Alabama Basketball: Complete Crimson Tide NCAA Tournament History
By Ronald Evans
After getting bounced by Oklahoma State in 1995, the Crimson Tide had six seasons of mediocrity. The first three with David Hobbs as head coach, followed by Mark Gottfried’s first three Crimson Tide seasons.
In the six-season span, the Tide averaged losing over 14 games each season. It had two respectable NIT Tournament runs, if such a post-season consolation prize can ever be considered respectable. An opening loss ended its other NIT appearance.
Finally, in 2002, Gottfried’s recruiting paid off with an NCAA bid.
Mar. 14, 2002 – South Regional First Round- Greenville, SC
Alabama Crimson Tide 86 – Florida Atlantic 78
At 26-6, Alabama Basketball was a 2-seed. The Florida Atlantic game should have been an easy victory. The Owls led by two at halftime. Mo Williams rescued the Crimson tide, scoring 33 points. Erwin Dudley added 15 points. A much more talented Tide team won by eight, in large part by making 27-of-30 free throws; 12-of-13 by Mo Williams. Antoine Pettway was 8-for-8 from the foul line.
Mar. 17, 2002 – South Regional Second Round – Greenville, SC
Kent State 71 – Alabama Crimson Tide 58
The Florida Atlantic game should have been a wake-up call for the Tide. If it was, the Tide slept through it. Kent State won the game in the first half, by leading 36-24 at the break. The Tide shot more free throws and gained more rebounds, neither of which made much of a difference. The reason why? The Tide had almost double the turnovers of the Golden Flashes and missed 31-of-50 shots.
Like the Florida Atlantic game, the Crimson Tide was again the much more talented team. The less talented team won easily.
Mar. 21, 2003 – Midwest Regional First Round – Boston, MA
Indiana Hoosiers 67 – Alabama Crimson Tide 62
The Crimson Tide was one-and-done in the 2003 Big Dance but it played much better than it had in 2002. The Tide’s 17-11 record barely got it an at-large bid. The Tide was a 10-seed and Indiana, coached by former Tide player, Mike Davis, was a 7-seed.
Indiana was 20-12 going into the game. Mike Davis had some good players, but the Hoosiers had slipped after Bobby Knight’s departure. The Hoosiers might have been more fundamentally sound but Gottfried had the more talented team.
The Crimson Tide led by 11 at halftime but the Hoosiers roared back in the second half. The Tide could not keep Tom Coverdale off the foul line, where he made 12-of-14. Nine more Indiana points at the line than the Tide proved to be the difference in the game.
Mo Williams scored 26 points for the Crimson Tide.