Alabama Basketball: Tide blows out Hogs and buzz turns to NCAA seed

Alabama Basketball continued its tear with a seventh straight victory and getting to 6-0, at the top of the SEC.

Less than a month ago, the Alabama basketball team lost a close home game to Western Kentucky. Coupled with an early-season loss to Stanford and a loss to Clemson a week before the WKU game, the Crimson Tide was 4-3. Nate Oats’ team was not exactly struggling, but it also was not clicking.

Crimson Tide fans were beginning to doubt the Alabama basketball roster. Nate Oats had upgraded the talent, particularly his depth, but he was still discovering how to best utilize the roster.

Before pre-season practices had begun, Oats had been boldly optimistic. Speaking to Kyle Tucker for The Athletic, Oats said,

"I could sit here and downplay expectations because that’s what coaches try to do. ‘We’d be lucky to get 20 wins’ and all that coach-speak garbage. I’m not going to do that…we’re going to be good. Anything less than a high seed in the NCAA Tournament, we’re going to be disappointed."

Nate Oats’ enthusiasm for his team may not have waned in December, but from outside the program, such a lofty goal appeared unrealistic. With the Crimson Tide now 11-3, Oats early prediction is looking good. Because of injuries, Arkansas is not what it was just three weeks ago. But the Hogs have won 10 games and a Crimson Tide victory by 31 points makes a statement.

It is a long time until Selection Sunday and the Crimson Tide has played only one-third of its 18, regular season, SEC games. Plenty of work is left to be done. A major test lies ahead Tuesday night in Baton Rouge. Whatever happens against LSU, the Crimson Tide is in a strong position to finish January with at least 13 wins. If so, Alabama basketball fans can begin to embrace Oats being right about the NCAA Tournament.

Not since the 2005-2005 season has the Crimson Tide gone into the SEC Tournament secure about its NCAA Tournament status. After an NCAA first-round loss in 2005 and a second-round loss in 2006, there have been only two more NCAA Tournament appearances. Alabama basketball fans know the history of NCAA disappointment all too well.

There are reasons for cautious optimism Nate Oats is going to change that history. The Crimson Tide will not be in a must-win game at LSU. It is a huge game in another way. Currently, the three top teams in the SEC are the Crimson Tide, Tennessee and LSU. Winning its first two shots at the pair would make a strong statement.

Every Crimson Tide player saw action against the Razorbacks. A couple of the backups, Darius Miles and Keon Ambrose-Hylton got double-digit minutes.