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The SEC basketball slate has been insanely great all season long, and the Alabama Crimson Tide have been in the bullseye of it from beginning to end. After facing 4 ranked teams before SEC play began, the Tide will have matched up against a startling 12 ranked teams inside the league.
Such is life for a Final Four team, and the Crimson Tide largely have comported themselves well – even though Alabama is currently mired in a 2-game losing streak entering Saturday’s home test against Kentucky (game No. 3 of 7 straight against ranked opponents to end the regular season).
At 18.5 points per game and 40.9% shooting, guard Mark Sears is 3 full points below last season’s All-American campaign (21.5 ppg on 50.8% from the floor). But even with that lessened output, Alabama still leads the nation in scoring at 90.6 points per game (well ahead of Gonzaga’s 87.8 ppg).
With that in mind, let’s break down how the remainder of the regular season looks for Alabama as the Crimson Tide aims for an SEC championship, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and a potential national championship run:
Saturday, Feb. 22: Alabama vs. Kentucky
Last time: Alabama 102, Kentucky 97 on Jan. 18
The skinny: When 2 of the top offensive teams in the country teed off on each other at Rupp Arena earlier in the year, it was no surprise that the combined total ended up a single tick shy of 200 points (20 points over the Vegas total…) Grant Nelson led the way that night with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Mark Sears made 4 3-pointers and dropped 24 points. The critical factor that afternoon was actually at the free-throw line, as the visiting Tide made 29-of-34 from the stripe vs. 16-of-20 for the Wildcats. With a theoretically even more favorable whistle at Coleman Coliseum, figure Alabama squeaks by with another W.
Prediction: Alabama 101, Kentucky 89
Tuesday, Feb. 25: Alabama vs. Mississippi State
Last time: Alabama 88, Mississippi State 84 on Jan. 29
The skinny: Going to The Hump is never fun for opposing teams, and Alabama survived that night against the perennially pesky Bulldogs. Chris Youngblood was the hero, scoring a season-high 23 points (including 7 treys) that included a pair of free throws with 10.9 seconds to play. Mississippi State got a monster night from Josh Hubbard via a career-high 38 points, but KeShawn Murphy missed a running layup with 13 seconds to play to secure Alabama its fourth straight SEC road victory. Bulldogs coach Chris Jans is 0-6 against the Crimson Tide, and I figure it will move to 0-7.
Prediction: Alabama 91, Mississippi State 71
Saturday, March 1: Alabama at Tennessee
Last time: Only meeting this season
The skinny: This is the point in the homestretch where it gets really intense for the Tide – with 2 of the final 3 games on the road against top-10 teams. Tennessee was No. 1 in the nation earlier this season after running the non-conference schedule 15-0, and boasts a stingy defense allowing 60.5 points per outing. Guard Chaz Lanier leads 4 double-digit Vols at 17.5 points per game, but it is hard to believe Tennessee can muster enough points to overcome the high-octane Alabama offense.
Prediction: Alabama 81, Tennessee 75
Wednesday, March 5: Alabama vs. Florida
Last time: Only meeting this season
The skinny: The Gators are capital-G great and are the only squad in the SEC this season to solve Auburn – doing so 90-81 on The Plains. Florida is precisely the kind of squad that can – and will – give the Tide fits, as guard Walter Clayton Jr. leads a balanced offense at 17.2 points and 4.2 assists per outing. Forward Alex Condon is also a force inside, offering 10.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game along with 34 blocks this season. Florida’s only “bad” loss this season was an 83-82 home setback against Missouri, and the Gators will make this one must-see Wednesday night viewing.
Prediction: Florida 90, Alabama 89
Saturday, March 8: Alabama at Auburn
Last time: Auburn 94, Alabama 85 on Feb. 15
The skinny: The Tigers and Crimson Tide played just the fifth No. 1 vs. No. 2 intrastate regular season game in history in Tuscaloosa, and this one could offer even more fireworks. Johni Broome was the man yet again for the Tigers that day, popping for 19 points and 14 rebounds. But the Tigers also had 4 more players reach double-digit scoring: Denver Jones scored 16 points, Chad Baker-Mazara and Miles Kelly added 15 points apiece, Chaney Johnson had 14 and Tahaad Pettiford chipped in 13. Can Bruce Pearl solve Nate Oats twice in a single season? Nope.
Prediction: Alabama 99, Auburn 98 in overtime
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
