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Final polls in for Alabama basketball, plus way-too-early rankings
Final polls in for Alabama basketball, plus way-too-early rankings
Alabama basketball's end-of-season rankings are in, and so are the way-too-early ones.
The Crimson Tide finished 16th overall in the final USA Today Coaches Poll of the 2025-26 season, which was released on Tuesday, April 7.
On the same day, the most premature of preseason rankings dropped as well. ESPN put Alabama at No. 20 in its top 25. Fox Sports had higher expectations of Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats, who has agreed to a deal with UA that lasts through 2032. The outlet put Alabama at No. 6. On3 ranked the Crimson Tide 17th. Meanwhile, The Athletic didn't rank UA at all.
WHAT TO KNOW: Key Alabama basketball starter plans to hit 2026 transfer portal
REQUIRED READING: Labaron Philon makes decision on possible return to Alabama basketball
Here's a full look at the last Coaches Poll.
| Rank | Team | Record | PTS | 1st | Prev | Chg | Hi/Lo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan Wolverines | 37-3 | 775 | 31 | 3 | 2 | 1/7 |
| 2 | UConn Huskies | 34-6 | 737 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 2/7 |
| 3 | Arizona Wildcats | 36-3 | 713 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1/13 |
| 4 | Duke Blue Devils | 35-3 | 668 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1/6 |
| 5 | Illinois Fighting Illini | 28-9 | 654 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 5/19 |
| 6 | Houston Cougars | 30-7 | 586 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2/8 |
| 7 | Purdue Boilermakers | 30-9 | 562 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 1/18 |
| 8 | Iowa State Cyclones | 29-8 | 520 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 2/18 |
| 9 | Florida Gators | 27-8 | 497 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 3/NR |
| 10 | St. John's Red Storm | 30-7 | 491 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 6/NR |
| 11 | Michigan State Spartans | 27-8 | 465 | 0 | 11 | - | 8/21 |
| 12 | Tennessee Volunteers | 25-12 | 390 | 0 | 25 | 13 | 12/NR |
| 13 | Arkansas Razorbacks | 28-9 | 387 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 13/23 |
| 14 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | 28-7 | 369 | 0 | 14 | - | 5/NR |
| 15 | Virginia Cavaliers | 30-6 | 294 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 8/NR |
| 16 | Alabama Crimson Tide | 25-10 | 292 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 9/NR |
| 17 | Vanderbilt Commodores | 27-9 | 289 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 8/NR |
| 18 | Gonzaga Bulldogs | 31-4 | 286 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 5/20 |
| 19 | Iowa Hawkeyes | 24-13 | 277 | 0 | NR | - | 19/NR |
| 20 | Kansas Jayhawks | 24-11 | 219 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 9/NR |
| 21 | Texas Tech Red Raiders | 23-11 | 168 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 10/21 |
| 22 | Miami (FL) Hurricanes | 26-9 | 94 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 22/NR |
| 23 | Louisville Cardinals | 24-11 | 70 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 5/NR |
| 24 | Texas Longhorns | 21-15 | 55 | 0 | NR | - | 24/NR |
| 25 | Wisconsin Badgers | 24-11 | 42 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 20/NR |
Schools Dropped Out
No. 21 North Carolina; No. 22 Saint Mary's;
Mar 26, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the court before a practice session ahead of the midwest regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
1 / 1
Look at our Alabama basketball vs Michigan photo gallery from Sweet 16
Mar 26, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the court before a practice session ahead of the midwest regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
1 / 1
Look at our Alabama basketball vs Michigan photo gallery from Sweet 16
Mar 26, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the court before a practice session ahead of the midwest regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball final ranking in, plus way-too-early predictions
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