Where Alabama Basketball is Ranked in Preseason Polls

Alabama basketball received its highest-ever preseason ranking in both the AP and Coaches Poll.

The University of Alabama unveiled the first banner honoring the school’s first Final Four appearance Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Coleman Coliseum. Alabama head coach Nate Oats presents a Final Four ring to Alabama guard Mark Sears (1). / Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Alabama men's basketball's 2023-24 Final Four banner has officially been unveiled in Coleman Coliseum.

In other words, last season is in the past, as head coach Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide are turning the unforgettable page to 2024-25. This is perhaps the most anticipated season in the history of Alabama men's basketball, especially after Oats said that this team has "the best roster we've had since we've been here"

Oats and his esteemed staff are certainly right to think that as several returning players, including First Team All-SEC point guard Mark Sears, multiple experienced transfers and highly touted incoming freshmen all give Alabama realistic expectations to get two more wins than last season's NCAA Tournament to claim the school's first-ever National Title.

On Monday, Oct. 14 after a long and thrilling offseason of just waiting for the official premier ranking, Alabama was placed at No. 2 in the 2024-25 Preseason AP Poll, easily its highest initial placement in program history.

2024-25 Preseason AP Top 25 Poll

Rank, Team, Points, First-Place Votes in Parentheses

1. Kansas, 1449 (30)
2. Alabama, 1428 (14)
3. UConn, 1345 (11)
4. Houston, 1343 (4)
5. Iowa State, 1177
6. Gonzaga, 1157 (1)
7. Duke, 1154
8. Baylor, 1109
9. North Carolina, 1037
10. Arizona, 905
11. Auburn, 901
12. Tennessee, 775
13. Texas A&M, 737
14. Purdue, 678
15. Creighton, 631
16. Arkansas, 625
17. Indiana, 492
18. Marquette, 484
19. Texas, 332
20. Cincinnati, 271
21. Florida, 249
22. UCLA, 210
23. Kentucky, 191
24. Ole Miss, 132
25. Rutgers, 102

Other Receiving Votes: Illinois 92, St. John's 91, Xavier 73, Texas Tech 58, Wake Forest 37, Kansas St 30, Michigan St. 29, Ohio St. 29, Michigan 19, BYU 14, Oregon 12, McNeese St. 11, Miami 11, Boise St. 9, Saint Louis 9, Clemson 9, Providence 9, Mississippi St. 6, VCU 6, Wisconsin 5, Saint Mary's 5, Louisville 4, UAB 4, Ark Little Rock 3, Grand Canyon 3, Arizona St 2, San Diego St. 2, Princeton 2, High Point 1, Maryland 1.

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the long-awaited Coaches Poll was revealed, and like the AP Poll, the Crimson Tide landed at No. 2 once again.

2024-25 Preseason Coaches Poll

Rank, Team, Points, First-Place Votes in Parentheses

1. Kansas, 743 (15)
2. Alabama, 718 (6)
3. UConn, 717 (6)
4. Houston, 698 (4)
5. Duke, 625
6. Iowa State, 591
7. Gonzaga, 575
8. Baylor, 545
9. Arizona, 510
10. North Carolina, 498
11. Auburn, 465
12. Tennessee, 437
13. Purdue, 390
14. Creighton, 342
15. Texas A&M, 332
16. Arkansas, 272
17. Marquette, 268
18. Indiana, 208
19. Texas, 166
20. Cincinnati, 163
21. Florida, 130
22. UCLA, 123
23. Kentucky, 95
24. Illinois, 87
25. Ole Miss, 66

Other receiving votes: Texas Tech 60; Rutgers 57; St. John's 42; Xavier 26; Michigan State 25; Oregon 16; BYU 16; Kansas State 11; Saint Mary's 9; Boise State 9; Clemson 8; Ohio State 7; Dayton 7; Maryland 4; Grand Canyon 3; Wake Forest 2; Virginia 2; San Diego State 2; Princeton 2; Mississippi State 2; Wisconsin 1;