The University of Alabama men’s basketball team has managed a complete turnaround from last season, one way to put it. The Crimson Tide hasn’t seen a number one ranking since 2002, on a 27-win season under Mark Gottfried. The season ultimately ended in a first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament to Indiana.
Tide Rolls in at Number Two
The polls released Monday and have the Tide at number two going into last night’s SEC matchup with Mississippi State. Sunday chaos helped the Tide rise in the polls, with previously ranked number two Kansas taking two losses within a week, including an embarrassing 83-60 blowout at home to TCU. Adding to the chaos was number one Houston’s loss to Temple at home, their first loss coming from none other than Alabama earlier in the season.
Alabama gave us all hope in 2020 after securing a regular season title alongside the SEC Championship. The 2021-22 season did not hold up to the expectation to keep the momentum going, as it became an anxiety-ridden headache to watch. I had my own opinions on the matter, as I so eloquently displayed in an article last season. I went against my own alma mater and made the bold statement that they weren’t playing with any heart. They fell flat. It was hard to root for a team that continually showed that they didn’t have the will to win. The potential was there, and the talent was there, but the passion and drive were lacking.
Now here we are, with a relatively new string of frontrunners and what feels like a brand new program. I’m just as astonished as the next person, and believe me when I say I am enjoying it. Head Coach Nate Oats and his team have put in the work, and it shows.
Tide Gets SEC Win Over Mississippi State
The Tide started slow against the Bulldogs but turned up the heat in the second half for a come-from-behind 66-63 victory. Jahvon Quinerly led the Tide with 14 points, Brandon Miller came in with 13 points, and six rebounds, with Noah Clowney, dropped 13 points with eight rebounds.
Coach Oats’ stale expression in his postgame interview goes to show this Alabama team means business and even in a win, an ugly one may I add, that the job isn’t done.
The Tide currently sits at 18-2, going 8-0 against its SEC counterparts. The Crimson Tide takes on the Oklahoma Sooners Saturday at 1 pm. After that, it’s all SEC ball for the Oats and the Tide for the remainder of the season, beginning with Vanderbilt, LSU, and Florida, then it’s on to the ‘Jungle’ to face Number 15 Auburn.
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