The AP Poll Shows Alabama Basketball Is Still Declining
The AP Poll and Its Significance in College Basketball
The Associated Press (AP) Poll is one of the most recognized ranking systems in college basketball. Released weekly, the AP Poll ranks the top 25 teams in the country, based on votes from a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. These rankings are a reflection of a program’s performance throughout the season, including both wins and losses, strength of schedule, and other factors like player injuries or team dynamics. Being ranked in the AP Poll is a significant milestone for any program, as it demonstrates national recognition of their achievements.
For Alabama basketball, a program that has historically been competitive in college basketball but not always a national powerhouse, the AP Poll offers a crucial barometer of their progress, or decline. Recent years, however, have seen a shift in Alabama’s standing in these rankings. Despite a few promising seasons, the tide has not always turned in their favor, with the AP Poll showing signs that the program is not advancing in the way fans had hoped.
Historical Context: Alabama Basketball’s Rise and Struggles
To understand the implications of Alabama’s current place in the AP Poll, it’s important to look back at the history of the program. The Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team, while not traditionally known as a basketball powerhouse like Kentucky, Duke, or Kansas, has had notable success in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and on the national stage.
Under head coach Wimp Sanderson (1986-1992), Alabama enjoyed some of its most successful seasons. Sanderson led the team to an SEC Championship and consistent NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1987 and an Elite Eight finish in 1990. However, after Sanderson’s departure, Alabama basketball experienced a mix of highs and lows.
The hiring of Anthony Grant in 2009 initially brought excitement, with Grant’s reputation as a skilled recruiter and developer of players. Unfortunately, Grant struggled to push the program into true contention. The program’s inconsistency, including missed NCAA Tournament appearances and an inability to advance past the first few rounds, led to frustration among fans.
In 2019, Alabama hired Nate Oats, a coach known for his up-tempo style of play and success at Buffalo. Oats quickly turned the program around, leading the Tide to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, including a historic SEC title in 2021. Alabama’s 2020-2021 season was seen as a turning point, with the team finishing as the top seed in the SEC Tournament and showing up strong in the NCAA Tournament. The future seemed bright.
However, in the last couple of seasons, Alabama has found it challenging to maintain that upward trajectory. The AP Poll has been one of the ways this decline is reflected, as Alabama has struggled to remain consistently among the elite teams in the country.
The Decline in the AP Poll: 2021-Present
While Alabama’s basketball program was seen as on the rise in 2021, the subsequent seasons have shown a more mixed performance. The 2021-2022 season saw the team fail to meet expectations, finishing with a 19-14 overall record, failing to advance past the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and losing key players to the NBA and graduation. Despite a promising start to the 2022-2023 season, Alabama again found itself in a difficult position in the AP Poll, slipping out of the top 25 rankings at times.
By the middle of the 2023-2024 season, Alabama was struggling to maintain its place in the upper echelon of college basketball. Multiple losses to unranked teams and issues with team chemistry plagued the team, resulting in a lack of consistency. This was in stark contrast to the 2020-2021 season when Alabama seemed primed to push for a national title. As the season progressed, Alabama’s spot in the AP Poll continued to decline.
The specific reasons for this decline are multifaceted and involve both internal and external factors.
1. Recruitment and Player Turnover
One of the most significant aspects of Alabama’s recent struggles is player turnover. The Crimson Tide has experienced both significant departures to the NBA and struggles to consistently recruit the same caliber of players that could compete at the highest level. The program’s reliance on one-and-done players (those who enter the NBA Draft after just one year) has left the team in a constant state of flux.
In addition to NBA departures, Alabama has faced challenges with player development. Many players who show promise early in their careers seem to stagnate in their second or third years. While Oats has been known for his ability to develop offensive schemes and draw up plays for highly talented players, the team has lacked the deep roster required to maintain consistent success.
