Patrick Murphy has a real contender again as Alabama softball's bounceback season included a 47-6 mark in the regular season and a 19-5 record in SEC play.
Alabama ultimately fell a game short of earning a share of the SEC's regular season crown with a series loss in Knoxville a week ago serving as the impetus for it. But the Crimson Tide remains a legitimate contender to capture a second national championship nonetheless.
Led by veteran ace Jocelyn Briski and freshman sensation Vic Moten, Alabama's pitching duo is as good as any in the country and will give them a chance against anyone on the schedule.
While Oklahoma captured the SEC's regular-season crown, Alabama finished 2nd and has a favorable draw in the SEC Tournament as a result by avoiding both Oklahoma and Texas until the championship game at the earliest.
Alabama softball's path to an SEC Tournament championship
Alabama last captured the SEC Tournament title back in 2021, and has a path that should give them a real shot at doing it again.
The Crimson Tide received a double-bye in the SEC Tournament thanks to finishing 2nd in the league standings. Alabama's first matchup in the single-elimination tournament will take place on Thursday against Arkansas or the Mississippi State/Kentucky winner. The Razorbacks have a bye until Wednesday and will face the winner of the matchup on Tuesday between the Bulldogs and Wildcats.
Alabama took two of the three-game series against Arkansas in the regular season and swept Kentucky. It did not face Mississippi State.
A win on Thursday would catapult the Tide into Friday's semifinals, with a likely matchup against either Florida or Texas A&M, barring a Cinderella-type run by Missouri or Auburn. Alabama didn't face either Florida or A&M during the regular season.
Arkansas would not be an easy opponent in the quarterfinals, with the Hogs ranked No. 5 by Softball America entering the SEC Tournament. But Texas ultimately finishing 4th puts the Longhorns and the Sooners on the other side of the bracket from the Crimson Tide. That's the best draw Murphy and his club could have hoped for.
You can view the entire SEC Tournament bracket here.
Add us as a preferred source on Google