Crimson Red Sports

Two-thirds of the way toward the finish line, Alabama stands alone in second place in the Southeastern Conference.

Is the Crimson Tide really the second-best team in the league?

A handful of SEC coaches responded to that question Monday on the weekly coaches’ teleconference.

http://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/index.ssf/2013/02/is_second-place_alabama_the_se.html#incart_river

I agree with Ole Miss Coach Andy Kennedy. You are who your record says you are. At this point in the season we are the second best team in the league. We have five more games and it is where you finish at the end that counts.

I agree, your record speaks for itself, whether is ugly or pretty.

I know Florida is the big dog on the block. We are the 2nd best team right now, but when we can challenge them every game, we will be a very good team. RTR!

You have to look at the entire body of work and not only SEC games. Also you have to consider any recent trends or developments such as the injury last weekend that set UK back. The Ole Miss body of work is better than their 2-4 record over their last 6 games, but I put more weight on the recent trend. As for the Tide being #2 in the SEC. I hope they can play up to that level for the remaining regular season games.

We'll need a lot of luck (big time) at UF, but there is no reason why they cannot win out, other than halfway showing up for a game and shooting 20%.

As to the coaches from around the conference and their comments. You must realize they are not about to blast away. Most, if not all, commented on Bama's ability to win the close ones. The Tide has lost about as many close games as they have won. But the coaches failed to mention that it was a lot of times their failure to put teams away that let teams hang around to make these games close at the end. But the scoring droughts are getting shorter as we are getting more guys more involved in the offense. Take away the Tennessee loss and the barn abomination, and we are playing Top 20 basketball.   

You're kidding, right? Mercer? Dayton, Tulane. And if you dismiss those as early losses, well aren't the majority of non-conference games early? We have way too many bad losses to sniff the Dance floor. Maybe next year.

This web site is a stat freak's dream.

http://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/team/alabama-crimson-tide (http://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/team/alabama-crimson-tide)

Good catch.  #+

LOL. December was still football season and should not count.

Your site and all others have our RPI at 59. That puts us on the NCAA bubble sniffing the dance floor. HTH

This was a good read. Thanks for the posting. RTR!

Not an expert on this stuff but /i believe the RPI is only one of several indicators that are used. The gurus, like Jerry Palm, who have a decent track record predicting this stuff are saying we are not in the next 4 in and some don't have us in the next 8 in. Short of running the table I don't think we make it.

A run the table with at least a good show in Gainsville. But we also have the SEC tourney to increase our odds. That is why we've been saying it is important to get a first round bye. No way we get 2nd in SEC and a win or 2 in the tourney and do not make the dance-- even with a possible loss at UF. 

ESPN and others have us listed on the bubble as next 8 in. RPI is not the only criteria but it may be the most important. We certainly have work to do. We just need to keep winning.

http://espn.go.com/ncb/bracketology

All we can do is all we can do, my brother. Roll Tide Roll!