Prestige Rankings: The Best SEC Men’s Basketball Programs
Mar 12, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide forward Jimmie Taylor (10) battles for a rebound with Florida Gators center John Egbunu (5) during the second half of the second round in the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Florida won 69-61. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY SportsMar 12, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; during the second half of the second round against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Florida won 69-61. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
5. Alabama Crimson Tide
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 20
Sweet Sixteens: 6
Elite Eights: 1
Final Fours: None
National Championship Appearances: None
National Championships: None
SEC Tournament Championships: 5
Although the Alabama Crimson Tide have less tournament appearances than Missouri by a decent margin, they’ve been somewhat more consistent in their appearances and own a great number of SEC Tournament titles.
Alabama only missed the NCAA Tournament twice from 1985-1995, and they made 4 Sweet Sixteen runs in that span. The Tide didn’t make the tournament again until 2002, but they started another streak that ran through the 2006 tournament. The 2004 tournament team made it to their lone Elite Eight, eventually falling to Connecticut.
What really sets Alabama apart from the teams below them is their success in the SEC Tournament. The Crimson Tide has 5 SEC Tournament championships, and although they haven’t made it to the championship game since 2002, they have the 2nd most tournament championships in the conference.
The Tide won the SEC Tournament in 1982, 1987. 1989, 1990, and 1991. Three straight conference championships is nothing to scoff at. Alabama also made it to the championship game in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1992, and 2002.
If the Crimson Tide had a better NCAA Tournament history, they might be in the top 3 in the SEC because of their stellar SEC Tournament performance. As it stands, Alabama cracks the top 5 of the SEC and is just outside the elite programs of the conference.