Alabama
March is here. Alabama basketball needs to wake up fast
Two things can be true at once.
First truth: the Alabama basketball schedule of late hasn’t been easy; No. 4 Tennessee at home before No. 25 Florida on the road in a four-day span is nothing at which to scoff. Plus, Alabama has played three of its last four games on the road.
Second truth: The Crimson Tide isn’t playing its best basketball right now. It doesn’t matter the opponent, and it doesn’t matter the circumstance. Alabama is capable of better.
The combination of the two truths resulted in back-to-back SEC losses for the first time in two years. The latest was a 105-87 loss to the Gators on Tuesday in Gainesville.
It’s concerning to say the least. Is it time to panic, though? Maybe, maybe not. However, it is certainly time for Alabama to shake off these losses and right the ship. It’s not sinking, but it’s starting to take on some water, ultimately slowing it down.
A vessel that’s not full steam ahead in March isn’t going to stay afloat too long in the postseason.
“We have to bounce back and be ready to go on Saturday and see what seed we can get going into Nashville,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said.
The Crimson Tide can’t seem to get everything to line up lately. Just when the defense started playing better against Tennessee, the offense disappeared. That trend continued in the first half against Florida. With Alabama shooting 10% from beyond the arc, the defense kept the Crimson Tide in the game.
Until it didn’t.
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“We let some offensive frustrations lead to some defensive letdowns that led to them opening it up,” Oats said.
In the final five minutes of the first half, Florida scored 18 points to take a nine-point halftime lead. That continued in the second half with the Gators’ lead ballooning to 23 at one point. The Gators’ points per possession grew to 1.452 in the second half.
“You can play great defense for 4-5 minutes, offense isn’t going well, you have a couple turnovers, you miss some open shots, that can’t frustrate you if you’re really a defensive-minded team,” Oats said. “Right now, we’ve got too many guys getting frustrated and then having too many letdowns.”
Alabama gave up 27 fast-break points and only scored eight. Florida had 13 assists to Alabama’s six. The Crimson Tide only blocked one shot compared to four for the Gators. Alabama also had only half as many steals as Florida.
Turnovers were once again an issue for the Crimson Tide for a second consecutive game. In six of the past nine games, Alabama has reached double-digit turnovers.
Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide’s shooting from deep has slowed. Alabama has made 14 of 60 (23%) of its 3-point attempts the past two games. The Crimson Tide doesn’t have to hit triples at a constant high clip to win, but it needs to be better than that.
Some of this can be fixed, some of it might not be. But either way, rest would be a good first step.
“It looked like we were tired tonight to be honest with you,” Oats said. “We’ve got to do a better job. We’re off (Wednesday). Need to get rested, get in with the trainer, get a bunch of treatment, make sure we’re not going too hard Thursday, Friday, get their bodies and minds fresh ready to play Saturday, and then get ready to try to make a run in Nashville.”
All is not lost. Sure, the SEC regular-season title continues to slip away, but a good seed in the SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament are still attainable. Alabama just needs to find a way to stop slipping down this path and halt the losing before it becomes a losing streak.
Simply put, it’s time for the Crimson Tide to wake up. Otherwise, any dreams of a tournament run will most certainly disappear.
Nick Kelly is the Alabama beat writer for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, and he covers Alabama football and men’s basketball. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
With students and families on campus this weekend for spring 2026 graduation, here’s a rundown of University of Alabama campus history that originally published Nov. 14, 2025.
1820
● The Alabama General Assembly officially established the first public university and named it the University of the State of Alabama. By the 1860s, the school was called the University of Alabama.
1831
● Harvard graduate and Vermont native Alva Woods became the first president of the University of Alabama. First day of classes was held on April 18 with four professors and 52 students. By the end of the term there were nearly 100 students.
1841
● The President’s Mansion was built.
1860
● The Round House was built for the use of the student sentinels.
1865
● All but a few buildings — the President’s Mansion, the observatory, the Round House, the Gorgas House and a few faculty residences — were burned by Union troops.
1892
● Student William G. Little introduced his fellow UA students to the sport of football.
1893
● Anna B. Adams and Bessie Parker became the first women to enroll at the university.
1914
● The first Tutwiler Hall was built on the site of today’s Rose Administration Building. It was the first building exclusively for women.
1915
● The University of Alabama Student Government Association was founded.
1926
● The Alabama Crimson Tide football team won the Rose Bowl, becoming national champions for the first time.
