Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide barely remained in this week’s AP top-25 after a 79-73 loss to Tennessee Saturday night in Coleman Coliseum, despite Charles Bediako’s return.
Alabama comes in this week ranked No. 23 in the AP poll, falling six spots from last week’s No. 17. The Tide finished 0-1, with its only game a six-point loss to Tennessee. Labaron Phillips led the team in scoring with 26 points and seven assists in Saturday’s loss.
Saturday’s loss also saw Charles Bediako make his first appearance with the Tide since the 2023 season after Bediako was granted a ten-day temporary window to play with the Tide last Wednesday. Bediako went on to record 13 points, three rebounds, and two blocks in his first game back. The Tide will gain another 10 days with the former G-League player, as Bediako received a 10-day extension of his temporary restraining order on Monday. The NCAA was unable to attend his hearing on Tuesday due to winter storms raging across the Southeast.
Alabama is one of four teams from the SEC that are featured on this week’s AP poll, with the Crimson Tide being the lowest-ranked out of the four. Arkansas comes in this week as the highest-ranked team in the conference at No.15.
Full Top-25 AP Poll below
ArizonaUConnMichiganDukeNebraskaGonzagaMichigan StateIowa StateIllinoisHoustonTexas TechPurdueBYUKansasArkansasNorth CarolinaVirginia Vanderbilt Florida LouisvilleSt. Louis ClemsonAlabamaMiami (OH)St. Johns
Alabama will look to shake off last week as it hosts Missouri on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. CT in Coleman Coliseum. Then the Crimson Tide will travel to Gainesville on Sunday, February 1st, to take on Florida, with tip-off set for 12:00 p.m. CT.
Follow @Micahnichols0 on X (formerly known as Twitter) and tune into Tide100.9 for all your Alabama basketball, football, and baseball coverage.
Tennessee Completes Comeback to Down Alabama in Coleman Coliseum
Gallery Credit: Wyatt Fulton
Alabama Claims its First National Championship Under Nick Saban
Gallery Credit: Wyatt Fulton
Alabama Drops Game Two 4-3 Against LSU on Saturday
Alabama’s last-inning comeback fell short in a 4-3 loss against LSU in game two, resulting in the Crimson Tide dropping the series. Alabama will look to avoid a sweep in game three on Saturday.
Gallery Credit: Micah Nichols