With a schedule as tough as any team in the nation, Alabama Basketball has overachieved to reach 17-7. Five of the wins are over teams projected to make the NCAA Tournament field. Six of the seven losses have come from projected NCAA Tournament teams, with five of the teams being Big Dance locks. For added perspective, Joe Lunardi's latest bracket has the Crimson Tide as a 2-seed that has played six games against his highest-seeded 16 teams.
Despite massive roster and staff turnover, Nate Oats has built the Crimson Tide into a championship contender. It is possibly the best coaching performance of Nate Oats' career.
There is work left to do. There is not an easy win in the Tide's next six games, three of which are on the SEC road. The toughest of the six is a home contest against one of college basketball's best teams, the Tennessee Vols.
How will Alabama Basketball finish the regular season?
Texas A&M (15-9, 6-5) at Alabama - Sat. Feb. 17
The Aggies were on a tear, beating Florida and Tennessee. A three-game win streak ended Tuesday night in Nashville, in a 74-73 loss to Vanderbilt. The loss moved the Aggies down six spots, to No. 43 in the NCAA NET. Texas A&M was looking like a good bet to make the Big Dance, but losing to the woeful Dores has moved the Aggies to bubble status. The Aggies are led by guards Wade Taylor IV and Tyrece Radford. When Taylor is hot, he is one of the SEC's best offensive players. Radford's physical style gets him into the paint where he is a good finisher. PREDICTION: 10-point win for the Crimson Tide
Florida (17-7, 7-4) at Alabama - Feb. 21; Alabama at Florida - Mar. 5
The Gators have won six of their last seven, including wins over Kentucky and Auburn. The Gators have four bigs that are featured in their top eight players in minutes played. Their size will challenge the Crimson Tide. Zyon Pullin, the Gators' second-leading scorer and best three-shooter cannot be allowed good looks outside the arc. PREDICTION: Bama wins by eight in Coleman and wins by one in Gainesville.