Alabama Basketball: Breaking down the Big Dance Sweet Sixteen

What an enjoyable first two rounds of the NCAA it has been for Alabama basketball fans, and the fans of 15 other programs. Across the entire field, there have been outstanding games, exciting finishes, unpredictable upsets, and the promise of more to come.

For Crimson Tide fans, it is the promise that is so special. Those of us with the good fortune of having seen the Crimson Tide play every one of its 48 NCAA Tournament games, can attest to how special.

This is the 49th season since Alabama’s first NCAA Tournament game in March 1975. In those seasons, the Alabama Crimson Tide has been to 24 NCAA Tournaments and compiled a record of 25 wins and 23 losses.

Since 1975, the experience for many Alabama basketball fans has been hoping Alabama would make the Big Dance and play as though it belonged to be there. In seven of the 24 tournaments, those hopes were dashed with First Round losses.

There have also been long intervals when the Crimson Tide did not gain an NCAA Tournament bid. Once it was a six-season interval. Twice it has been five seasons.

There has been joy and satisfaction as well. Counting the current tournament, Alabama has made it to 10 Sweet Sixteens. Technically, the first one was called a Regional Semifinal, when the Big Dance included only 32 teams. Once, in 2004, Alabama advanced to the Elite Eight.

There was hope that 2004 contest against U Conn would lead to a Final Four berth. But few Alabama fans have ever dared to believe in a legitimate National Championship chance. Until now.

Nate Oats has changed the national conversation about Alabama Basketball. And he has shown Alabama fans we have good reason to dream of greatness.

The pinnacle of Alabama Basketball achievement is the 1975-76 season. Alabama was college basketball’s second-best team that season, as defined by the coach of the undefeated National Champion Indiana Hoosiers. Alabama opened that NCAA Tournament by blowing out a very good North Carolina team. Then it had the Hoosiers on the ropes late – and it slipped away.

Until Nate Oats, we have not truly dreamed of greatness since that March night in 1976.

Was the 1975-76 team the Crimson Tide’s best-ever?

Note: Crimson Tide NCAA Tournament results provided by Sports Reference.

Alabama Basketball and the 2023 Sweet 16

After two NCAA Tournament wins, Alabama is a win over a 5-seed, followed by a win over a 6-seed or an improbable 15-seed, away from a Final Four.

Alabama is better than the three teams. Still, no wins are guaranteed. The Crimson Tide could play its way out of the tournament. The 5-seed, San Diego State is one of the nation’s best defensive teams. The 6-seed, Creighton would be a tough challenge, with two explosive guards similar to Jahvon Quinerly when he is playing his best.

Princeton is also a good basketball team, proving to be better than their 16-seed. Still, they are unlikely to beat Creighton.

In what was labeled by pundits as a down year for the SEC, the conference has three teams in the Sweet 16. The Big East matched that number of teams. The Big 12 is next with two teams. Seven other conferences (including the Pac 12, ACC, and the Big 10) have one team in the final sixteen.