Alabama leads SEC basketball teams in USA TODAY Sports' way-too-early rankings for 2025-26
Will 2026 finally be the year Alabama basketball cuts down the nets and has its true "One Shining Moment" under head coach Nate Oats?
The Crimson Tide should certainly have the talent to compete and make another deep NCAA Tournament run in search of their first men's basketball championship in program history.
While Alabama loses major contributors and senior leadership with top-scoring guard Mark Sears and forward Grant Nelson having graduated (ditto for Chris Youngblood and Clifford Omoruyi), Oats has added several marquee names through the transfer portal already this offseason.
Those names include 7-foot center Noah Williamson from Bucknell, the Patriot League Player of the Year (17.6 PPG, 7.6 REB), starting forward Taylor Bol Bowen from Florida State, and Miami Hurricanes guard Jalil Bethea, a former 5-star recruit and Top 10 national player in the 2024 recruiting class.
Several key players from Alabama's 2024-25 roster -- led by Aden Holloway and followed by Latrell Wrightsell, Houston Mallette and forward Aiden Sherrell -- have already announced their returns. Still up in the air are Labaron Philon, who has been a projected first-round NBA Draft pick this season, and forwards Jarin Stevenson and Derrion Reid.
On Tuesday, USA TODAY Sports' college basketball panel of experts Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith and Eddie Timanus unveiled their way-too-early rankings for the 2025-26 season.
The group ranked Alabama at No. 6 on their early Top 25 list, one spot below No. 5 BYU, who the Tide vanquished 113-88 in the Sweet 16, and one spot ahead of No. 7 Texas Tech.
The Crimson Tide are the highest-ranked SEC team in USA TODAY Sports' initial look at the 2025-26 season.
Myerberg wrote of Alabama:
"Losing catalyst Mark Sears puts pressure on the backcourt to replicate his scoring production and leadership. Aden Holloway should take up much of that slack along with Miami (Fla.) transfer Jalil Bethea. A bonus would be the return of guard Lebaron Philon and make the Crimson Tide one of the SEC favorites. Inside additions Noah Williamson (Bucknell) and Taylor Bol Bowen (Florida State) should take on big roles."
Alabama edged the Florida Gators in USA TODAY Sports' rankings. Florida cut down the nets in San Antonio Monday night with a 65-63 come-from-behind victory over the Houston Cougars to win the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Florida was No. 8 in USA TODAY Sports' way-too-early rankings. The next closest SEC team behind coach Todd Golden's Gators were John Calipari's Arkansas Razorbacks at No. 12.
The Kentucky Wildcats were ranked No. 16, with the Tennessee Volunteers at No. 18, and the Auburn Tigers at No. 24, giving the SEC five teams on USA TODAY Sports' list.
Keep up with Alabama's busy offseason by visiting Roll Tide Wire's 2025-26 roster and transfer portal tracker.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinions.
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