As February comes to an end, college hoops are about to enter the most electrifying time of the year. Alabama basketball is back in the top 25 and is looking to close the season strong. They have won 4 of their last 5 games and the tide currently sits at 18-10 overall and 8-7 in the SEC with 3 games left in the regular season. Alabama is firmly positioned to be a team playing in the NCAA Tournament. The tide has had some huge wins this year. They have beat Gonzaga, Baylor, Houston, and Tennessee. There are speculations that Alabama will be a No. 5 seed in the tournament which gives them a good chance at dodging an early out to a really good team. Alabama will look to finish their last 3 conference games strong and prepare to play in the SEC tournament to improve their standings in the NCAA Tournament.
Alabama won the SEC tournament last year and ranked as a No. 2 seed going into the NCAA Tournament. Â They made it all the way to the sweet 16 where they lost to UCLA in overtime. Since then, they have lost significant players due to the NBA draft, graduation and overseas like Herbert Jones (NBA), Joshua Primo (NBA), John Petty, and Alex Reese. Alabama had a better record last year but expect to make it further in the tournament this year. If Alabama is able to finish strong and win the SEC tournament it will boost their confidence and better their chances of an easier route to the NCAA championship.
Alabama has struggled shooting the three this year and on defense. They are shooting 30.9% from three and are only averaging 6.9 steals this season. Last year the tide shot 35.1 % from three and averaged 8.6 steals. Leading scorer Jaden Shackleford will have to play excellent moving toward the tournament and his teammates will have to step up defensively in order for them to be serious contenders
