Alabama Basketball: Crimson Tide return in the AP Top 25
The Alabama Basketball team has returned to the top 25 of the AP Poll after an impressive week knocking off the Auburn Tigers and the LSU Tigers. The Crimson Tide are ranked 24th in the poll a week after being unranked. The Alabama Basketball team also made its return to the top 25 in the USA Today coaches poll receiving a ranking of 22nd. This marks the first time since November that the Alabama Basketball team is in the top 25 of either poll.
Alabama is starting to hit its groove with opportunities to continue its climb up the polls lying ahead. The Crimson Tide will face Georgia on Wednesday in Athens before hosting a very underrated Mississippi State team on Saturday. The Alabama Basketball team is currently atop the SEC Standings with a 6-1 conference record and will need to continue to hold serve as tougher games lie ahead.
The top 25 rankings are finally starting to match where this team aspires to be as well as where the team ranks in advanced metrics. The Alabama Basketball team is ranked 8th in KenPom rankings with an adjusted offensive ranking as the best unit in the country. The Alabama Basketball team is currently scoring 89.7 points per game which ranks second in the nation.
As SEC play continues to progress the competition is only going to get tougher, meaning we'll start to see how high this team's aspirations can be. The Crimson Tide must continue to put together an impressive resume as we approach March. If the season ended today Alabama would be a 4 seed according to Joe Lunardi's Bracketology.
Alabama Basketball: Throw the rankings out for this year's team
After Saturday's impressive win over the LSU Tigers Nate Oats dismissed any rankings this early in the season.
"Rankings in January and February by poll voters that are not on the selection committee mean nothing. So don't put us in. Let's stay with a chip on our shoulder, so we keep playing harder."
- Nate Oats
Before this tough week, Oats challenged his team questioning the make-up of the group which, seemingly worked with two hard-fought wins. We will see against Georgia if the team continues its stretch of impressive play or if they suffer a letdown after a highly emotional week.
Next. Hoops atop SEC. Why Alabama Basketball leads the SEC. dark