Shockwave in College Football: Why Auburn and Alabama Were Snubbed from the USA TODAY Coaches Poll Ahead of Saturday’s Showdown
Oh, this one’s got me fired up! The Auburn and Alabama basketball showdown—yeah, that fiery “Iron Bowl of Basketball”—has grown into one of the most compelling college hoops rivalries out there. But hold onto your hats, because this upcoming clash brings a twist we haven’t seen in quite some time. Neither team is topping the charts in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll as they gear up to hit the court Saturday at Neville Arena. That’s a rarity, folks—it hasn’t happened since way back in January 2021, when Alabama edged Auburn in a close 94-90 game on their home turf. Over these past matchups, Alabama’s held a slight upper hand, but the battles have been nothing short of electric, with last season’s exchanges featuring both squads ranked in the top 10—talk about high stakes! So, what does this unranked face-off signal? Only one way to find out as these longtime foes prepare to square off once again. Ready for the details?
Auburn basketball’s rivalry with Alabama has flourished into one of the nation’s most intense in recent years. However, the next chapter of the “Iron Bowl of Basketball” will feature a storyline this rivalry has not experienced in several years.
Neither Auburn nor Alabama is ranked in the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll ahead of Saturday’s matchup in Neville Arena, marking the first time neither team has been ranked ahead of their scheduled meeting on the hardwood since Jan. 9, 2021, when Alabama took down Auburn, 94-90, in Neville Arena.
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In that span, Auburn and Alabama have played 10 times, with Alabama holding a 6-4 advantage. Both teams were ranked in the top 10 of the coaches’ poll in both meetings last season. No. 2 Auburn took down No. 1 Alabama in Coleman Coliseum on Feb. 15, and No. 8 Alabama returned the favor on March 8 in Auburn by stunning the No. 1 Tigers, 93-91, with a last-second shot by Alabama’s Mark Sears in overtime.
Auburn will face Alabama on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN2 inside Neville Arena in Auburn. Below, you will find the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll released on Monday.
|
Rank |
Team |
Record |
PTS |
1st |
Prev |
Chg |
Hi/Lo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
22-0 |
775 |
31 |
1 |
– |
1/13 |
|
|
2 |
20-1 |
728 |
0 |
2 |
– |
1/7 |
|
|
3 |
21-1 |
715 |
0 |
3 |
– |
3/7 |
|
|
4 |
20-1 |
692 |
0 |
4 |
– |
3/6 |
|
|
5 |
22-1 |
625 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
5/20 |
|
|
6 |
19-3 |
599 |
0 |
10 |
4 |
6/19 |
|
|
7 |
20-2 |
588 |
0 |
9 |
2 |
2/18 |
|
|
8 |
19-2 |
586 |
0 |
7 |
1 |
2/8 |
|
|
9 |
20-2 |
502 |
0 |
5 |
4 |
5/NR |
|
|
10 |
19-3 |
486 |
0 |
8 |
2 |
8/21 |
|
|
11 |
16-5 |
448 |
0 |
14 |
3 |
11/NR |
|
|
12 |
18-4 |
387 |
0 |
12 |
– |
1/12 |
|
|
13 |
16-5 |
365 |
0 |
11 |
2 |
11/20 |
|
|
14 |
17-4 |
315 |
0 |
13 |
1 |
7/14 |
|
|
15 |
19-3 |
311 |
0 |
15 |
– |
8/NR |
|
|
16 |
16-6 |
306 |
0 |
21 |
5 |
3/NR |
|
|
17 |
18-3 |
303 |
0 |
17 |
– |
15/NR |
|
|
18 |
17-4 |
280 |
0 |
18 |
– |
12/25 |
|
|
19 |
18-4 |
217 |
0 |
19 |
– |
18/NR |
|
|
20 |
21-1 |
197 |
0 |
22 |
2 |
20/NR |
|
|
21 |
16-6 |
154 |
0 |
16 |
5 |
14/23 |
|
|
22 |
16-5 |
132 |
0 |
24 |
2 |
6/NR |
|
|
23 |
15-6 |
72 |
0 |
20 |
3 |
5/23 |
|
|
24 |
22-0 |
68 |
0 |
25 |
1 |
24/NR |
|
|
25 |
17-4 |
61 |
0 |
NR |
4 |
25/NR |
Schools Dropped Out
No. 23 Alabama; No. 25 Iowa;
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Others Receiving Votes
Iowa 52; Tennessee 50; UCF 15; Alabama 15; Villanova 13; Kentucky 9; North Carolina State 4; Utah State 2; Georgia 2; Saint Mary’s 1;
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn, Alabama unranked in USA TODAY Coaches Poll before game
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