Admin November 11, 2024
The polls are in again and Alabama basketball stands at No. 2 in the nation.
The USA Today Sports Network‘s Coaches Poll kept Kansas (2-0) at No. 1 on Monday. In the network’s preseason poll released in October, the Crimson Tide also trailed the Jayhawks at No. 2.
The last time Alabama (2-0) was ranked in the top 10 of USA Today Network’s first regular season poll was November 2021. That No. 9 Alabama team went on to forge a 19-14 record to become a sixth-seed in the NCAA tournament.
Alabama earned its highest Week 2 ranking in the poll during the 2002-03 season under Mark Gottfried, then listed at No. 6 with a 3-0 record. That year in the NCAA tournament, No. 10 Kent State upset a No. 2 Alabama squad 71-58.
Coach Nate Oats and company enter a week with matchups against McNeese State on Monday and their first ranked opponent in No. 12 Purdue (2-0), carrying along an 88-79 win over Arkansas State and a 110-54 victory against UNC-Asheville.
Rival Auburn (2-0) was the big mover in the polls, jumping from No. 11 up to No. 4 after Saturday’s road win at Houston.
Where did Alabama basketball land in USA TODAY Sports Top 25?
Dropped out: No. 19 Texas; No. 22 UCLA; No. 25 Ole Miss
Others receiving votes: Texas Tech 75; Ole Miss 60; Texas 54; Xavier 38; Oregon 37; Michigan State 29; BYU 29; UCLA 18; UCF 17; Wake Forest 12; Saint Mary’s 12; Kansas State 9; Clemson 9; New Mexico 8; Dayton 8; North Florida 7; Maryland 5; Providence 4; Mississippi State 4; Nevada 2; San Francisco 1; Grand Canyon 1;
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
