NCAA releases first NET rankings: See where Alabama + Auburn stand

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Ua Basketball
Alabama players celebrate during a win over Maryland (University of Alabama Athletics)

While all eyes were on The Plains last week for the Iron Bowl (along with the naming of a new Auburn coach), the Alabama and Auburn men’s basketball programs were competing with some of the best teams in the country in Las Vegas.

Both teams won two of their three games during the Players Era Festival, boosting an already strong strength of schedule.

Monday, the NCAA released its first official NET Rankings which are used to determine seeding for the NCAA Tournament in March. Keep reading to see how the Alabama + Auburn resumes stack up against the rest of the country.

NET Rankings

Both Alabama and Auburn came out lower in the NET rankings than they did in the latest AP Top 25.

The Crimson Tide, who fell to No. 12 in Monday’s AP rankings, came in at No. 13 in the first NET rankings. Alabama is one of just three teams to play at least four Quad 1 games this season + they’re just one of eight teams with two Quad 1 wins already.

Alabama, who is currently 5-2, is the highest ranked two-loss team. The No. 13 ranking is equivalent to the Tide being projected as a four seed for the NCAA Tournament.

Meanwhile, Auburn is now 6-2 but with just one Quad 1 victory—defeating St. John’s in Las Vegas. The Tigers are currently ranked No. 30 in the NET rankings, the equivalent of an 8-seed projection for the big dance.

Vanderbilt is the highest ranked SEC team at No. 4 after an 8-0 start. Here’s where some other top SEC teams currently rank:

  • No. 12 Tennessee
  • No. 15 Kentucky
  • No. 19 LSU
  • No. 33 Florida
  • No. 36 Georgia
  • No. 45 Arkansas

On the women’s side, the Crimson Tide is now 8-0 and sits at No. 24 in the first NET rankings of the season. Alabama has one Quad 1 win, beating Minnesota in the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship Game.

Auburn is 8-1 with its lone loss coming to Oregon—a Quad 1 opponent.

ACC/SEC Challenge

The Tide and Tigers will compete this week in the annual ACC/SEC Challenge, pitting teams from each conference against each other.

There will be 16 men’s games and 16 women’s games across three days this week. Here is the schedule for games involving Alabama and Auburn:

  • Women’s: Auburn at Syracuse | 4PM, Wednesday | ACC Network
  • Men’s: Clemson at No. 12 Alabama | 6:15PM, Wednesday | ESPNU
  • Men’s: North Carolina State at No. 20 Auburn | 8:15PM, Wednesday | ESPN
  • Women’s: Clemson at Alabama | 6PM, Thursday | ESPNU

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Caleb Turrentine
Caleb Turrentine
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