After a tough loss to Tennessee, Alabama men's basketball took a noticeable tumble in the latest national rankings, sliding six spots to No. 23 in both the Associated Press and Coaches Polls released Monday. It’s the program’s lowest placement in either poll since January 2024-a clear reflection of a team still searching for consistency in SEC play.
The drop comes after the Crimson Tide’s only game last week, a physical battle in Knoxville that ended with Alabama on the wrong side of the scoreboard. That loss dropped the Tide to 3-3 in conference play, marking their worst six-game SEC start since 2022. It also pushed them down to No. 22 in the NCAA’s NET rankings-their lowest position in that metric since March 2022.
Still, despite the dip, Alabama remains a fixture in the national conversation. The Tide have now been ranked in 42 consecutive AP polls, the fifth-longest active streak in the country and the second-longest in program history. That kind of consistency speaks to the foundation Nate Oats has built, even as this season presents its share of challenges.
One of the biggest issues right now? Health. Oats emphasized the importance of getting key pieces back in the rotation during his postgame comments to Crimson Tide Sports Network on Saturday night.
“We’ve got to get guys healthy,” Oats said. “Hopefully we can get Amari [Allen] or [Aden] Holloway back.
That would be a big help. If not, we’ve got to get these guys ready to go.”
The absence of Allen and Holloway has tested Alabama’s backcourt depth, and their potential return could be pivotal in the week ahead. If they’re unavailable, Oats hinted at a possible shift in approach.
“It’ll be a totally different game [than Tennessee],” he said, looking ahead to Tuesday night’s matchup with Missouri. “Missouri plays more up and down, and less mashing it inside. If those two guys can’t go, our guards are going to have to be better, and we may play a little smaller.”
That game against Missouri tips off at 7 p.m. CT in Tuscaloosa. The Tigers are still trying to find their footing in SEC play, but their tempo and perimeter-oriented style could challenge Alabama’s defensive rotations-especially if the Tide are short-handed again.
Then comes a Sunday showdown in Gainesville against a Florida team that just saw its five-game win streak snapped by Auburn. Gators head coach Todd Golden didn’t hold back when asked about the upcoming matchup with Alabama, even with the uncertainty surrounding Charles Bediako’s eligibility.
“We’re gonna beat [Alabama] anyways,” Golden said Thursday. “If he plays, we’ll beat them anyways.”
That comment adds a little extra spice to what’s already shaping up to be a crucial road test for the Tide. Bediako’s status will be determined in a Tuscaloosa County courtroom Tuesday morning, where a judge will hear arguments regarding an injunction that could allow him to continue playing.
Meanwhile, in the latest SEC power rankings compiled by beat writers, Alabama fell two spots to No. 5.
Florida, bolstered by its recent surge, claimed the top spot with seven first-place votes. Arkansas and Texas A&M each made notable jumps, while Georgia slid four spots after a rough week.
SEC Power Rankings (as voted by beat writers): 1.
Florida (7 first-place votes)
2.
Arkansas (2) ⬆️ 3
3.
Vanderbilt (2) ⬇️ 1
4.
Texas A&M (1) ⬆️ 3
5.
Alabama ⬇️ 2
6.
Tennessee ⬆️ 1
7.
Kentucky ⬇️ 1
8.
Georgia ⬇️ 4
9.
Auburn
10.
Texas ⬆️ 1
11.
Missouri ⬇️ 1
12.
Ole Miss
13.
LSU
14.
South Carolina ⬆️ 2
T-15.
Oklahoma ⬇️ 1
T-15.
Mississippi State
The road ahead won’t get any easier for Alabama, but with two games on deck this week, there’s also opportunity. Get healthy, get right, and the Tide can start climbing again.