Alabama Basketball: Complete Crimson Tide NCAA Tournament History

Mar. 17, 2005 – Chicago Regional First Round- Cleveland, OH

Wisconsin-Milwaukee 83 – Alabama Crimson Tide 73

The 2005 season had been good for the Crimson Tide, with a 24-7 record going into the Big Dance. As a 5-seed, Mark Gottfried’s team was expected to have no trouble with Bruce Pearl’s 25-5 Horizon League team.

Shockingly, Pearl had the better team. They built a 13-point halftime lead, shooting threes at 63 percent, compared to 33 percent for the Tide. By the end of the game, Alabama Basketball had a big rebound advantage but it did not matter. To go along with shooting better, Pearl’s team forced the Tide into 19 turnovers, while committing just seven.

Kennedy Winston had 20 points and Ronald Steele had 16 to lead the Tide in scoring. Though only a 10-point loss, the outcome was an embarrassment to Mark Gottfried’s program.

Bruce Pearl parlayed the upset victory into becoming the head coach of the Tennessee Vols. The Pearlster is now at Auburn.

Mar. 16, 2006 – Oakland Regional First Round – San Diego, CA

Alabama Crimson Tide 90 – Marquette 85

At 17-12, Alabama Basketball was a 10-seed. Marquette, coached by current Georgia coach, Tom Crean was 20-10.

The Crimson Tide built a 14-point lead at halftime. Marquette mounted a second-half comeback but it fell short.

Leading the Tide in scoring was Jean Felix with 31 points, followed by Ronald Steele with 23 points and Jermareo Davidson with 21 points.