Alabama Crimson Tide needs a Sweet 16 unlike almost all the others
By Ronald Evans
Mar. 1982 - Raleigh NC - North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Five seasons is too long to call the 1982 game a payback game for the Tar Heels. North Carolina was the 1-Seed in the East. The Crimson Tide was No. 3 in the SEC regular season but pulled off an upset by winning the SEC Tournament. The Tide's SEC Tournament Championship Game win was over the Kentucky Wildcats who played on their home court in Lexington.
Alabama, again playing in an unfriendly setting in New York state, squeaked by St. John's 69-68 in its opening NCAA Tournament game. As a 4-Seed, Alabama played the better North Carolina team tough but lost 74-69. How good was Dean Smith's 1982 team? The roster included Sam Perkins, James Worthy, and Michael Jordan.
Mar. 1985 - Denver, CO - North Carolina State vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama was the 7-Seed and North Carolina State the 3-Seed in the NCAA Tournament West Region. The Tide had two Big Dance wins in 1985, the first over an Arizona team led by Steve Kerr at guard.
Against Jimmy Valvano's 3-Seed Wolfpack, the 7-Seed Alabama team was tied at halftime. NCSU prevailed in the second half, winning 61-55.
Mar. 1986 - Atlanta GA - Kentucky Wildcats vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
The game in Atlanta was the fourth meeting of the season that pitted the Crimson Tide vs. the Wildcats. Kentucky had won all three of the previous games, with the Tide's closest loss being by three points in Tuscaloosa. Eddie Sutton had the Cats ranked as the nation's No. 3 team. Kentucky was the 1-Seed in the Southeast Region. Alabama was the 5-Seed. After shooting just 37% in the second half, Alabama lost by five, 68-63.