When the 2015 preseason top 25 poll debuted on Monday, Alabama wasn't among the group of teams ranked or receiving votes, which wasn't a surprise. However, you might be a little surprised to see what one major sports outlet thinks of Avery Johnson's first team.

Sports Illustrated released its college basketball rankings for all 351 teams based on statistical projections and the Crimson Tide checks in at 111th on the list. Much like SEC Media Days last month, Alabama is picked to finish 13th out of 14 teams in the conference.

SI used its own statistical model to simulate the season 10,000 times in order to find the eventual top-ranked team and worked down from there. The model projects Alabama's offense to rank 135th while its defense will finish 110th.

This year's Crimson team will have to replace starters Levi Randolph (graduation), Rodney Cooper (graduation), and Ricky Tarrant (transfer) from a 2014-15 team that finished 19-15 with a second round appearance in the National Invitational Tournament.

The season began with the Tide Tipoff event on October 27 and the first exhibition game is Friday night against Trevecca Nazarene.

 

BONUS VIDEO: Avery Johnson Discusses First Season with Wimp Sanderson

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