USA Today on Thursday released its annual preseason men’s basketball poll ahead of the 2020-2021 season, and there has already been outcry that Bruce Pearl’s Auburn Tigers were snubbed.
The poll named Baylor as the nation’s top team, followed by Gonzaga, Villanova, Virginia and Kansas.
Three SEC teams were ranked: Kentucky at No. 9, Tennessee at No. 14 and Alabama at No. 25.
USA Today wrote the following about the Tide:
Nate Oats’ first squad at Alabama led the SEC in scoring (82 ppg) and 3-point shooting (34.9 percent). Four of the top six scorers are back, including Jaden Shackelford (15 ppg) and John Petty Jr. (14.5 ppg). Villanova transfer Jahvon Quinerly, a guard and former five-star recruit, will get the main shot at replacing All-SEC pick Kira Lewis Jr. and freshman Joshua Primo will be in the mix.
Auburn, fresh off a 25-6 season cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, were not named in the preseason poll. In the 2018-2019 season, the Tigers made their first ever Final Four appearance. Auburn was also left out of the AP preseason poll released earlier this week, receiving eight total votes.
Bruce Pearl’s squad is scheduled to face UCF in Orlando, FL, on November 30. View Auburn’s full schedule here.
Alabama is set to kick things off on November 25 versus Jacksonville State before a slate of nationally televised games in the Maui Invitational and Holiday Hoopsgiving. View the Tide’s full schedule here.
Nate Oats’ team was also ranked No. 14 in Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook’s preseason rankings, while Stadium slated Alabama at No. 18.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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