The Auburn Tigers are a tremendous basketball team, deserving of their high national ranking. Alabama Basketball is close on the heels of the Tigers, and the Crimson Tide brings an advantage. From now through the end of the regular season and continuing into post-season play, the Crimson Tide has the roster potential to improve more than Auburn.
Credit Auburn and Bruce Pearl for maintaining a winning streak with Johni Broome on the bench. With Broome out, expanded roles have helped some Auburn players to progress. In tournament season Auburn has a high upside, but Auburn with a healthy Broome in February, will not improve considerably by March and beyond.
Alabama Basketball has a roster loaded with potential. Current stats show the Crimson Tide has plenty of room for improvement. It is reasonable to believe Alabama's current stats have been diminished by playing college basketball's most difficult schedule. Auburn has played a tough schedule, ranked No. 7 according to ESPN's BPI, but Alabama's has been tougher, ranked No. 1 by the BPI.
Alabama Basketball Record and Stats
Alabama Basketball leads the SEC and Division 1 basketball scoring 90.9 points per game. Credit to the Nate Oats style of offensive play, the Crimson Tide is producing the points as only the SEC's sixth-best field goal shooting team at 47.5%. That stat is almost equal to the Tide's 2024 team. But the 2025 team, even without Latrell Wrightsell has more good shooters than last season. Last season, Alabama shot 37.3% from three. This season Alabama is 13th in the SEC at 32.5%. That accuracy is almost guaranteed to improve.
The Crimson Tide is also lagging at the foul line' 13th in the SEC, making 70.6%, compared to 77.2% last season. That's another stat in which the Crimson Tide can be expected to improve.
Turnovers are a stat that will improve or Alabama will struggle in tough games. The Crimson Tide is last in the SEC in turnover margin. After committing 21 turnovers in the loss to Ole Miss, the Crimson Tide has committed a total of 20 turnovers in its last two games. In games with 15 or more turnovers last season, Alabama was 2-4. Statistically, the Crimson Tide has room to improve and hopefully will do so.
Note: Various team stats provided by Sports Reference and the SEC.