Alabama Basketball: SEC games to watch tonight
Just last month, there were serious concerns about Alabama Basketball as the Tide lost five non-conference opportunities in a 7-game stretch. As recently as a week ago, there was continued pessimism surrounding Bama Hoops, which was coming off of a lopsided loss at Tennessee and had another top-10 rival coming to town.
The Crimson Tide conquered that challenge, beating Auburn at home, and then proceeded to run LSU out of Coleman Coliseum just days later.
Suddenly, we are nearing the midway point of the SEC schedule, and Alabama Basketball controls its own destiny at the top of the conference. This is a Bama team that lost incredible amounts of production from last season’s team, and had largely been written off due to its early struggles. The ability of this team to sustain success is, at least in part, the product of an impressive coaching job by Nate Oats; perhaps his best ever.
As it currently stands, the 24th-ranked Crimson Tide is 6-1 in league play and will play at Georgia tonight. Athens hasn’t been kind to Bama Hoops in recent years, but this particular Alabama team has shown that it can take care of business against teams with less talent.
So, what other SEC Basketball games should Bama fans pay attention to tonight?
Two other SEC title contenders will be in action tonight, both at home against presumably inferior competition. First, no. 10 Kentucky hosts an improved Florida team in what could turn into a very interesting game. Then, no. 16 Auburn welcomes in a struggling Vanderbilt squad that currently resides in the cellar with zero league wins.
Both Kentucky and Auburn are just a game behind Alabama Basketball in the SEC standings, so it might be worth tuning in and hoping to see an upset after the conclusion of the Bama game.
Realistically, neither team should lose, especially Auburn. The Tigers are coming off two straight league losses on the road and will look to right the ship at home against Vandy. Kentucky’s matchup is certainly more intriguing, as Florida has won three straight and has shown the ability to get hot.
The SEC has evolved into a high-quality basketball league, and nothing is out of the realm of possibility in a year that has seen a disproportionate number of baffling upsets across the country. Bama isn't safe from this phenomenon either, and will have to play well tonight to avoid the road pitfall that has tripped up so many ranked teams this season.
With Alabama Basketball sitting at first place in the conference, these games across the league get more and more important with each passing day. At any time, someone could very well slip up and allow the Tide to tighten its grip on the conference race.