Alabama’s NCAA Tournament Resume at a Glance — January 6
Let us introduce the first installment of a weekly look into Alabama's NCAA Tournament resume for the 2014-15 season.
As Anthony Grant's team looks to return to the Big Dance for the first time in three years, we want to give you a comprehensive look at where the team stands. We'll do that by providing you bracket projections, current RPI rankings, a breakdown of Alabama's upcoming games, and a look at what previous non-conference opponents are doing.
Without delay, let's take a look at Alabama's resume heading into the first week of conference play.
The Core Numbers
Alabama Record: 10-3 (one win vs non-D1)
- No losses outside of the top 50
- No wins vs top 100
- 2 wins vs top 150 (UCLA, Arizona State)
Current Projections
ESPN Bracketology - 5 SEC teams projected to make it. Alabama not included on 'First Four Out' or 'Next Four Out'
CBSSports.com's Jerry Palm - 4 SEC teams projected. Alabama not included.
Current Rankings
ESPN RPI (#46), Jerry Palm RPI (#54), KenPom (#70), Sagarin (#70)
This Week's Opponents
Home vs Texas A&M (Tuesday, Jan. 6 @ 8PM, SEC Network)
January will be a make or break month for Alabama with a front-loaded conference schedule. Tuesday's game gives the Crimson Tide a chance to pick up its first win vs a top 100 team and beat a team that's ranked ahead of them in the RPI. Texas A&M also beat Arizona State earlier this year.
Away vs Tennessee (Saturday, Jan. 10 @ 2PM, SEC Network)
The Vols are a solid, but not spectacular, top 100 team under a first-year head coach. Tennessee has beaten Butler (RPI top 25) and has four losses against good teams. Alabama went winless away from Coleman Coliseum last season so this game can greatly impact the team's confidence moving forward.
How Key Non-Conference Opponents are Faring
Wichita State (RPI 11) - Keep an eye on Saturday's game at Loyola (IL) because the Ramblers have an RPI ranking of 59. It's important for the Shockers to just keep winning in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Xavier (RPI 49) - This is a huge week for the Musketeers and a chance to strengthen their RPI. First up is a home game on Wednesday vs #19 Seton Hall (RPI 10) before traveling to unranked Butler (RPI 23) on Saturday. You need to be pulling hard for Xavier.
Iowa State (RPI 50) - Lost last game vs South Carolina. This week faces a good Oklahoma State team (11-2) before traveling to #14 West Virginia on Saturday.
UCLA (RPI 109) - Losers of five straight games, it's probably not long before this team drops out of the top 150. This week the Bruins get two games (sandwiched between six road games) and a chance to right the ship. But they'll have to do it against Stanford (RPI 32) and Cal (RPI 88).
Arizona State (RPI 134) - Coming off a blowout loss to Arizona in the conference opener, the Sun Devils play two away games this week (Oregon State, Oregon). Splitting these two would be a considered a success.
*Only top 150 teams will be included in this section.
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