Alabama basketball will have the opportunity to add another piece of hardware to its historic season. After claiming a program-record 28th win during Saturday’s SEC Tournament semifinal against Missouri, the Crimson Tide can clinch its second conference title in three years on Sunday as it takes on Texas A&M.
Top-seeded Alabama advanced to the final after defeating Mississippi State 72–49 on Friday, but lost to Missouri 72–61 in the second half. Meanwhile, No. 2 seed Texas A&M posted wins over Arkansas (67–61) and Vanderbilt (87–75) to seal their spot in the title match.
Here’s everything you need to know about the game.
how to see
WHO: No. 4 Alabama (28-5) vs. No. 18 Texas A&M (25-8)
When: Noon CT, Sunday, March 12
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Watch: ESPN (Play-by-Play: Karl Ravech; Analyst: Dick Vitale; Sideline: Marty Smith)
Hear: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-by-Play: Chris Stewart; Analyst: Brian Passink; Engineer Tom Stipe)
Alabama’s Projected Start
Jahvon Queenrly: 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, Sr.
Stats: 7.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 3.8 apg, 37.8% FG, 33.3% 3-pt
Mark Sears: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Jr.
Stats: 12.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.6 apg, 40.9% FG, 35.3% 3-pt
Brandon Miller: 6-foot-9, 200 pounds, freshman
Stats: 19.5 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 45.9% FG, 40.7% 3-pt
Noah the Clown: 6-foot-10, 210 pounds, freshman
Stats: 10.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 0.9 apg, 49.1% FG, 27.8% 3-pt
Charles Bediaco: 7 feet, 225 pounds, second class
Stats: 6.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.6 apg, 65.4% FG
Texas A&M’s projected starting lineup
Wade Taylor IV: 6-foot, 185 pounds, second division
Stats: 16.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 4.0 apg, 41.0% FG, 36.5% 3-pt
Tyrese Redford: 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, Sr.
Stats: 13.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 39.5% FG, 32.2% 3-pt
Dexter Dennis: 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, Sr.
Stats: 9.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.2 apg, 39.3% FG, 29.6% 3-pt
Henry Coleman III: 6-foot-8, 245 pounds, Jr.
Stats: 9.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.0 apg, 54.0% FG
Julius Marble: 6-foot-9, 245 pounds, Jr.
Stats: 9.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 0.4 apg, 53.1% FG
a chance at redemption
After Saturday’s semifinal victory over Missouri, Alabama claimed it did not care who it played in Sunday’s final. However, in the depths of the Crimson Tide there was hope for a chance for revenge against the Aggies.
Texas A&M handed Alabama its last loss earlier this month, defeating the Tide 67–61 in College Station during the regular season finale. During that game, Alabama shot just 33.8% from the floor, including 19.4% (7 of 36) from deep. It turned the ball over 18 times and allowed Texas A&M to stay at the free-throw line where it converted 27 of 28 attempts.
“I would like to see A&M again because they are one of our two [SEC] loss, and we lost to them in a close one,” said freshman guard Rylan Griffen, a Dallas native. “So I would like to give them the opportunity to play again and have a chance to go out there and beat them as we lost to them the first time.”
Since taking over at Alabama in the 2019-20 season, Oates is 0-3 against the Aggies. Texas A&M won 74–68 during its first year inside Coleman Coliseum, while the Crimson Tide’s road game the following season was canceled due to weather. Last season, Texas A&M defeated Alabama in Tuscaloosa, 87–71.
“They’re good,” Oates said. “They’re difficult, they cause problems.
taming taylor
Stopping Texas A&M is focused on slowing down second guard Wade Taylor IV. The All-SEC first-teamer has scored 20 or more points in seven of his last 10 games, including a career-high 28 points during the Aggies’ win over the Crimson Tide earlier this month.
During their previous meeting against Alabama, Taylor was 8 of 15 from the floor, including 2 of 7 from deep. He got to the line 10 times, making all of his free-throw attempts. The 6-foot, 185-pound Dallas native is averaging 16.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 41.0% from the floor and 36.5% from deep this season. He also leads the SEC in free-throw percentage with 87.2
Taylor is part of a trio of talented guards for Texas A&M along with Tyrese Radford and Dexter Dennis. Radford had 21 points during the win against Alabama and is averaging 13.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game for the Aggies. Dennis is Texas A&M’s leader in rebounding (5.7 per game) and blocks (0.6 per game) and is also averaging 9.0 points.
game notes
– Alabama has won a program-record 28 games, surpassing the 2001–02 team for most wins in a single season.
– Brandon Miller set the program record for most points in a freshman season, surpassing Collin Sexton’s mark of 632 points in the 2017–18 season. Miller has 645 points in 33 games. Reggie King set Alabama’s overall single-season scoring record with 747 points in 33 games during his senior campaign in 1978–79.
– Miller’s 99 this season tied for 3rd on Alabama’s single-season list, 14 away from the mark of 113 set by Eric Washington in 1995-96.
– Nate Oates’ record in the SEC Tournament is 5-1 with a winning percentage of .833, the second highest since 1979 behind Rick Pitino (17-1, .944).
– Oates joins CM Newton as the only two Alabama head coaches to have led UA to multiple SEC regular-season championships.
– Alabama is 15-16 against AP Top 25 teams during Oates’ tenure