Alabama basketball's offense is a force to be reckoned with, but does it still reign supreme among the nation's top teams? Let's dive into the first KenPom rankings of the 2025-26 season and uncover the truth.
The Elite Eight Contenders
Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide are no strangers to success, having reached the Elite Eight in March. Starting the new season ranked No. 23 by Ken Pomeroy, they're poised to make another strong run. But here's where it gets interesting: Alabama is still among the top five SEC teams, trailing only the national champion Florida Gators and other powerhouse programs like Kentucky, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt.
The Fastest Team in the Nation?
According to KenPom, Alabama is projected to begin the season as the fastest team in the country, with an adjusted tempo of 76.3. That's significantly higher than the next-fastest SEC teams, Texas A&M and Kentucky, who rank 31st and 35th in tempo, respectively. However, with the departure of sharpshooters Chris Youngblood and Mark Sears, Alabama's offense took a hit, finishing the 2024-25 season in fourth place overall. Despite this, Alabama's offense is still ranked 16th heading into exhibition play, with a rating of 117.1.
A Tough Nonconference Schedule
Coach Oats has prepared a challenging nonconference gauntlet for Alabama, giving them ample opportunities to move up in the rankings early in the season. They'll face tough opponents like No. 16 St. John's, No. 3 Purdue, No. 6 Illinois, No. 8 Gonzaga, and No. 15 Arizona. These matchups will be crucial in determining Alabama's standing among the nation's elite.
And this is the part most people miss: Alabama's defense, which ended the 2024-25 season ranked No. 28, has dropped to No. 34 before their exhibition game against Florida State. Will they be able to bounce back and improve their defensive performance?
Here's a look at the full top 25 KenPom rankings, with Alabama sitting at No. 23:
- Houston
- Florida
- Purdue
- Kentucky
- Connecticut
- Illinois
- Duke
- Gonzaga
- Tennessee
- UCLA
- Michigan
- Texas Tech
- Iowa State
- Louisville
- Arizona
- St. John's
- Baylor
- BYU
- Vanderbilt
- Wisconsin
- Kansas
- USC
- Alabama
- Ole Miss
- Michigan State
So, does Alabama basketball still have the nation's fastest offense? The early projections say yes, but with a tough road ahead, only time will tell. What do you think? Will Alabama maintain their offensive dominance, or will other teams challenge their crown? Let's discuss in the comments and see if we can spark some friendly debate!
