NCAA Tournament projections for Alabama basketball: Get your tickets for Birmingham
This is February. Still, it's not too early to start keeping track of NCAA Tournament projections for Alabama basketball.
The Crimson Tide is fresh off its largest SEC win in program history with a 101-44 rout of Vanderbilt on Tuesday. It was a much-needed rebound after the worst loss that coach Nate Oats has had during his four seasons in Tuscaloosa. No. 5 Alabama had lost 93-69 at Oklahoma on Saturday.
That blemish aside, it's clear the Crimson Tide (19-3, 9-0 SEC) has the talent and depth to go far in March if everything lines up.
There's plenty of basketball yet to be played, but here's a look at the latest projections from various outlets.
ALABAMA BASKETBALL:Alabama basketball learned its lesson in Oklahoma loss, and Vanderbilt paid the price
ALABAMA FOOTBALL:Who are the next stars for Alabama football? Former players discuss at Senior Bowl
ESPN: 1 seed (Birmingham)
Joe Lunardi had the Crimson Tide playing in Birmingham in the opening round against either Southern or Tennessee-Martin in his latest bracket released Tuesday. The winner would face No. 8-seeded North Carolina or No. 9-seeded Northwestern in the second round. After the Vanderbilt win, Alabama remained Lunardi's No. 2 overall seed behind Purdue.
Washington Post: 1 seed (Birmingham)
The Crimson Tide would be a regional 1 seed, facing a play-in game winner between Southeastern Louisiana or Southern, Patrick Stevens predicts. Then, with a win, Alabama would face either Iowa or NC State, according to this projection.
FOX Sports: 1 seed (Midwest)
This projection doesn't specify location, but it would likely be Birmingham. That's not automatic, though. Location aside, Alabama is a 1 seed again. It would face a play-in game winner between Fairleigh Dickinson or Southeastern Louisiana. With a win, No. 8 seed NC State or No. 9 seed Northwestern would be next up.
CBS Sports: 1 seed (Birmingham)
In Jerry Palm's projection as of Tuesday, the Crimson Tide would face either Southeastern Louisiana or Southern in the first round before a matchup with either No. 8 UNC or No. 9 Memphis. A game against the Tar Heels would be a rematch from the Phil Knight Invitational, where Alabama won in four overtimes.
Nick Kelly covers Alabama football and men's basketball for The Tuscaloosa News/USA TODAY Network. Reach him via email: nkelly@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_NickKelly.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: March Madness projections for Alabama basketball in NCAA Tournament
