- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Vanderbilt Today
By the People, for the People
Alabama Basketball Rises in Polls After Wins Over Mississippi State, Tennessee
Crimson Tide moves up to No. 16 in Coaches Poll after extending win streak to 8 games
Published on Mar. 2, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
After 16 weeks into the regular season, Alabama men's basketball entered its matchups against Mississippi State and then-No. 22 Tennessee as the No. 17 team in the AP Top 25 and the No. 18 program in the Coaches Poll. The Crimson Tide came into this past week winning its previous six contests, and Alabama continued the streak with a 100-75 home win over the Bulldogs on Feb. 25 and a 71-69 road victory over the Volunteers. These wins helped Alabama move up to No. 16 in the Coaches Poll on Monday.
Why it matters
Alabama's rise in the rankings comes as the team continues to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. The Crimson Tide's ability to bounce back from a tough stretch earlier in the year and string together wins against quality opponents like Mississippi State and Tennessee demonstrates the team's resilience and potential to make a deep postseason run.
The details
Against Mississippi State, Alabama tied its season-high for 3-pointers with 22, including 16 in the first half. Amari Allen went 5 for 5 from deep in the first half and finished the night with a team-best 23 points. While Labaron Philon Jr. sat out with an injury, Aden Holloway led the way with 16 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists. Against Tennessee, the Crimson Tide overcame a mountainous 13-point deficit. Head coach Nate Oats crowned Aiden Sherrell "the MVP," but Latrell Wrightsell Jr. finished with a team-high 25 points. Additionally, Labaron Philon Jr., who had 13 of UA's final 18 points, hit the game-winning shot with under 23 seconds remaining.
- On Feb. 25, Alabama defeated Mississippi State 100-75 at home.
- On Feb. 28, Alabama defeated then-No. 22 Tennessee 71-69 on the road.
The players
Amari Allen
An Alabama player who went 5 for 5 from 3-point range in the first half against Mississippi State and finished with a team-best 23 points.
Aden Holloway
An Alabama player who led the team with 16 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists against Mississippi State.
Labaron Philon Jr.
An Alabama player who hit the game-winning shot with under 23 seconds remaining against Tennessee and had 13 of UA's final 18 points.
Latrell Wrightsell Jr.
An Alabama player who finished with a team-high 25 points against Tennessee.
Nate Oats
The head coach of the Alabama men's basketball team.
What they’re saying
“Aiden Sherrell "the MVP”
— Nate Oats, Head Coach (si.com)
What’s next
The AP Top 25 poll will be released around 12 p.m. CT on Monday, and this article will be updated with Alabama's placement in that ranking.
The takeaway
Alabama's ability to bounce back from a tough stretch earlier in the season and string together impressive wins against quality opponents like Mississippi State and Tennessee demonstrates the team's resilience and potential to make a deep postseason run. The Crimson Tide's rise in the national rankings is a testament to the team's hard work and the coaching staff's ability to keep the players focused and motivated.