1929
● Denny Chimes, funded in part by student donations, was dedicated in honor of beloved UA President George H. Denny. UA also opens Denny Stadium.
1939
● Construction on the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library was completed.
1956
● The first Black student enrolled. Autherine Lucy attended classes for three days before being removed from campus and then expelled.
1963
● The university was officially desegregated when Vivian Malone and James Hood enrolled. Gov. George Wallace made good on a threat to “stand in the schoolhouse door” to stop them, but his actions were symbolic and did not stop their enrollment.
1975
● The on-campus football stadium is renamed Bryant-Denny Stadium to honor legendary football coach Paul W. “Bear” Bryant.
1980
● UA’s 1979 squad wins the Sugar Bowl, giving Bryant back-to-back national championships. The 1979 championship was also the sixth and final title of Bryant’s career.
2011
● On April 27, 2011, a tornado destroyed much of Tuscaloosa, and six students lost their lives.
2013
● Judy Bonner becomes the university’s first female president.
2016
● The university’s strategic plan, Advancing the Flagship, was unveiled.
2019
● The university achieved R1: Very High Research Activity status, according to the Carnegie Classification.
2020
● The COVID-19 pandemic caused spring classes to be moved online. In-person classes resumed by the fall semester.
● UA wins its 18th national championship in football.
2022
Julia Tutwiler Hall, the 13-story dorm near Bryant-Denny Stadium, was demolished just after 7 a.m. on July 4. UA built a new Tutwiler Hall, just a few yards to the west of the old Tut.
2024
● The Catherine and Pettus Randall Welcome Center, an immersive and engaging visitor center named in honor of longtime University supporters, opened in the restored and reimagined historic Bryce Main.
● The football arena is renamed Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium to honor retired coach Nick Saban. Saban earned six national championships during his 17-year career at the Capstone.
2025
● Peter Mohler is hired to become UA’s 30th president.
● UA sets a new enrollment record by welcoming 42,360 students in the fall.
Sources: The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa News files
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Vanderbilt lost 8-5 in the series finale at No. 24 Alabama on Saturday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
After falling behind early, the Commodores clawed their way back but the home side was able to hold on for the win.
Alabama used four hits, including a three-run homer, to build a 5-0 lead in the first inning.
Colin Barczi got Vanderbilt right back in the game in the top of the second with a three-run blast of his own. Braden Holcomb led off the frame with a single and stole second. Rustan Rigdon was hit by a pitch with two outs and Barczi launched his 10th home run of the season to make it 5-3.
Holcomb picked up his second hit of the day in the top of the third. After Mike Mancini worked a walk and stole second, Holcomb lined a single up the middle to bring home Mancini and pull the Commodores to within a run.
Alabama worked a pair of walks to start off the bottom of the fourth and both runners came around to score as the Crimson Tide went ahead 7-4.
Korbin Reynolds roped a double off the wall to lead off the top of the seventh. Reynolds moved up to third on a passed ball before touching home on a sac fly by Ryker Waite to cut Alabama’s lead back down to two.
Luke Guth came on to pitch with two on and nobody out in the seventh. Catcher’s interference loaded the bases but Guth escaped the jam to keep the deficit at two.
The Crimson Tide extended their lead to three with a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth, going in front 8-5.
Vanderbilt returns home to host Louisville in the Battle of the Barrel on Tuesday at Hawkins Field.
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Transfer portal gossip is nothing new, and the buzz continues to surround Alabama basketball after a fourth consecutive Sweet 16 run.
Earlier this week, an incoming Crimson Tide forward became the latest subject of that speculation, and he didn’t wait long to respond.
After spending his freshman year at Mississippi State, Jamarion Davis-Fleming will join the Crimson Tide’s roster for the 2026-27 season. Days ago, though, rumors circulated that he had not signed with Alabama and was considering a return to Starkville.
On Friday, May 1, Davis-Fleming put any doubt that he was going to play for anyone other than coach Nate Oats to rest.
“Stop with the false rumors, I’m Locked in with The Tide,” Davis-Fleming wrote.
With the Bulldogs, Davis-Fleming averaged 3.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 67.6% across 32 games.
Davis-Fleming is the brother of former Crimson Tide forward Javian Davis, who played under Oats during his first season at the helm of Alabama.
Three other transfer commits are expected to join Davis-Fleming next season, including Brandon Garrison (Kentucky), Cole Cloer (NC State) and Drew Fielder (Boise State). Per 247Sports, the Crimson Tide’s transfer ranking is 19th in the nation.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.
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