ESPN proclaims Alabama as new No. 1 after Auburn, Duke upsets

Before Alabama took the court against Arkansas, there was potentially an opportunity to be the new No. 1 team in the country. Both Auburn and Duke lost earlier in the day and with Alabama at No. 3, it would be an easy assumption they slide up. Voters still need to submit their poll but ESPN’s broadcast seems quite confident.

“Alabama will be the new No. 1 team in college basketball for the first time since the end of the ’23 regular season,” play-by-play announcer Tom Hart said.

This statement came at the end of a wild few minutes in Fayetteville. Once up by 15, Alabama was on the verge of a horrific collapse against Arkansas. John Calipari‘s team went on a run to make the game interesting but ultimately fell short. Alabama gets another win on the road but by just four points.

Hart mentions the 2022-2023 season as the last time the Crimson Tide were atop the AP poll. Brandon Miller was that team’s leader, helping them earn the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. An SEC regular season and conference championship were earned too.

But Alabama only made it as far as the Sweet Sixteen, losing to San Diego State. This season is one where some predict a Final Four can be made or potentially even win the national championship.

“Alabama will be the new No. 1 team and they have all the looks of a Final Four team again this year, if not possibly winning the entire thing,” color commentator Jimmy Dykes said.

Even with the loss on Saturday, Auburn will still have a case to be ranked No. 1. Their overall resume is the best of any team in college basketball. And to add on, both of their losses are likely to be placed inside the top five on Monday afternoon.

Had it not been for a loss to Clemson, Duke would have been a shoo-in. Beating Auburn helps their case but seeing a team rise to No. 1 after a defeat is tough to imagine in the AP poll.

Dykes and Hart feel confident enough in saying Alabama will have the honor, though.

This is something that will get played out on the court on Saturday. Auburn is heading across the state to play Alabama in Tuscaloosa. ESPN College GameDay will be there too, being the biggest game in the history of the rivalry.