The result of one game normally has a minor impact on any college basketball team. This Saturday could be an exception for some SEC basketball teams. The reason why is that four SEC basketball teams, including the Alabama Crimson Tide, are tightly packed in NCAA Tournament 4-seed, 5-seed projections.
Using the latest Bracket Matrix (2/26) as a guide, Alabama is a 4-seed, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Arkansas are 5-seeds. The Florida Gators are projected as a 3-seed. Other SEC team projections are: Kentucky, 7-seed. Georgia, 9-seed, Texas A&M, Auburn, and Texas, 10-seeds, Missouri, 11-seed.
All the SEC's 10-seed and 11-seed teams are Big Dance Bubble teams.
SEC Basketball Saturday Schedule for March Madness Contenders
- Arkansas Razorbacks at Florida Gators
- Alabama Crimson Tide at Tennessee Vols
- Vanderbilt Commodores at Kentucky Wildcats
- South Carolina Gamecocks at Georgia Bulldogs
- Missouri Tigers at Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Texas Longhorns at Texas A&M Aggies
- Ole Miss Rebels at Auburn Tigers
Bart Torvik's algorithm projects the winners will be Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Georgia, Missouri, and Auburn. The Gators, Georgia, and Auburn are projected to win by double digits. Other games have small projected margins: Missouri wins by 1, Kentucky by 2, and Tennessee beats Alabama by 4.
Alabama Basketball and Knoxville Challenge
Playing in Knoxville has long been the Crimson Tide's Achilles Heel. Alabama is 24-49 in away games against the Vols. It has been over five years since the Crimson Tide has won in Thompson-Boling Arena. The Vols are one of college basketball's top teams for winning at home. Rick Barnes holds an 8-5 record against Nate Oats, and his Tennessee teams have consistently held the Alabama Crimson Tide below its scoring average.
Alabama has not scored more than 76 points against the Vols since 2008. The Crimson Tide has not played its best game, though it did for a half on Wednesday night against Mississippi State. Alabama made threes at a 59% clip. For the season, Tennessee has held opponents to 30.2% three point shooting.
If the Crimson Tide can contain Nate Ament and make threes at a high 30% team average, Alabama can win the important road game in Knoxville.