The inability to retain top recruits for multiple seasons or cultivate a stable roster has left Alabama vulnerable to inconsistency. When top-tier players leave for professional opportunities or enter the transfer portal, the team is forced to rebuild rather than reload. This continual cycle of roster turnover has hurt their rankings and stability within the AP Poll.
2. Injuries and Team Chemistry
Injuries have also played a crucial role in Alabama’s declining performance. A key injury to a star player, such as a point guard or a top scorer, can disrupt team chemistry and affect a program’s ability to compete consistently. With Alabama’s tendency to rely on individual talents rather than a deep, all-around team effort, the loss of a key player has often had a pronounced impact.
Team chemistry has been another issue. College basketball teams rely heavily on cohesion and familiarity, which can often be disrupted with high turnover rates. For a coach like Nate Oats, who emphasizes pace, ball movement, and defensive intensity, any misalignment in team dynamics can be detrimental to performance. Alabama has sometimes struggled to maintain its style of play when not all players are fully on the same page, which has led to up-and-down performances.
3. Competition in the SEC
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is one of the most competitive conferences in college basketball, with teams like Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Auburn regularly challenging for the top spots in the standings. While Alabama has proven capable of competing against these teams, their performances against the SEC’s elite programs have been inconsistent.
Losses to these teams, especially in conference play, hurt Alabama’s national ranking and standing in the AP Poll. A string of disappointing losses, even to strong teams within their conference, can quickly derail a program’s ability to remain in the top 25.
Moreover, the increased competitiveness in the SEC has made it harder for Alabama to maintain dominance in the conference. Other teams have invested heavily in improving their programs, making it harder for Alabama to stand out as they did in the 2020-2021 season.
4. The Impact of Coaching and Strategic Adjustments
While Nate Oats is a highly respected coach known for his fast-paced, modern offensive system, the dynamic nature of college basketball requires constant adaptation. Oats’ system relies heavily on three-point shooting, ball movement, and high-pressure defense, but opposing teams have had time to adjust to his style.
In 2022 and 2023, opposing coaches had more film and data to exploit any weaknesses in Oats’ approach. Teams began to recognize patterns in Alabama’s offensive system and developed more effective defensive schemes to stifle the Tide’s up-tempo play. Additionally, Oats’ decision-making, particularly in close-game situations, has occasionally been questioned, with some fans and analysts believing that his game management may have cost the team crucial wins.
This constant need to adjust to both the competition and one’s own roster has placed additional pressure on the program. Despite Oats’ impressive track record, these strategic challenges have led to a decline in overall performance, which is reflected in their diminishing presence in the AP Poll.
5. The Role of the Transfer Portal
The rise of the transfer portal has had both positive and negative effects on college basketball programs. On one hand, the portal allows teams like Alabama to bring in experienced players who can contribute immediately. On the other hand, it has led to increased player turnover and instability for many programs, Alabama included.
While Alabama has successfully utilized the portal to add talent, the reliance on transfers to fill key roles can make it harder to build long-term continuity. The lack of cohesion between players who have been at the program for varying lengths of time can lead to on-court struggles. Moreover, the high volume of transfers means that Alabama’s roster is often in flux, making it difficult to build a team capable of competing consistently at the highest levels.
Looking Forward for Alabama Basketball
The decline in the AP Poll ranking for Alabama basketball reflects a broader set of challenges that the program faces. While there is certainly talent within the team and a coach capable of turning things around, Alabama’s inconsistency in recruitment, roster stability, team chemistry, and competition within the SEC has caused them to struggle in recent years.
Alabama fans remain hopeful that the program will recover, and given the right adjustments, they could once again find themselves competing for national titles. However, the road to recovery may be longer than expected, as they must contend with these internal and external challenges. The AP Poll, as a reflection of Alabama’s trajectory, suggests that the program’s rise may not be as straightforward as once anticipated.
For now, the future of Alabama basketball remains uncertain. Whether they can reclaim their place among the elite programs in the country will depend on how effectively they address these issues and regain their competitive edge.