Alabama falls in USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll amid brutal nonconference schedule

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Nov 27, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats protests a call in favor of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats knew what he was doing when he put together one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the nation ahead of the 2024-25 college basketball season. Oats’ team has since slipped a bit in the rankings after entering the year as preseason No. 2 in the USA TODAY Sports’ Coaches Poll.

While Alabama (6-2) reeled off two impressive wins last week in the inaugural Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, defeating the Houston Cougars 85-80 in overtime and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 95-90, the Crimson Tide lost the finale of the Players Era Festival Saturday night with an 83-81 loss to Dana Altman’s Oregon Ducks.

As a result, Alabama fell three spots to No. 12 in the new USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, released Monday.

Oregon, previously unranked, jumped 27 spots and moved all the way to No. 10 in the Coaches Poll after beating Alabama, San Diego State and the Texas A&M Aggies to win the Players Era Festival.

The Wisconsin Badgers (8-0) also jumped past Mark Sears and the Crimson Tide, landing at No. 11 after wins over the Pitt Panthers and UCF Knights to win the Greenbrier Tip-Off in West Virginia.

The Purdue Boilermakers (7-1), who defeated Alabama 87-78 at Mackey Arena on Nov. 15, moved back into the top 10 at No. 7 after winning the Rady Children’s Invitational in San Diego with an 80-78 victory over the Ole Miss Rebels.

Alabama is ranked one spot behind the No. 11 Badgers and one spot ahead of the No. 13 Florida Gators in this week’s poll.

Bill Self’s Kansas Jayhawks (7-0) remained No. 1 for the fourth straight week after entering 2024 as preseason No. 1 in the Coaches Poll. Bruce Pearl’s Auburn Tigers (7-0), the Tennessee Volunteers (7-0) and Marquette Golden Eagles (8-0) were big risers in this week’s poll.

Auburn moved up…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-falls-usa-today-sports-184309582.html

Author : Roll Tide Wire

Publish date : 2024-12-02 18:43:00

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