Alabama Basketball: Let’s celebrate March Madness

There is a very good chance this March will not be maddening for Alabama basketball fans.  Instead, it could be the March when the Alabama Crimson Tide has a real chance to get over the hump of having never made a Final Four.

Among SEC teams, Kentucky, Arkansas and Florida have won college basketball National Championships. Along with those three programs, LSU, Georgia, Mississippi State, Auburn and South Carolina have reached at least one Final Four.

But not the Crimson Tide.

Alabama Basketball could finally break through this season. Based on literally thousands of computer simulations, the Crimson Tide is one of the few favorites to make this season’s Final Four. One source is Team Rankings whose simulations give Alabama a 36% chance to make the Final Four. Only the Houston Cougars are projected higher than the Crimson Tide at 37%. From the same source, only five other teams have a 20% chance or greater.

Of course, anything can happen in a college basketball game. Every year there are upsets in the Big Dance. It is not uncommon for there to be major upsets. Alabama and every other team is vulnerable. But the Crimson Tide is not an easy team to beat.

There is solid justification for Alabama basketball fans to be optimistic this March. What we already know is over the next nine days, good things are likely to happen. The first of which is an opening game in the SEC Tournament for the Crimson Tide. A win over Mississippi State would move Alabama to Saturday’s semi-final round. A win on Saturday will provide an opportunity for Sun. Mar. 12 to be doubly special.

On Sunday Alabama could win the SEC Basketball Tournament for the eighth time in its history. Later on Sunday, Alabama will be selected as a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament. With wins on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Alabama could be the No. 1 seed overall in the NCAA Tournament. Alabama has never been higher than a 2-seed in its NCAA Tournament history.

What a great time to be an Alabama basketball fan

With two SEC Tournament wins, Alabama will tie its most wins in a season, at 28. The Crimson Tide will open the NCAA Tournament in Birmingham on Mar. 16 and is a HEAVY favorite to play again in Birmingham on Mar. 18.

In the Big Dance South Region, the Crimson Tide would face tough competition the following week in Lousiville. But there will not be a team in the South Region that the Crimson Tide cannot beat.

An early, but absolutely earned, hat tip to Nate Oats, who has done a fantastic job this season.