Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama is not talked about as the potential best team in the country nearly as much as the other three teams, but don’t forget about Alabama. They play at one of the fastest paces in the country, take and make a ton of threes, and are loaded with talent. The Crimson Tide were in the preseason top 5 and even with two early losses to Oregon and Purdue are still right in the mix for the top overall team in the country. Alabama has one of the frontrunners for the SEC player of the year in Mark Sears. They also have Grant Nelson, who can do everything on a basketball court and changes things for Alabama. Nelson is what makes them a legitimate title contender.
Alabama have not beaten near the caliber of opponents that the other teams have. They do hold wins over Houston, Texas A&M, and Illinois. The seventh ranked team in KenPom also has the worst defense of the other three teams vying for the number 1 spot, but they offset that with one of the best offenses in the country. The Tide lead the country in points per game and are second in offensive efficiency behind only Auburn. The wide-open style leads to more games becoming track meets, which could lead to the downfall of Alabama especially if their shots don’t fall. When you live by the three you can also die by the three.
The Crimson Tide are going to get their chance to prove it. Alabama still must play Auburn twice, Tennessee, and Florida. If they can win all those games, they are going to have a legitimate shot at being the top team in the country. At that point, they would deserve that ranking. Even if the Tide never reaches the top of the AP rankings, they are still the hardest team in the country to prepare for because of the style they play and the players they have playing that style. Alabama should be included in this debate, because I do think they are one of the best teams in the country and arguably the best team in the SEC.
Auburn should be the true number 1, at least right now. They have earned it with their schedule and the margin of victory in those games. Iowa State and the others have a case, but when you put everything in a vacuum next to each other, the Tiger's resume sticks out. All of this can and will change as the weeks go on, especially if Broome is out for an extended period of time.