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Alabama basketball comes in at No. 2 in first preseason poll
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Alabama basketball comes in at No. 2 in first preseason poll
For its highest preseason ranking in program history, Alabama basketball has come in at No. 2 in the first AP Top 25 poll of the 2024-25 men's college basketball season.
Monday's rankings release from the Associated Press saw Kansas enter the year at No. 1, up 18 spots from where the Jayhawks finished after reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament in March.
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Bringing in the No. 2 recruiting class in the country to support six upperclassmen with more than 1,000 career points following last season's Final Four rout, the Crimson Tide bumped up one slot.
The University of Alabama unveiled the first banner honoring the school’s first Final Four appearance Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Coleman Coliseum. Alabama center Clifford Omoruyi (11) and Alabama head coach Nate Oats share a light moment.
KenPom puzzles Crimson Tide: Auburn tops Alabama basketball in 2024-25 preseason KenPom rankings
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Where do SEC teams fall in Associated Press Preseason Top 25?
No. 2 Alabama
The University of Alabama unveiled the first banner honoring the school’s first Final Four appearance Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Coleman Coliseum. Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) sails in for a basket during the scrimmage following the unveiling.
Grad student Mark Sears is back and primed for another season leading the Crimson Tide on a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Ahead of the AP rankings release, the combo guard was named to CBS Sports' preseason All-America first team, the " only unanimous " pick.
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No. 11 Auburn
Auburn sits at No. 11 in the AP poll. However, the KenPom rankings that dropped earlier that morning suggest not only a flip, but a significantly higher placement for the Tigers , who top fourth-ranked Alabama at No. 3.
No. 12 Tennessee
Tennessee drops seven places to No. 12 with the loss of first-round NBA draft pick Dalton Knecht . The Vols will find resolve on offense from transfer portal additions Darlinstone Dubar (Hofstra), Chaz Lanier (North Florida) and Igor Milicic Jr. (Charlotte).
No. 13 Texas A&M
Seven of nine starters from last season return for the Aggies , plus transfer arrivals in Pharrell Payne (Minnesota), Zhuric Phelps (SMU) and CJ Wilcher ( Nebraska ). Depth and continued chemistry could make A&M an early threat, a big reason the program has made a dominant return to the rankings at No. 13.
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No. 16 Arkansas
The Razorbacks welcome the country's No. 3 recruiting class and top-ranked class of transfers, highlighted by 2024 AAC Player of the Year Johnell Davis (FAU). Enough to see the Arkansas back in the poll at No. 16.
No. 19 Texas
New SEC member Texas starts off at No. 19 with a host of new faces to hit the floor. Two Longhorn bench vets come back from last season's push to the second round, but the transfer portal replenished the backcourt with Tramon Mark (Houston/Arkansas), Jordan Pope (Oregon State) and Julian Larry ( Indiana State ). Meanwhile, the program's recruiting class signed five-star freshman Tre Johnson .
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No. 21 Florida
Senior guard Walter Clayton Jr. is back for revenge after a first round loss to tenth-seed Colorado. Yet, the backcourt lost critical scoring contributor Zyon Pullin . There's hope for new Gators like FAU transfer Alijah Martin and young ones on the rise like Alex Condon to step up around their centerpiece in Clayton, so Todd Golden's crew reenters the AP at No. 21.
No. 23 Kentucky
Down three spots from the Top 20 placement it sealed after a first-round elimination back in March, the Wildcats have been drained of every single scholarship player who graced John Calipari's last team in Lexington before making way for Arkansas.
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No. 24 Ole Miss
Season one of Chris Beard saw big changes for the Rebels, who finished 20-12. Starting with being ranked in the preseason, that many more are expected for the 2024-25 season as Ole Miss returns three of its top scorers while mixing ex-Louisville and Seton Hall wing Dre Davis into the equation.
Which other Alabama basketball opponents are ranked?
Mar 28, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide forward Grant Nelson (2) controls the ball against North Carolina Tar Heels guard Paxson Wojcik (8) in the semifinals of the West Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Other ranked teams including No. 4 Houston, No. 9 UNC, No. 14 Purdue , No. 15 Creighton and No. 25 Rutgers appear on Alabama basketball's 2024-25 regular season schedule .
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Kansas only team to trump Alabama basketball in first preseason poll
