Alabama Basketball showed an impressive level of resilience in a comeback, overtime win over Florida on Wednesday night. With the victory, Bama improved to 13-1 in Coleman Coliseum this season and 28-1 over the last two years.
The Crimson Tide overcame relatively poor shooting splits, including shooting just 25 percent from the three-point line, and still found a way to post 98 points in the win. Additionally, Bama survived an inspired effort by a talented Florida team that played one of its best games of the season.
The resourcefulness of this Bama Hoops squad, and its ability to find a way to win even when shots aren’t falling, is a testament to the job Coach Nate Oats has done this season. After delivering one of the best seasons in school history in 2022-23, Coach Oats has surpassed all expectations in his encore performance. In fact, the team’s gritty display in the face of a cold shooting night against Florida was reminiscent of that team from last year in some ways.
Going forward, the gauntlet does not slow down for Alabama Basketball. The team must quickly refocus, as it has a short turnaround ahead of a trip to Lexington, Kentucky to take on the Wildcats in Rupp Arena this weekend. Kentucky is coming off an instant classic in its own right, as the Cats fell to LSU at the buzzer on Wednesday night. Coach Calipari has one of the more dangerous offensive teams in the nation, and they will be hungry coming off the loss.
After the trip to Lexington, Alabama will stay on the road and head to Oxford, Mississippi. Ole Miss is a middle-of-the-pack SEC team, but it has posted a 14-1 home record this season and won't be an easy out.
Following the two-game roadstand, the Tide comes back home to play a top-10 Tennessee team in a game that could decide the SEC regular season championship. Alabama will have the chance to avenge one of its two conference losses, and potentially lock up the regular season title, with a win.
Bama then travels to Gainesville for a rematch with the Gators before coming back to Tuscaloosa to host Arkansas for the regular season finale.
Bama Hoops maintains its one game lead in the SEC title race, but will have to continue finding ways to beat quality teams to remain atop the standings.