While it may be hard to imagine with football season in full swing — we are actually just a few weeks away from basketball season.

As has been the case frequently in the Yellowhammer State in recent years, there’s plenty of reason for both Alabama and Auburn basketball fans to be excited for the season to get started. That excitement only grew on Monday morning with the release of the official preseason AP Top 25.

The Crimson Tide, who boasts arguably the best top-to-bottom roster in the entire nation, fresh off their first-ever Final Four appearance in program history, ranked in at No. 2 in the country. It’s the highest-ever preseason ranking for the Tide in program history as Nate Oats looks to have the makings of a legitimate championship contender.

BREAKING: College Basketball Preseason AP Poll🚨https://t.co/fHqUF4xL1x pic.twitter.com/kjYGDRyFDw

— On3 (@On3sports) October 14, 2024

RELATED: Alabama headed to Final Four after beating Clemson

Alabama is the only SEC school in the top-ten, but you don’t have to look much further to find Auburn, who comes in at No. 11. Bruce Pearl has superstar big man Johni Broome back from last year’s team following the brutal first-round upset to Yale and the team will be hungry to avenge the loss with a deep run in 2024-25.

It should be another great season for the Iron Bowl of Basketball rivalry between the two in-state squads.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.