How Vanderbilt, Texas losses affected Alabama basketball bracketology

Even with a lackluster start to the conference, Alabama basketball still has a bright future in the eyes of bracketologists.

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi released his latest installment on Tuesday, January 13, and highlighted the Crimson Tide as the No. 4 seed.

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Lunardi placed No. 18 seed Alabama (11-5, 1-2) in the South Region with No. 1 seed Iowa State, No. 2 seed Purdue and No. 3 seed BYU.

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After losses to Vanderbilt and Texas, Alabama slipped from third place in Lunardi’s bracket. If the Crimson Tide were to compete in the South, the team would play at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight on March 26-28.

Alabama is one of three SEC teams to land a seed from Lunardi, the others being Florida, a four-seed, and Vanderbilt, a two-seed. Florida was scheduled to travel to the West Region, where the Gators would meet Arizona, Gonzaga and No. 1 overall seed Illinois. The Commodores were scheduled for the Midwest Region, which included No. 2 overall Michigan, Houston and Texas Tech.

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Lunardi’s next installment is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, January 14, after Alabama takes on Mississippi State in Starkville.

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be contacted by email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball bracketology after two-game losing streak