Alabama Men’s Basketball Slides to No. 23 in Latest AP Top 25

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. 

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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

1. Arizona
2. UConn
3. Michigan
4. Duke
5. Nebraska
6. Gonzaga
7. Michigan State
8. Iowa State
9. Illinois
10. Houston
11. Texas Tech
12. Purdue
13. BYU
14. Kansas
15. Arkansas
16. North Carolina
17. Virginia 
18. Vanderbilt 
19. Florida 
20. Louisville
21. St. Louis 
22. Clemson
23. Alabama
24. Miami (OH)
25. 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. 

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