Nate Oats' Alabama Crimson Tide are on the move in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll entering Week 2 of the 2026-27 men's basketball season.
Alabama (2-0) rose two spots to No. 16 in Monday's new top-25 poll after opening the season with double-digit wins over Sam Houston and Arkansas State. The Crimson Tide are ranked one spot below Mick Cronin's UCLA Bruins (2-0) and one spot ahead of the Texas Ted Red Raiders
(2-0).Alabama is the fourth-highest ranked SEC team in the poll behind the Florida Gators at No. 1, the Texas Longhorns at No. 7, and the Tennessee Volunteers at No. 9. The Duke Blue Devils sit one spot behind Florida for the top spot, followed by Illinois at No. 3. No. 4 UConn and No. 5 Michigan State round out the top 10.
The Crimson
Tide are one of six SEC teams ranked in the Coaches Poll. Vanderbilt was No. 19 in Monday's new poll, followed by John Calipari's Arkansas Razorbacks at No. 20. Kentucky, Texas A&M, Missouri and LSU received votes for top-25 consideration.
Alabama defeated Arkansas State, 101-86, in its last game. Four Crimson Tide players finished in double figures, including sophomore forward Amari Allen. Allen had 16 points and added 13 rebounds to go with 11 assists as part of a triple-double.
Freshman Qayden Samuels led Alabama scorers with 17 points. Boise State transfer Drew Fielder added 16 points, and Kentucky transfer Brandon Garrison finished with 14. Freshman forward Terris Bouie had 12 points.
Alabama among early risers in Week 2 USA TODAY Sports college basketball Coaches Poll
Here's a look at the full top 25 rankings in Monday's USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll heading into Week 2.
Schools Dropped Out
No. 23 Kentucky; No. 24 Purdue
Others Receiving Votes
Kentucky 101; Memphis 34; Saint Louis 23; Purdue 12; Indiana 12; Texas A&M 11; Baylor 9; North Carolina 6; Marquette 6; West Virginia 5; Missouri 4; LSU 3; Wisconsin 1; Villanova 1; Nevada 1
Alabama basketball schedule 2026-27
How to watch Alabama basketball vs. Oakland today
— Roll Tide Wire (@RollTideWire) November 9, 2026
📸 Coley Cleary, USA TODAY NETWORK https://t.co/s6OUF2vE1G pic.twitter.com/MifbAoeySC
Alabama faces the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (0-3) Monday at Coleman Coliseum. Tipoff is 6:30 p.m. CT.
All start times Central.
- Nov. 3: vs. Sam Houston Bearkats (W, 96-74)
- Nov. 6: vs. Arkansas State Red Wolves (W, 101-86)
- Nov. 9: vs. Oakland Golden Grizzlies, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network+
- Nov. 13: vs. Seton Hall Pirates, 8 p.m., SEC Network
- Nov. 17: vs. Kennesaw State Owls, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network+
- Nov. 24: vs. Baylor Bears (Las Vegas), 9 p.m., ESPN2
- Nov. 26: TBA (Las Vegas)
- Nov. 27-28: TBA (Las Vegas)
- Dec. 2: at Miami Hurricanes, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
- Dec. 8: vs. Houston Cougars (New York), 5:30 p.m., ESPN
- Dec. 12: vs. St. John's Red Storm (Birmingham), 2:30 p.m., ESPN
- Dec. 16: at South Florida Bulls, 6 p.m., ESPN2
- Dec. 21: at Iowa Hawkeyes, 6 p.m., Peacock
- Dec. 29: vs. Samford Bulldogs, 9 p.m., SEC Network
- Jan. 2: at Mississippi State Bulldogs, 5 p.m., SEC Network
- Jan. 5: vs. LSU Tigers, 6 p.m., SEC Network
- Jan. 9: at Arkansas Razorbacks, 1 p.m., ESPN2
- Jan. 13: vs. Ole Miss Rebels, 8 p.m., SEC Network
- Jan. 16: vs. Florida Gators, 1 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
- Jan. 20: at South Carolina Gamecocks, 5 p.m., SEC Network
- Jan. 23: vs. Oklahoma Sooners, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network
- Jan. 26: at Missouri Tigers, 8 p.m., ESPN
- Jan. 30: vs. Auburn Tigers, 5 or 5:30 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
- Feb. 6: at Kentucky Wildcats, 1 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
- Feb. 9: at Texas Longhorns, 6 p.m., ESPN
- Feb. 13: vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m., ESPN2
- Feb. 16: vs. Mississippi State, 8 p.m., SEC Network
- Jan. 20: at Tennessee Volunteers, 1 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
- Feb. 23: at Texas A&M Aggies, 8 p.m., SEC Network
- Feb. 27: vs. Vanderbilt Commodores, 7:30 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
- March 3: vs. Georgia Bulldogs, 6 p.m., ESPN2 or ESPNU
- March 6: at Auburn, 5 p.m., SEC Network
- March 10-14: SEC Tournament (Bridgestone Arena, Nashville)
Record: 2-0.
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama basketball among early risers in USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
