Fansided

NCAA Tournament bracket: Early reveal gives Alabama a decisive edge

By Scott Rogust

AUBURN, ALABAMA - FEBRUARY 11: Head coach Nate Oats of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts to a big play during the second half of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Neville Arena on February 11, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
AUBURN, ALABAMA - FEBRUARY 11: Head coach Nate Oats of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts to a big play during the second half of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Neville Arena on February 11, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee unveiled their early rankings, and the Alabama Crimson Tide are in great shape just weeks away from Selection Sunday.

The Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball team sits at the top of the Southeastern Conference, and understandably so. With a 22-4 record overall and a 12-1 record in-conference, the Crimson Tide seem to be in good shape heading into March Madness season, which is just around the corner. Yes, even with their lone blip on the radar being a loss to Tennessee this past Wednesday.

As it turns out, the Tide are in even better shape than anticipated.

On Saturday, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee unveiled their early in-season bracket reveal with their Top 16 teams. As it turns out, Alabama is ranked No. 1, and if that were to hold, they would be the top seed in the South Region in Louisville, Ky.

Alabama in driver’s seat to earn No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament

Why are the Crimson Tide expected to be in good shape to receive the No. 1 seed in the tournament? Well, committee chair Chris Reynolds said on the CBS broadcast that Alabama’s win over Houston, the second-ranked team in the early in-season bracket, “put them over the top.”

Back on Dec. 10, the Crimson Tide took on the Cougars, who were undefeated at the time. After trailing 27-31 at halftime, Alabama scored 44 second-half points to pick up the 71-65 victory. That was also their second win over the No. 1 seed in the nation in a little over a month, as they beat the North Carolina Tar Heels 103-101 in quadruple overtime.

The Crimson Tide take on the 16-10 Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 6:00 p.m. ET. Here are their remaining opponents in the regular-season:

  • Feb. 22: at South Carolina Gamecocks
  • Feb. 25: vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
  • March 1: vs. Auburn Tigers
  • March 4: at Texas A&M Aggies

With just a couple of weeks until conference championship tournaments and the Selection Show on March 12, Alabama is in good shape to earn the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Dick Vitale sends warning to UNC, Kentucky for March Madness. dark. Next

Home/Bracketology