8. Alabama (9-2)
Simply put, it’s hard to find a team more challenged in the last month than what Alabama has experienced. They’ve picked up their first two losses to two of the best programs in the country, but they’ve also nabbed a couple of big wins that will loom large when March rolls around. They also have the fortune of having perhaps the best freshman in the country in Brandon Miller.
After last week’s huge win at #1 Houston, Alabama got another nice performance against the AAC, this time handling Memphis in a 91-88 win. The aforementioned Miller had 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists while Mark Sears put up 18 points of his own. On Saturday, the Crimson Tide fell in Birmingham to #15 Gonzaga, losing 100-90 for their second loss of the season. Regardless, it was another breakout performance on the national stage for Miller, who had 36 points in the loss.
First and foremost, Miller is the real deal and it’s hard to say too much bad about an Alabama team running this kind of gauntlet. He’s performed against some of the best teams in the nation, and there’s enough talent on the rest of this roster to be nationally relevant this year. This team wasn’t put near the top of the rankings on a fluke and it’s going to be interesting to see how SEC play progresses. For now, a home date with Jackson State is the last task before Christmas for the Crimson Tide.