Alabama Basketball: Auburn Tigers swept in no contest game

Alabama Basketball: Auburn was no contest as the Crimson Tide swept the Tigers with a 70-58 win.

Auburn played tough. Alabama Basketball did not play its best. The Tide still beat the Tigers by 12 points. The best in the SEC, Alabama Basketball defense, held Auburn to 40 percent shooting while creating 13 steals to lead the Tide to victory.

It was the last time in Coleman for Herbert Jones, John Petty Jr. and Alex Reese. For the trio, their teammates, their coaches and the fans allowed to attend it was special. It was a different special in Nate Oats second season. Beating Auburn is always a big deal in any sport, but Tuesday night there was little suspense.

The Crimson Tide expected to win and Auburn expected to lose. Not that the Tigers didn’t try. A large rebound advantage of 46-34 boards was proof of their effort. With a healthy Sharife Cooper able to play, the Tigers might have had a chance. Without him they had none.

The Tigers are young and should be improved next season. The Crimson Tide will not be senior-laden next season. The two basketball programs might return to parity. They also might not because of how Nate Oats has fundamentally changed the Alabama Crimson Tide.

In year two for Nate Oats, the Tide is the SEC Regular Season Champion. It has 20 wins and is the favorite to win the SEC Tournament. It will go into the NCAA Tournament as a high enough seed to be favored in its first two or three, maybe even four games. That amount of progress in two seasons is exceptional.

The progress does not guarantee wins. Alabama basketball fans saw that Saturday in Fayetteville. Any team, even Gonzaga, can be beaten, as Illinois proved Tuesday blowing out a very good Michigan team.

The post-game celebration Tuesday night was joyous and sincere. It was not the celebration to which Alabama Basketball strives. There is plenty of work left to do. Nate Oats will be busy Wednesday but he gave his players a deserved day off.

Speaking after the Auburn game, Nate Oats said,

"It was special, this is a special group… We’re excited… Petty, Herb, Reese, he was crying… It means a lot to these guys and to help these guys reach their goals means a lot to me…And to do it against Auburn makes it better."

Oats also heaped praise on his team.

"Our defense has been carrying us for about a month now.this is the best defensive team (I’ve) ever coachedHerb Jones is probably the best defensive player I’ve ever coached."

The Crimson Tide finishes the regular season with an almost unimportant road game against Georgia. The game’s outcome will have little if any, effect on the Crimson Tide post-season.

After Georgia on Saturday, Nate Oats might rest his players more. The first SEC Tournament game for the No. 1 seed Crimson Tide will be on Mar. 12.