Poll voters continue to hold Charles Bediako-sized grudge against Alabama basketball

By all metrics, Alabama is a Top 25 basketball team. Pick the analytic site of your choosing, whether that be KenPom (No. 18), Bart Torvik (No. 19), Evan Miya (No. 21), etc., and they all paint a similar picture.

That's because they are data-driven and not susceptible to human bias. Human bias certainly appears to continue to be playing a factor for Alabama in the human polls. And you don't have to squint to see why, either.

Alabama dropped out of the AP and Coaches Top 25 polls two weeks ago after a disheartening blowout loss at Florida, and they've struggled to get back in since. That's despite a current four-game winning streak over Texas A&M, Auburn, Ole Miss, and South Carolina.

Nate Oats' team remains unranked in the Coaches Poll, and just snuck into the AP Poll this week at No. 25.

Alabama is being indirectly punished for playing Charles Bediako for five games

Alabama's national perception took a big hit from the Charles Bediako drama. Alabama played the former-turned current-turned former again center for five games under a temporary restraining order before Bediako ultimately lost his preliminary injunction against the NCAA, ruling him ineligible to play once again.

Alabama went 3-2 with Bediako on the roster and has won both of its games since he lost in court, but Oats and the Crimson Tide are still paying the price of so much negativity from those outside of Tuscaloosa.

It hasn't impacted Alabama's standing in Joe Lunardi's NCAA Tournament projection. He has the Crimson Tide as a 4-seed, but the recent rankings could point to shadow punishment coming on Selection Sunday in a few weeks.

No, Alabama isn't going to be left out of the field. But the selection committee could punish the Crimson Tide by dropping them a full seed-line from where they would normally be. They could also give Alabama a difficult draw to get out of the opening weekend.

Oats and his team can't control any of that. But you can bet the disrespect will continue to be used as motivation for the rest of the season.

All Alabama can do is leave no doubt as to its standing. A win over No. 20 Arkansas on Wednesday without Bediako would go a long way toward making these rankings look even more foolish.