Despite being a double-digit favorite, Alabama's SEC Tournament run came to a premature end on Friday with a stunning 80-79 loss to 15th-seeded Ole Miss, who won its third game in three days in Nashville to send the Crimson Tide back to Tuscaloosa.
It was a familiar refrain for Alabama: a lack of early urgency marred by defensive lapses, and a double-digit deficit to overcome. Alabama trailed by as many as 14 in the first half. It battled back, and Labaron Philon had the ball in his hands with a chance to win the game, but an ill-fated pass to Aiden Sherrell led to a loose ball, and the Rebels held on for the upset.
Nate Oats was frustrated with the performance in the postgame, and his tone felt familiar for a team that has struggled to do the little things right for most of the season.
"We tried to tell our guys this was a lot different team than what we saw in Oxford," Oats said.
Oats added that Alabama players needed to do some "soul searching" and everyone on the team - from freshmen to upperclassmen - needed to have a higher sense of urgency for how to win games in March.
He's been sounding that alarm for the majority of the season, and while the team has certainly responded to that some, it has too often found itself back in this exact position.
"We'll be one game and done in the NCAA Tournament if this is the effort we're going to give," Oats said.
Alabama's NCAA Tournament standing took a big hit with loss to Ole Miss
The Rebels came into Friday night's game with a 14-19 overall record. It is, without question, the worst loss of the season for Alabama. And it will be extremely costly come Selection Sunday.
The Crimson Tide had positioned itself to potentially grab a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament, meaning they could avoid a 1-seed until the Elite Eight. Now, after the disappointing defeat, Alabama will likely slip to the 4-seed line, which will make a potential run to the Elite Eight or beyond for a third straight season incredibly difficult.
On the bright side, history may be on Alabama's side.
The last time Alabama went one-and-done in the SEC Tournament, it ended up as a 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament, too. From there, the Crimson Tide went on a surprising NCAA Tournament run and made it to the first Final Four in program history.
Perhaps lightning will strike twice for Oats and Alabama.