Projecting February and March for Alabama Basketball and the rest of the SEC

February is the month when college basketball becomes serious. The preceding three months also count, but at the end of January, nothing in college basketball has been won. A team can ignite in March and leap forward, but for most teams, February defines post-season potential.

At 15-6 and 7-1 in SEC play, Alabama Basketball is tracking toward an SEC regular season championship. Warren Nolan's prediction is the Crimson Tide will finish its SEC schedule at 15-3. It is possible a 14-4 record would at worst share the regular season title, but 15-3 is probably the sure number for an SEC Championship. Currently, seven SEC teams have a mathematical chance to finish 15-3.

February is also the month when talking NCAA Tournament Bracketology turns serious. Based on the NCAA NET rankings, Ken Pomeroy's rankings, and the Bracket Matrix, nine SEC teams are projected from a 2-seed to a 10-seed. At least one more SEC team is a bubble team.

NCAA NET and KenPom Rankings - Top nine SEC teams

• Tennessee Vols - NET No. 5; KenPom No. 6

• Alabama Crimson Tide - NET No. 7; KenPom No. 8

• Auburn Tigers - NET No. 8; KenPom No. 5

• Kentucky Wildcats - NET No. 25; KenPom No. 23

• Florida Gators - NET No. 36; KenPon No. 32

• Mississippi State Bulldogs - NET No. 37; KenPom No. 33

• South Carolina Gamecocks - NET No. 41; KenPom No. 45

• Texas A&M Aggies - NET No. 46; KenPom No. 46

• Ole Miss Rebels - NET No. 58; KenPom No. 61