Alabama is back in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season, tying a school record set from 1982-1987. But under Nate Oats, the Crimson Tide is far from satisfied with just being there. Alabama will be looking to do damage in March Madness.
The Crimson Tide has made it to at least the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for three straight seasons, including back-to-back trips to the Elite Eight and the program's first Final Four berth in 2024.
The path isn't easy this year, but with some injury concerns in the Midwest Region, Alabama could take advantage and make another deep run.
Michigan will be the favorite in the region as the No. 1 seed, but college basketball analyst Jay Bilas believes most teams won't want to see the Crimson Tide on the other side of the court.
“Michigan is clearly the best team in this region, but Alabama is the one I wouldn’t want to play," Bilas said. "Just because they’ve got talent and they can really shoot it from three.”
Jay Bilas says Alabama is the team he 'wouldn't want to play' in Midwest Region
Alabama will have its hands full immediately with a pesky 13-seeded Hofstra team that can really shoot the ball and will try to slow the game down to a snail's pace. The Crimson Tide should come in motivated after a disappointing showing in the SEC Tournament.
A win would put Alabama up against either 5-seeded Texas Tech or 12-seeded Akron. With the Red Raiders' injury issues, the Zips will be a popular upset pick in the opening round.
Getting past Michigan in the Sweet 16 would be a monumental task and would take the single best performance of the season for Oats's team. But Alabama has a puncher's chance against anyone if it can get hot from three-point range.
Alabama has been trending up shooting the ball, connecting on 36% from deep in SEC play. That will need to continue for the Crimson Tide to have a shot at making a deep run.
It's been a good, albeit inconsistent, season for Alabama. It has shown the ability to compete - and beat - the best of the best, earning non-conference wins over St. John's and Illinois on the road. But the loss to Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament and a home loss to Texas in January showed that it is capable of losing to teams it shouldn't if it doesn't play with requisite energy and effort on both ends of the floor.
In do-or-die basketball this week in the NCAA Tournament, Oats shouldn't have to harp on effort-related things. If he does, it could be a quick exit for the Tide.