Where Alabama Basketball is in Projected NCAA, SEC Brackets: All Things CW
The All Things CW notes column by Christopher Walsh appears in five parts each week, with the latest on the Alabama Crimson Tide. This is ...
Take 5
Since we did a look at where the Alabama basketball team stood in terms of postseason projections last week, it only made sense to do an update following the blowout win over Vanderbilt.
In terms of March Madness, Sports Illustrated's latest Bracket Watch has Alabama the top-seeded team in the Midwest Region, where rising Texas is the No. 2 seed. Virginia is third, and the region includes No. 10 North Carolina, which Alabama beat when it was No. 1 back on Nov. 27.
The projected pairing we can't get over in the region is this one: No. 6 Auburn vs. No. 11 Clemson.
As for some of the other projections:
• ESPN: Joe Lunardi has Alabama the top seed of the Midwest Region and playing in Birmingham for the first weekend. The potential second-round matchup is the winner of No. 8 UNC and No. 9 Northwestern. Also in the region are No. 2 Kansas, No. 3 Gonzaga, and No. 10 Arkansas.
• Andy Katz on NCAA.com hasn't updated his bracket projections this week, but he has Alabama at No. 3, behind Purdue and Tennessee (this before the Volunteers lost to Florida), in his latest power rankings. Last week he had the Crimson Tide the top-seeded team in the East. Of course the Crimson Tide will visit the Volunteers on Feb. 15.
• CBS, which of course broadcasts March Madness, had Alabama the top seed in the Midwest and playing the first weekend in Birmingham. Also in the region were No. 2 Kansas, No. 3 UCLA and No. 8 North Carolina (playing No. 9 Memphis).
Jerry Palm noted on Monday that the Crimson Tide's margin for error for being a top seed disappeared at Oklahoma, and it "might not stay there with another bad loss."
However, at 9-0 in the SEC, Alabama is the only Power 5 team still unbeaten in its conference. That's the kind of statistic that can carry a lot of weight with the selection committee.
Going back to the SI Bracket Watch, Alabama's going to be playing a Florida team that's squarely on the bubble next week:
Last Four In: Kentucky, USC, Oklahoma State, Nevada
First Four Out: Penn State, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Florida
As for the SEC Tournament, which will be played at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville from March 8-12, here's how the bracket is on target to look:
Projected SEC Tournament Pairings
March 8
Game 1: No. 12 seed vs. No. 13 seed; Ole Miss vs. LSU
Game 2: No. 11 seed vs. No. 14 seed; Vanderbilt vs. South Carolina
March 9
Game 3: No. 9 seed vs. No. 8 seed; Mississippi State vs. Arkansas
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. No. 5 seed; Florida
Game 5: No. 10 seed vs. No. 7 seed; Georgia vs. Missouri
Game 6: Winner Game 2 vs. No. 6 seed; Kentucky
March 10
Game 7: Winner Game 3 vs. No. 1 seed; Alabama
Game 8: Winner Game 4 vs. No. 4 seed; Auburn
Game 9: Winner Game 5 vs. No. 2 seed; Tennessee
Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. No. 3 seed; Texas A&M
March 11
Semifinals
March 12
Championship
See Also:
Take 1: It's Time to Talk About the Elephant in the Room With Alabama Basketball
Take 2: The Elephant in the Room? The Elephant Destroyed the Room
Take 3: Debate on Which School Can Claim Jalen Hurts Focused on Wrong Things
Take 4: Texans Hired a Great Coach, Even Better Person in DeMeco Ryans
