Alabama Basketball Ranked No. 1 for Second Time in Program History
For just the second time in program history, Alabama basketball is the No. 1 team in the nation.
On Monday morning, the Crimson Tide was the new top-ranked team in the latest AP Top 25 Poll. Alabama defeated Florida last Wednesday at Coleman Coliseum before traveling to Neville Arena and beating the Auburn Tigers. The Crimson Tide was also revealed as the latest No. 1 team in the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll.
Alabama's No. 1 ranking is just the second time in the program's history that it has been able to top the AP Poll. Previously, the only other time as No. 1 for the Crimson Tide was a two-week stint during the 2002-03 season.
The ranking also marks the highest that Alabama has ever been ranked this late in the season. Both the 1955-56 and 2020-21 teams finished the season ranked No. 5. However, the 55-56 team never ascended higher than No. 4 at any point during the regular season, and the 20-21 team never reached higher than No. 6 outside of its final ranking.
The door for Alabama jumping to No. 1 was opened over the weekend when the top-ranked Purdue Boilermakers were toppled by Northwestern on the road. While Houston was ranked second and ahead of Alabama, the Crimson Tide bested the Cougars earlier this season in a hostile road game.
The victory earlier this year combined with last week's wins over Florida and Auburn were enough to convince voters to bump Alabama into the No. 1 spot.
Around the rest of the Southeastern Conference in the AP Top 25, Tennessee sits at No. 10 but is the only other ranked program in the SEC. Missouri received 114 voting points while Texas A&M received 16 and Arkansas 4. However, none are ranked this week.
In the Coaches Poll, Tennessee is No. 11 while Texas A&M slips in at No. 25. Missouri received 15 voting points and Auburn 13, but neither team is ranked this week.
Here are the full AP Top 25 and Coaches Polls for Week 15 of college basketball:
AP Top 25 - Feb. 13, 2022
(Ranking, team, record, points, first-place votes)
1. Alabama (22-3) 1,523 (38)
2. Houston (23-2) 1,503 (22)
3. Purdue (23-3) 1,408 (2)
4. UCLA (21-4) 1,302
5. Kansas (20-5) 1,283
6. Texas (20-5) 1,214
7. Virginia (19-4) 1,212
8. Arizona (22-4) 1,139
9. Baylor (19-6) 1,072
10. Tennessee (19-6) 896
11. Marquette (20-6) 815
12. Kansas State (19-6) 790
13. Gonzaga (21-5) 761
14. Indiana (18-7) 717
15. Miami (FL) (20-5) 693
16. Xavier (19-6) 642
17. Saint Mary's (22-5) 567
18. Creighton (17-8) 517
19. Iowa State (16-8) 396
20. UConn (19-7) 358
21. San Diego State (20-5) 271
22. TCU (17-8) 204
23. North Carolina State (20-6) 140
24. Providence (18-7) 136
25. Florida Atlantic (24-2) 117
Others receiving votes:
Missouri 114, Northwestern 96, Illinois 84, Pittsburgh 82, Nevada 36, Oklahoma State 23, Texas A&M 16, Oral Roberts 9, Iowa 5, Arkansas 4, Rutgers 2, Charleston 1, Maryland 1, Boise State 1.
USA Today Sports Coaches Poll - Week 15
(Ranking, team, record, points, first-place votes)
1. Alabama 22-3 782 (15)
2. Houston 23-2 775 (15)
3. Purdue 23-3 728 (1)
4. UCLA 21-4 679
5. Texas 20-5 642
6. Virginia 19-4 634 (1)
7. Kansas 20-5 624
8. Arizona 22-4 554
9. Baylor 19-6 549
10. Marquette 20-6 455
11. Tennessee 19-6 438
12. Gonzaga 21-5 368
13. Miami-Florida 20-5 360
14. Kansas State 19-6 354
15. Indiana 18-7 346
16. Xavier 19-6 328
17. Saint Mary's 22-5 305
18. Iowa State 16-8 238
19. Creighton 17-8 226
20. San Diego St. 20-5 158
21. Providence 18-7 151
22. NC State 20-6 128
23. Connecticut 19-7 119
24. Texas Christian 17-8 78
25. Texas A&M 18-7 65
Others receiving votes:
Northwestern 54; Florida Atlantic 49; Illinois 41; Pittsburgh 35; Rutgers 21; Clemson 21; Maryland 20; Oklahoma State 15; Missouri 15; Nevada 13; Auburn 13; Duke 12; Iowa 4; Charleston 2; Oral Roberts 1.
See Also:
Alabama Escapes Auburn with 77-69 Win, Stays Undefeated in SEC Play
No. 3 Alabama Silences Raucous Neville Arena for Just Third Time in 11 Years
