The Folks In Alabama Want More Respect For Tide Basketball

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The fact that Alabama (18-8, 10-2) isn’t ranked in either major poll is making news in the Heart of Dixie today.  The question is: Why?

In football, poll rankings matter at the very top.  Find yourself ranked #1 or #2 and you’ll get a chance to play for the BCS championship.  But in basketball, the major polls have no meaning.  Bupkes.

When this year’s tournament field is announced, grab a list of the latest basketball polls and compare teams’ rankings to their seedings.  They don’t often match up.  You may see a team ranked #13 land a #2 seed.  You may see a team ranked #15 get saddled with a #6 seed.  

The NCAA has been conducting “Here’s how we pick the field” mock selection scenarios for several seasons now.  They just completed one last week.  Ever heard anyone who’s gone through the process discuss the USA Today/Coaches’ Poll or the AP Poll?  Nope.  RPI rankings matter on Selection Sunday, polls do not.

For that reason, it’s probably wise for Anthony Grant to keep making comments like this one:  “We haven’t all year paid much attention to the rankings or anything else, other than just controlling the things that we can control.”

Good for him.  Fretting the views of pollsters would only be a waste of time.  You listening, Tide fans?