As of Thursday morning, ESPN's Joe Lunardi still had the Alabama Crimson Tide projected as an NCAA Tournament 3-seed. Many other sources have slipped Alabama down to a projected 4-seed.
The Bracket Matrix from Wednesday already had the Tide down to the top 4-seed. Bart Torvik's projection has Alabama as the second-highest 4-seed. Thursday morning bracketology provided by CBS Sports had Alabama as a 4-seed, playing in the West Region. If the CBS projection holds (it will change), Alabama would open the Big Dance against UC Irvine, with a Second Round matchup against the winner of Kentucky vs. St. Louis.
The CBS projected 1-seed in the West Region is, of course, Arizona. The projected 2-seed is Illinois. Alabama lost to the Wildcats 96-75 in December and beat Illinois 90-86 in November.
CBS Projections for other SEC Teams
- Midwest Region - 4-seed Vanderbilt to open with Hofstra; 7-seed Georgis to open with Miami-Ohio
- East Region - 10-seed Texas to open against Miami
- South Region - 1-seed Florida to open against a Play-In game winner; 5-seed Arkansas against South Florida; 6-seed Tennessee to open with UCF; and 10-seed Texas A&M to open against Villanova
- West Region - 7-seed Kentucky against St. Louis; and 11-seed Missouri to open against BYU
Auburn is projected by CBS as the last team to make the Big Dance field. The 11-seed Tigers are projected to open with a Play-In game against SMU. According to Joe Lunardi, Auburn could lose to Tennessee in Nashville and hold on to an 11-seed.
For Alabama basketball to gain a 3-seed on Selection Sunday, at least two wins will likely be needed in Nashville. Winning the SEC Tournament would likely propel Alabama to the top 3-seed. No lost game in the SEC Tournament should cause Alabama to drop below a 4-seed on Selection Sunday.
After Friday's SEC Tournament action, bracket projections can be expected to change.