A rapidly improving Alabama Crimson Tide is drawing attention from the college basketball world, and Nate Oats is becoming well-known around the country.
The Alabama Crimson Tide solidified their dominance over the SEC on Saturday. In Tuscaloosa, Alabama thrashed Texas A&M, defeating the Aggies 100-75 and setting an SEC record of 10-2.
The NCAA Tournament Committee also released a preview of college basketball’s top 16 Big Dance seeds one month ahead of time on Saturday. With the Crimson Tide ranked as the overall No. 9 seed, Nate Oats’ squad is currently ranked as the top 3-seed. Other SEC teams in the initial top 16 are Auburn, ranked number four, and Tennessee, ranked number two.
Wade Taylor IV, the Aggies’ third-highest scorer in the SEC, accompanied them to Tuscaloosa. Taylor had a 19.8 point average coming into the contest. In his 36 minutes on the court against the Crimson Tide, he scored just 10 points. Mark Sears of Alabama entered the contest with the highest scoring average in the SEC (20.5 points). With 23 points against the Aggies on Saturday, Sears increased that average even more.
Throughout the game, the Crimson Tide shot 52%, including an impressive 44% from beyond the arc. The Aggies are the best offensive rebounding team in college basketball, and they outperformed the Tide on the glass. A&M had a 49-38 advantage in total rebounds and a 26-14 advantage in offensive rebounds.
Nate Oats highlighted the Aggies’ dominance against the Crimson Tide in rebounding after the game. The head coach of the Tide expressed satisfaction with his team’s defensive progress.Even though traditionally, the SEC Tournament has resembled an invitational hosted by the Kentucky Wildcats, the Alabama Crimson Tide has performed admirably in these events. If the 1988 victory that was vacated is taken into account, the Wildcats have won it 32 times. The No. 2 SEC team, Alabama, has eight SEC Tournament victories. With five SEC Tournament victories, Tennessee leads Florida (4 wins) and Mississippi State (3 wins).
The SEC Tournament has been won twice by Auburn, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, and Georgia. Together with Georgia Tech, a former SEC member, Arkansas and LSU have each won one SEC Tournament. Here is a list of all the SEC Tournament Champions.
The inaugural SEC Tournament was won by Kentucky, under the direction of the illustrious Adolph Rupp. in 1933. In 1934, Hank Crisp led the Alabama Crimson Tide to victory in the SEC Tournament.
1935 saw the absence of the SEC Tournament. In 1936, the competition resumed, and it did so until the 1952 season.
In 1979, the SEC Tournament returned, and Tennessee emerged victorious after defeating Kentucky in overtime. In 1982, the tournament moved to Rupp Arena in Kentucky, after three years in Birmingham. Ennis Whatley’s Alabama surprised the Big Blue Nation by defeating the Cats 48–46. Wimp Sanderson won his first of five SEC Tournament Championships with it.
The competition has taken place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena seven times in the last ten seasons. It is hosted in Nashville this season and will stay there at least until the year 2030.
If Alabama doesn’t lose its next seven SEC regular season games, it will have a double-bye and won’t play until Friday, March 15 in the quarterfinals.
On Wednesday, March 13, the tournament will begin with the SEC’s bottom four. When the two Wednesday night victors and six other teams compete on Thursday, the top four SEC teams will not play. The SEC Championship Game will take place at noon on Sunday following the Semifinals on Saturday and the Quarterfinals on Friday.
Sunday’s Selection and the Alabama Crimson Tide
The NCAA Tournament field will be announced a few hours after the Sunday game ends. Seven to nine Big Dance teams are anticipated in the SEC. The 2023–2024 Alabama Crimson Tide already has a lock to make the NCAA Tournament. It’s not impossible for the Crimson Tide to finish as the #2 seed. While a 3- or 4-seed is not guaranteed just yet, the tide is almost there.
