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SEC Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2021-22 season

By Matt Melton

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 12: Juwan Gary #4 and Jahvon Quinerly #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate connecting on a alley oop dunk as head coach Ben Howland of the Mississippi State Bulldogs calls a timeout during the first half of their quarterfinal game in the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 12: Juwan Gary #4 and Jahvon Quinerly #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate connecting on a alley oop dunk as head coach Ben Howland of the Mississippi State Bulldogs calls a timeout during the first half of their quarterfinal game in the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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SEC Basketball Jaden Shackelford Alabama Crimson Tide (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
SEC Basketball Jaden Shackelford Alabama Crimson Tide (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

No. 1 – Alabama Crimson Tide

The defending SEC Regular Season and Tournament Champions, Alabama is the clear way-too-early #1 team in the SEC going into the offseason.

The Crimson Tide were the clear top team in the SEC for the entire 2020-21 season as they finished 16-2 in the conference winning the SEC by 2.5 games. While Alabama suffered a disappointing loss to UCLA in the Sweet 16, there is no denying that what Nate Oats and Co. did in year two was nothing short of special.

Yes, Alabama will lose SEC Player and Defensive Player of the Year Herbert Jones, John Petty, Alex Reese, and Jordan Bruner, but the Crimson Tide’s returning and incoming talent is enough to be considered as one of the preseason best and deepest teams in the country.

The Crimson Tide brings in a Top 10 ranked recruiting class in the country headlined by 5-star point guard and Top 10 national player JD Davison. Joining Davison are 4-star forwards Charles Bediako and Jusaun Holt. Alabama has also had success in the transfer portal adding Texas Tech transfer guard Nimari Burnett and Furman transfer Noah Gurley.

Add in multiple returning players including guards Jaden Shackelford, Jahvon Quinerly, Joshua Primo, and Keon Ellis, as well as forwards Juwan Gary, James Rojas, Keon Ambrose-Hylton, and former 4-star Alex Tchikou who missed last season due to injury. It’s clear why Alabama comes in at #1 in the way-too-early rankings, because not only do they have the talent and depth to be the best team in the SEC, but also to make the Crimson Tide a legit national title contender next season.

WTE Top 25 Power Rankings for 2021-22 Season. dark. Next

While it is still too early to fully know what each team’s roster will look like in 2021-22, the SEC is shaping up to be one of the premier conferences in college basketball once again. Alabama is the clear favorite based on talent and last season’s success. Can anyone catch the Crimson Tide next season, or will Alabama roll through the SEC once again?

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