Alabama Basketball: Crimson Tide Bracketology Mar. 9

With the SEC Tournament tipping off in a few hours, Alabama Basketball and at least five other SEC teams have a dual focus. Winning the SEC Tournament is a big deal and that needs the full attention of each potential champion. But for at least six SEC teams, what happens on Sunday is also important. For those six teams, along with a couple of bubble teams, the SEC Tournament is a vehicle to solidify or enhance NCAA Tournament seeding.

Making the Big Dance in back-to-back seasons is big for the Crimson Tide. Making the 68-team field is one thing. Doing well is entirely different. In Alabama’s 23-22 NCAA Tournament history, the Crimson Tide is 14-6 in first-round games. With all the hoopla created this season from the Tide beating heavyweights, Gonzaga and Baylor, along with wins over, Tennessee, Arkansas, LSU and Houston – dropping a Big Dance first-round game would be deflating.

For the SEC’s two bubble teams; the Florida Gators and the Texas A&M Aggies, SEC Tournament wins are essential. The Gators need at least two and possibly three wins in Tampa. The Aggies are in the same situation. Among the top SEC teams, Auburn will be playing to hold on to a No. 1 seed, while Kentucky will be trying to earn one.

The Tide resume is one of the best in college basketball. The Crimson Tide has wins over eight probable NCAA Tournament teams. It also has blemishes from a high number of losses, including ones against Missouri and Georgia.

Bracketology Predictions Alabama Basketball and other SEC Teams

Sources of predictions: Joe Lunardi and Jerry Palm

• Auburn Tigers – Palm has the Tigers as a 1-seed, Lunardi having them a 2-seed
• Kentucky Wildcats – A 2-seed by Palm and Lunardi
• Tennessee Vols – A 3-seed by Palm and Lunardi
• Arkansas Razorbacks – A 4-seed by Palm and Lunardi
• Alabama Crimson Tide – A 5-seed by Palm and Lunardi
• LSU Bengal Tigers – Palm has the Bengal Tigers as a 5-seed, with Lunardi having them a 6-seed

Joe Lunardi has Florida and Texas A&M in his ‘next four out’ group. Jerry Palm has the Gators as a Bubble team.

Where and who will Alabama Basketball play?

Jerry Palm has the Tide’s opening game in Buffalo, against the winner of a 12-seed matchup between Michigan and BYU. Palm’s second-round matchup for the Tide would be the winner of Texas Tech vs. Toledo.

Joe Lunardi has Alabama playing in Portland in a rematch against South Dakota State. According to Lunardi, the Tide would play the winner of UCLA vs. Iona, in its second game.

Thursday, Friday and Sunday will be big days for Alabama. A win over the Wildcats would make Saturday a big day as well.