In two nearly 'must-win' road games, Alabama Basketball did what it had to do after losing at home to Texas. The Crimson Tide now gets a much-needed midweek break before hosting the Tennessee Vols on Saturday, Jan. 24.
With a win over Vanderbilt in Nashville, Florida is a big favorite to win the SEC regular season. The Gators and Texas A&M are 4-1 in SEC play. Alabama is in a 3rd place logjam of seven teams with 3-2 SEC records.
Beginning with the Tennessee game, Alabama will play five games in 15 days, including three games during seven days. Computer models have the Crimson Tide losing two of the five, specifically the two away games at Florida and Auburn. The three home games in the run: Tennessee, Missouri, and Texas A&M are must-wins in terms of any chance to win the SEC regular season.
It will be a tough stretch for Nate Oats. Alabama must play better than it has in its last three games. SEC road wins are hard to achieve, but beating Mississippi State and Oklahoma did not enhance the Crimson Tide's NCAA Tournament seeding prospects.
NCAA NET Ranking - SEC teams
- Vanderbilt (16-3, 3-2) - NCAA NET No. 13
- Florida Gators (13-5, 4-1) - NET No. 15
- Alabama Crimson Tide (13-5, 3-2) - NET No. 18
- Arkansas Razorbacks (13-5, 3-2) - NET No. 24
- Tennessee Vols (12-6, 2-3) - NET No. 26
- Georgia Bulldogs (15-3, 3-2) - NET No. 27
- Kentucky Wildcats (12-6, 3-2) - NET No. 28
- Auburn Tigers (11-7, 3-2) - NET No. 36
- Texas Longhorns (11-7, 2-3) - NET No. 41
- Texas A&M Aggies (14-4, 4-1) - NET No. 42
- LSU Bengal Tigers (13-5, 1-4) - NET No. 48
- Missouri Tigers (13-5, 3-2) - NET No. 68
- Oklahoma Sooners (11-7, 1-4) - NET No. 69
- Ole Miss Rebels (11-7, 3-2) - NET No. 79
- South Carolina Gamecocks (10-8, 1-4) - NET No. 92
- Mississippi State Bulldogs (10-8, 2-3) - NET No. 95
The Alabama basketball team must focus on improving and each successive opponent. A more healthy Crimson Tide can make a second half of the season surge.
Alabama Basketball - NCAA Tournament
Alabama fans can take a longer view to the NCAA Tournament. The SEC will not match last season's 14 Big Dance teams. Ten is a probable number, with the likely range being 9-11 teams.
Currently, the Crimson Tide is most often projected as a 4-seed Big Dance team. A 3-seed is certainly in reach. An even higher seed remains possible. Last season, the Crimson Tide made the Elite Eight as a 4-seed. The history of 3-seeds making an Elite Eight is 25.6%, compared to 4-seeds at 15.6%.
Note: Complete NCCA NET Rankings