Alabama Basketball: March Madness To March Sadness

Alabama basketball came up short in the SEC Tournament Semi-Final, losing to Kentucky 79-74. Here are the top takeaways on the Tide’s SEC Tournament performance.

Alabama basketball lost by five points in the SEC Tournament Semi-Finals to a team whose talent level is far superior.

Alabama basketball had no business beating the Kentucky Wildcats. The gap between the talent levels of the two teams is a chasm. But don’t say that to any Alabama player. Avery Johnson’s players fought Kentucky with fierce determination.

Alabama Crimson Tide Football

The loss was another one, like several others this season, where the Tide could have won with fewer tactical miscues. The Tide again committed too many fouls. Bola Olaniyan played only 14 minutes due to foul trouble. Alabama basketball allowed the Cats to outscore the Tide by 12 points at the foul line.

Alabama basketball outshot the Cats from the line, 75 percent to 69 percent. But Kentucky shot 19 more free throws than Alabama.

More so than any other stat, the free throw disparity greatly influenced the outcome of the game. Yet, it was not the primary reason Kentucky won. Kentucky won because of their significant talent advantage.

As we suggested in March Madness Crimson Tide Style, this point in an Alabama basketball season can be bittersweet. We fans can acquiesce to March Sadness and grumble our way through a NIT experience.

Or we can appreciate what Avery Johnson has achieved in two seasons and anticipate the Alabama basketball future. Listen to Avery’s comments below after the South Carolina victory in Nashville.

Avery Johnson has good reason for optimism. His team has shown marked improvement during this season. Dazon Ingram and Braxton Key are potential all-conference players next year as sophomores. Six new highly touted players join Ingram, Key, Norris and Hall next season.

Avery Johnson has proven he is the coach that can return Alabama basketball to national prominence.

This season the Tide struggled at defending dribble penetration. It was a big problem against Kentucky, as it was in losses to Georgia, Auburn, and Arkansas. Tide fans are excited about 2017-18 true point-guard Collin Sexton and his explosive offensive skills.

Maybe even more important is that Sexton and fellow incoming player, John Petty have the quickness to defend Malik Monk, De’Aron Fox, J.J. Frazier type players. Had this season’s Tide had such a defender, we would be looking forward to Selection Sunday.

So it is time to summon up enthusiasm for the NIT, knowing the future is bright for Alabama basketball. Check out the best look of the SEC Tournament coming from Braxton Key against South Carolina.

Next: Tide Football Can Be Champions Again in 2017

The NIT bracket will be released Sunday night and games will start on Tuesday, Mar. 14th. Alabama basketball is likely to be a high enough seed to get an opening home game. Check in with us on Facebook and tell us what you think about Alabama basketball.