Alabama jumps to No. 9 in AP basketball poll

By Mike Rodak | AL.com

Alabama men’s basketball was ranked No. 9 in Monday’s Associated Press poll, the highest ranking for the school since it was No. 8 in January 2007.

The Tide, which has won nine consecutive games, jumped nine spots from No. 18 in last week’s poll. Alabama is 8-0 in the SEC, matching 1986-87 and 1974-75 as the school’s best conference starts in the past 65 years.

In Monday’s coaches poll, Alabama moved from No. 16 into a tie for No. 8 with Virginia. That is also Alabama’s highest ranking in that poll since January 2007.

Alabama was ranked No. 9 in Monday’s NET, the rating system used by the NCAA tournament selection committee. The Tide is currently projected as a No. 3 seed in March’s tournament, although some outlets have pegged Alabama as high as a No. 1 or No. 2 seed.

Alabama hosts Kentucky on Tuesday night in Coleman Coliseum. Tip off is at 6 p.m. CT and the game will air on ESPN