Head coach Dennis Gates and his well-constructed roster have put together a couple of strong wins in response to their first back-to-back losses of the season.
They took care of business against Oklahoma, then went on the road to face a tough home crowd in Athens and defeated Georgia as well. The wins have them sitting at 19-6 overall and 8-4 in the SEC, still among the best in the NCAA this season.
Mizzou hasn’t had a 20-win season in three years, and though they're just one victory away from ending that drought, the Crimson Tide stand in their way. Alabama will look to silence what has been one of the loudest home courts this season, thanks in part to the Tigers' 16-1 home record.
Alabama enters play at 21-4 overall and a very impressive 10-2 in conference play. The Crimson Tide are coming off their second SEC loss, a narrow defeat to No. 1 Auburn in a back-and-forth game that had serious March Madness vibes for everyone to enjoy.
Their other SEC defeat was to No. 19 Ole Miss, in a slight shocker. Beyond that, the Crimson Tide were upset by unranked Oregon and No. 7 Purdue in November.
Alabama has one of the better resumes this season, with strong wins against Illinois, No. 6 Houston, No. 24 Creighton, No. 8 Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, No. 15 Kentucky, and No. 22 Mississippi State.
The Crimson Tide are in an interesting spot. While they're sitting near the top of the NCAA this season, they are about to close the year with an absolute gauntlet, one that could jeopardize their hopes of a double-bye in the SEC Tournament and impact their seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Starting with the Auburn game last weekend, Alabama closes the season with its final seven games against AP Top-25 ranked opponents. This stretch includes three top-five teams, all within the conference.
Coming off a blowout loss to the eventual NCAA Tournament champion UConn Huskies in the Final Four last season, Alabama entered this year seeking revenge—and they’ve arguably looked even better than last season.
Ranked No. 6 in the KenPom rankings and boasting the best scoring offense in the NCAA by far, Alabama is a formidable opponent for any team they face.
Head coach Nate Oats, who came over from the Buffalo Bulls after the 2018-19 campaign, has guided his program in the right direction since taking the reins.
The Crimson Tide have surpassed 20 wins in each of the past five seasons, and with a likely NCAA Tournament appearance this year, they’ve reached the tournament as many times, including a run to the Final Four last season, as previously mentioned.
They even set a program high with 31 wins in the 2022-23 season, earning a No. 1 overall seed in March—the first time in program history for the always competitive team.
Offensively, the team is as deep as they come. It features what could be the most prolific scorer in the NCAA this season, and he’s a nightmare for any opposing defense.
Mark Sears, who leads the team in minutes with over 32 per game, has taken the league by storm in his fifth collegiate season and third in Tuscaloosa, after spending his first two seasons at Ohio.
Though his numbers and efficiency have dipped slightly from last season, his team has improved significantly, and he appears to be an all-around better player. In late January, he became just the 82nd player in NCAA history to surpass 2,500 career points.
Mark Sears against No. 8 Kentucky:
— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) January 18, 2025
▪️ 24 PTS
▪️ 9 AST pic.twitter.com/ruX3z01AJg
The Alabama native averages 18 points per game, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists, shooting 40% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc. He’s also solid on defense, adding a steal per game.
His main issue comes with turnovers, where he averages nearly 3 per game, a number that has steadily increased over the past four years.
When he plays efficiently and avoids turnovers, this team wins games. However, in their most recent loss to Auburn, he recorded three turnovers and shot just 4-of-17 from the field, including a tough 2-of-11 from beyond the arc.
If a defense can get him to miss a few shots, his confidence clearly drops, making him much less of a threat on offense.
The offense also features five players, including Sears, who average double-digit points per game. The most threatening of that group is senior Grant Nelson.
Nelson is in his second season with the Crimson Tide after dominating three years at North Dakota. He’s a full-time starter who knows his role and is efficient in most of the games he plays.
Nelson averages 13 points per game on 54% shooting. He also leads the team in rebounds, pulling down over 8 per night (54th in the NCAA), and contributes a team-high 1.5 blocks per game.
He’s another all-around player for Nate Oats to work with, capable of being a threat on both sides of the ball.
This roster is likely the deepest of any team the Tigers have faced in the 2024-25 season. It matches the depth Mizzou features, and the depth of both teams will undoubtedly be a factor in determining who comes out victorious.
The strategy will need to focus on limiting the star power as much as possible. It’s crucial to defend Sears with the best defender on the court, while also not overlooking his four teammates, any of whom can easily shift the momentum.
Wednesday night should be a grueling battle, and it’s undoubtedly a win that Mizzou can use to strengthen its resume as they inch closer to March, hoping for a top seed.
The SEC rivals will tip off at 8 p.m. CST on Wednesday night.