Alabama Crimson Tide Power Index: 33.2*

The Crimson Tide has a chance to win it all because of upperclass leadership, a premier point guard, the best big man in the SEC, and the experience of having been denied in the past. Alabama has come a long way under Mark Gottfried, who has instilled a winning attitude on the Tuscaloosa hardwood. Maurice Williams is one of the finest point guards in the nation, has the ability to control a game, and will be a much more consistent shooter and scorer this season. Erwin Dudley is a relentless rebounder and worker, and he will continue to put up consistently high numbers with his great work ethic. Earnest Shelton is an outstanding shooter, Kennedy Winston is a fine mid-range scorer who will be an impact player, Terrance Meade is a scoring combo guard who can make shots, and Kenny Walker is an aggressive, blue collar interior contributor. The key to Alabama's season is the Tide's maturity level. Every season, Alabama has taken strides beyond the season before it, but this group needs to display the maturity necessary to build every day the habits necessary to play its best in March. The Tide will continue to rise, and have the talent to paint Bourbon Street crimson in April. -- Jay Bilas

Toughness: 7.4
Alabama's toughness has been questioned many times when the Tide played on the road or on a neutral court. But Alabama seemed to get over that hump last season by winning at Georgia and Kentucky. The Tide's mental toughness has improved dramatically the past two seasons. Maybe it was the result of Williams' development at the point or Dudley simply being better inside or Gottfried being even more focused on the bench. Regardless, the Tide seemed to have what it takes to win away from Tuscaloosa and that will be a telling sign come March.

Talent: 7.2
Williams is as talented a point as there is in the country, and if he can knock down 3s, then he and the Tide will be even more dangerous. Dudley is a load in the post and has extended his game to the 3-point line. The key will be getting timely shots out of Meade, Antoine Pettway and Earnest Shelton. Outside of Walker, the support inside for Dudley is in question with the eligibility issues dogging Lucky Williams and Winston. Alabama needs another eligible small forward to play some minutes or they'll be facing some matchup problems in the SEC and beyond.

Tourney Tested: 5.3
After nearly losing to Florida Atlantic, then falling to Kent State in the second round, the Tide learned that they've got to be more mentally tough come March. The odds are they have learned their lesson and if they get a decent seed again they can't blow it by losing to an upstart MAC school before the second weekend of the NCAAs. Alabama has a mature point guard who should be able to handle any tense situations come March. Dudley certainly won't wilt in the tournament, not with four years of experience of banging underneath the boards on his resume.

Schedule: 7.7
The selection committee snubbed the Tide two seasons ago because they didn't play anybody outside of their region. But they listened and scheduled up last season with non-conference games against Temple, Utah, UCLA, Missouri, Memphis and Notre Dame. Alabama has done it again this season, with games against Oklahoma in New York, Ohio State in Springfield, Mass., Providence, St. Bonaventure, Providence, Utah and Xavier. That's all before the SEC schedule kicks in, with two neutral site games a a road test at Utah. Alabama should be well-tested before the SEC season begins.

Xs & Os: 5.6
Gottfried has improved as a coach each season. But he'll be tested this year. He must keep all the egos in check and deal with the eligibility issues at the outset of the season. He also has to keep this team together while it goes through the rough stretch before December. But Gottfried also has a chance to give Alabama one of its best seasons in history. He's got a point guard, a power player and, if he can get consistent shooting and another small forward defending, then he's got a team capable of getting to the Final Four.

-- Andy Katz

ESPN.com's Power Index is based on a 10-point scale in each of these five categories: Toughness, Talent, Schedule Strength, Tournament Tested, Xs & Os. Teams are scored based on returning players, coaching staffs, a program's past performances in the regular season and postseason, as well as expectations heading into the 2002-03 season.