rebels are a 6-seed except for Lunardi who has Ole Miss as a 7-seed.
- Vanderbilt Commodores (18-9 and 6-8) - The Commodores are a 10-seed except for Palm who has Vandy as a 9-seed.
- Texas Longhorns (16-11 and 5-9) - The Longhorns are an 11-seed except for Palm who has the Horns as his First Team Out.
- Oklahoma Sooners (17-10 and 4-10) - The Sooners are an 11-seed except for 1-3-1 which has OU as a 12-seed.
- Arkansas Razorbacks (16-11 and 5-9) - The Hogs are an 11-seed except for 1-3-1 which has them as a 12-seed.
- Georgia Bulldogs (16-11 and 4-10) - The Bulldogs are clinging in hope to escape the NCAA Tournament 'outside the bubble' zone. Lunardi has them in Next Four Out, while 1--3-1 has UGA in First Four Out.
Joe Lunardi and Jerry Palm have Alabama Basketball in the Midwest Region. Lunardi has the Crimson Tide starting in Raleigh. Palm has Alabama playing in Lexington.