The expectations have been high all season for this Alabama basketball team with all the players that came back for one more run as well as the young talent that has been added. This team wasn't able to win an SEC regular season or Tournament title, but still very much a candidate for the bigger prize in April.
The SEC was expected to be a gauntlet going into the season and ended up being a better conference than most originally anticipated as seen by the 14 teams that made the NCAA tournament.
The tournament has started so there is no reason to dwell on what wasn't accomplished during SEC play, and honestly, there is nothing to hang their heads about getting a number two seed in the tournament. The East bracket has some tricky matchups but there isn't one, even without Grant Nelson that Alabama should lose.
Hopefully, Grant will be back for the round of 32 on Sunday, but this team is deep and maybe he can rest until the second weekend to be on the safe side. In March we all know you can't take anything for granted but there is no reason this team won't beat Robert Morris tomorrow.
Of course, the round of 32 opponents is a much tougher opponent where Nate Oat's team will play either Vanderbilt or Saint Mary's. I would expect to see the Gaels on Sunday which will be a tough out for the second round. They are a physical team but as long as the Tide are able to play fast and not get bogged down with half-court offensive possessions that should get Alabama to the Sweet 16 for the third straight season.
Hard to predict at this point but whether it be Wisconsin, BYU, or VCU they will have their hands full. Of course, at the time of this article, the Badgers have already advanced with a bigger-than-expected win over Montana.
By the Sweet 16, I expect Grant Nelson to be as back and healthy as possible and his presence will be much needed. That being said no matter who the opponent would be if we play our best game there isn't a reason the Elite 8 isn't reached.
The high expectations for this deep talented Tide team is still the Final Fourwins, but if the East Region goes chalk and Duke won that matchup in the regional final I wouldn't call it a complete underachievement. Losing to any other team outside of the Blue Devils I would be very disappointing as we are a more talented deep team than most in the region. Friday morning can't get here soon enough and hopefully, there is little to no drama to start Friday against the Colonials.