Alabama Basketball: Crimson Tide’s five toughest SEC opponents
By Ronald Evans
Can Alabama Basketball repeat its success from the 2020-21 season? Nate Oats has quickly established a high bar. The 26 wins tied for the third-most wins in Alabama Basketball history. The Crimson Tide was undefeated (6-0) against Auburn, Tennessee and Kentucky. The twin regular season and SEC Tournament championships marked a return to some of the glory seasons of Alabama Basketball. The cherry on top was two wins in the NCAA Tournament. It was only the second time since 1992 for the Tide to win multiple NCAA Tournament games.
Alabama Basketball: Complete Crimson Tide NCAA Tournament History
As Nick Saban says, success is not a continuum. Nate Oats must develop a new team from a roster with limited experience. That task is tough enough. In addition to shaping a new team, Oats must also contend with at least three SEC teams who have strengthened rosters.
Before the Crimson Tide tips off on Nov. 9, we’ll offer a preseason SEC Power Ranking. It will be updated once before the Tide’s SEC opener on Dec. 29.
A first look at the Tide’s toughest SEC opposition is a review of five teams that all have a chance to be improved in 2021-22. The ranking of them will be saved for a later post, but in no specific order, the five are Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Auburn and Mississippi State. Not all are expected to challenge for an SEC Championship. All five will challenge the Tide, especially on their home courts.