The Alabama Crimson Tide closed out nonconference play Sunday with a 105-82 victory over South Dakota State.
With limited action around the country for the Christmas break, Nate Oats’ Crimson Tide remained at No. 6 in this week’s USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, released Monday, Dec. 30.
Alabama remained one spot below the No. 5 Florida Gators, who have started the 2024-25 season 13-0. The Tide were ranked one spot ahead of the No. 7 Kansas Jayhawks (9-2), the preseason No. 1 team.
Alabama (11-2 overall) opens SEC play Saturday at Coleman Coliseum against the undefeated Oklahoma Sooners (13-0), who rose one spot to No. 10 in this week’s poll. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on SEC Network.
RELATED: Alabama reaches 100 points, sinks South Dakota State in nonconference finale
The top nine spots of the Coaches Poll remained the same from last week. For the fourth consecutive week, Rick Barnes’ Tennessee Volunteers (12-0) were ranked No. 1, with Johni Broome and the Auburn Tigers (11-1) ranked No. 2. Iowa State (10-1) was No. 3 with Cooper Flagg and the Duke Blue Devils (10-2) at No. 4.
Looking ahead to Alabama’s conference schedule, the Crimson Tide will travel to Knoxville to square off against the Vols on March 1 at Thompson-Boling Arena at noon. Alabama will host Auburn at Coleman Coliseum on Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. before closing out the regular season on the Plains on March 8.
The Tide will play Florida three nights earlier on March 5 in Tuscaloosa.
Week 9 USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
| Ranking | Team | Record | Points | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee | 12-0 | 764 (20) | – |
| 2 | Auburn | 11-1 | 747 (11) | – |
| 3 | Iowa State | 10-1 | 707 | – |
| 4 | Duke | 10-2 | 664 | – |
| 5 | Florida | 13-0 | 651 | – |
| 6 | Alabama | 11-2 | 626 | – |
| 7 | Kansas | 9-2 | 552 | – |
| 8 | Marquette | 11-2 | 539 | – |
| 9 | Oregon | 12-1 | 491 | – |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 13-0 | 476 | +1 |
| 11 | Kentucky | 10-2 | 428 | -1 |
| 12 | Texas A&M | 11-2 | 424 | +1 |
| 13 | UConn | 10-3 | 416 | +1 |
| 14 | Houston | 8-3 | 386 | -2 |
| 15 | Michigan State | 10-2 | 270 | +3 |
| 16 | Mississippi State | 11-1 | 267 | +3 |
| 17 | Cincinnati | 10-1 | 259 | – |
| 18 | UCLA | 11-2 | 255 | +3 |
| 19 | Gonzaga | 9-4 | 170 | -4 |
| 20 | Illinois | 9-3 | 129 | +2 |
| 21 | Baylor | 8-3 | 113 | +2 |
| 22 | Purdue | 8-3 | 108 | +3 |
| 23 | Ole Miss | 7-3 | 92 | -7 |
| 24 | Maryland | 11-2 | 90 | +2 |
| 25 | Memphis | 10-3 | 87 | +8 |
Schools Dropped Out
No. 20 San Diego State; No. 24 St. John’s
Others Receiving Votes
St. John’s 70; Arkansas 58; Drake 53; Michigan 49; Utah State 42; Georgia 36; San Diego State 30; Dayton 19; Texas Tech 12; Pittsburgh 10; Clemson 9; West Virginia 8; Missouri 6; North Carolina 1
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