For the record, I am an avid consumer of analytics provided by Kevin Pomeroy, Bart Torvik, Kevin Pauga, and Evan Miyakawa. To me, their data is far more meaningful than opinion projections and rankings from many (not all) experts and oddsmakers.
So even though May is insanely too early to project how good Alabama Basketball and 364 other Division One teams will be, I pay attention. Bart Torvik has recently provided some very interesting calculations.
Based on Aden Holloway and Amari Allen playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2026-27 season, Torvik's algorithm has Alabama as the SEC's 4th-best team. At No. 5 and No. 6 among all D1 teams, Torvik's rankings have Arkansas and Florida as the SEC's best two teams. AT No. 12 nationally, Texas is the SEC's 3rd-best. Alabama, at No. 18 nationally, is No. 4 among SEC teams.
Among all teams, Tennessee is projected at No. 22, Vanderbilt No. 23, Georgia No. 29, Missouri No. 37, Auburn No. 39, Oklahoma No. 40, Texas A&M No. 41, Kentucky No. 45, Mississippi State No. 68, South Carolina No. 85, Ole Miss No. 87, and LSU No. 141. Since I will be rooting for Will Wade's team to lose every game, the No. 141 ranking is particularly satisfying.
Interesting Bart Torvik Data Points
- The Florida Gators have the most returning minutes of any SEC basketball roster, and No. 7 nationally.
- The Gators only rank No. 40 in 'Returning Projected Talent'.
- Alabama Basketball is No. 102 in returning minutes.
- The Crimson Tide is No. 9 among all Division One teams in 'Returning Projected Talent'.
An argument can be made that by February, March, and April, Alabama's weakness in returning experience will have become a non-factor. With its talented roster, the March Alabama Crimson Tide could be a strong championship contender.
The counterpoint to such a rosy claim is that Alabama, without Holloway and Allen, will be much less.
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