Alabama Basketball: Complete Crimson Tide NCAA Tournament History
By Ronald Evans
Mar. 15, 1991 – Southeast Region First Round – Atlanta, GA
Alabama Crimson Tide 89 – Murray State 79
Alabama Basketball won a third straight SEC Tournament in 1991. The Tide blew out Tennessee in Nashville for the tourney win, pushing the Tide record to 21-9. That record got Wimp’s team an NCAA Tournament 4-seed.
The Crimson Tide put the Murray State Racers away in the first half, leading 46-30. Murray State did better in the second-half but it was not near enough to seriously threaten the Crimson Tide. The leading scorer was Melvin Cheatum with 23 points, followed by Robert Horry with 21.
Mar. 17, 1991 – Southeast Regional Second Round – Atlanta, GA
Alabama Crimson Tide 96 – Wake Forest Demon Deacons 88
Wake Forest was a 5-seed and a tough opponent for the Crimson Tide. The Demon Deacons outshot the Tide. Sanderson’s team had a rebounding edge. One of Wimp’s famous sayings about his teams being such good rebounders was they should be; because they got so many opportunities from their own missed shots.
The Tide was superb at the foul line, making 17-of-20 free throw attempts. Another key to the victory was making just eight turnovers. Latrell Sprewell, Melvin Cheatum and Gary Waites led the Tide in scoring with 21 points each.
Mar. 21, 1991 – Sweet Sixteen – Charlotte, NC
Arkansas Razorbacks 93 – Alabama Crimson Tide 70
Arkansas was still a member of the Southwest Conference in 1991, so the Tide had not faced Nolan Richardson’s ’40 minutes of Hell.’ The Razorbacks went into the game at 33-3 and the 1-seed in the region.
The game was competitive in the first half with Arkansas holding a three-point lead of 40-37. The second half was a different game, with the Crimson Tide folding under the relentless Arkansas pressure. The Tide shot the ball as well as the Hogs but lost the rebounding battle, 45-39. Turnovers killed the Crimson Tide as Arkansas forced 26, leading them to take 23 more shots than the Tide.
James Robinson led the Tide with 21 points and Robert Horry added 18. Todd Day was outstanding for the Hogs, scoring 31 points.