Alabama Basketball Aims for SEC Championship with Mark Sears Leading
- Alabama is favored to win the SEC men's basketball championship, with Mark Sears recognized as the preseason player of the year.
- The Crimson Tide are ranked second in the AP preseason Top 25 and are coming off their first Final Four run.
- The SEC predictions indicate a competitive season with strong teams like Auburn, Tennessee, and newcomers Texas and Oklahoma.
In Birmingham, Alabama, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) announced its preseason predictions for the men's basketball championship on October 14, 2024. Alabama has been named the favorite to win the title, bolstered by the recognition of guard Mark Sears as the preseason player of the year. This comes on the heels of Alabama's impressive performance last season, where they reached the Final Four for the first time in the program's history. The SEC rankings also highlight other strong teams, including Auburn, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas A&M, and Florida, indicating a competitive season ahead. Newcomers Texas and Oklahoma are also included in the rankings, with Texas placed seventh and Oklahoma fifteenth. The preseason All-SEC first team features notable players such as Johni Broome from Auburn and Zakai Zeigler from Tennessee, showcasing the depth of talent in the conference. The predictions reflect the growing strength of Alabama's basketball program and set the stage for an exciting season in college basketball.