Last week, maturity was make-or-break for Alabama basketball and Florida ahead of the SEC foes’ meeting in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday.

While the No. 6 Crimson Tide was tested with keeping its composure against Mississippi State after completing the season sweep against Kentucky, the No. 3 Gators suffered a wild upset by unranked Georgia last Tuesday. On Saturday, Florida (25-4, 12-4 SEC) bounced back with a win over Texas A&M, but Alabama (23-6, 12-4 SEC) blew its momentum in a matter of 30 seconds against Tennessee.

Nate Oats recalled Alabama veterans throwing themselves pity-parties heading into last season’s game in Gainesville, egos bruised by Tennessee. The Crimson Tide finds itself in the same situation once again, but it’ll need a better response than the one that saw the Gators drop over 100 points on UA in both the 2024 regular season and SEC Tournament.

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Todd Golden says Florida has ‘a lot on the line’ entering trip to Tuscaloosa

After an 89-70 win against a Texas A&M squad that’s navigating a four-game losing streak, Golden found Auburn a deserving lock to win the SEC regular-season. However, he has no problem with being the runner-up to the top overall seed ahead of the NCAA Tournament.

“Obviously Auburn is gonna win the league by themselves, what they’ve done this year. It’s incredible,” Golden said on Saturday. “But we have a chance to go into Tuscaloosa on Wednesday and if we win that game, then we’re in the driver’s seat to get second place. So we have a lot on the line left.”

Golden added the Gators, who have yet to have lost two games straight, are still playing for a No. 1 seed, too.

Gators F Alex Condon recovering well ahead of Alabama visit

Georgia marked UF forward Alex Condon’s first time back on the floor in four games. A couple weeks earlier at Mississippi State, the sophomore went down with a low ankle sprain, but the recovery process appears to be moving along just fine. Against the Aggies, Condon went 5-for-6 for 11 points with a game-high nine rebounds and split a team-best four assists with Walter Clayton Jr.

However, as the Gators went 11-for-16 from the one-line, Condon was 1-for-5. Every free throw is going to count against the Crimson Tide, which ranks fifth in Division I converting about 18.9 attempts per game.

“I was feeling a little bit more comfortable. Just got to make some free throws next game,” Condon said.

Another dogfight on deck for Crimson Tide

For the first time in the Nate Oats era, Alabama basketball scored more than 75 points against Tennessee. Florida’s offense, led by an average 16.9 points per game for Clayton, is a bigger threat than that of the Volunteers, and the Gators still give the Crimson Tide another defense to be worried about.

Florida guards Alijah Martin and Denzel Aberdeen understood the assignment against A&M, which resulted in a scoreless first-half for Aggies star Wade Taylor IV.

“Both those guys, their ability to impact at the top of our defense has been a big part of our growth that way this year. Ball pressure, staying in front, making it harder on guys. We didn’t have that last year, the way we do this year,” Golden said.

Behind the Volunteers, Florida’s defense from the floor and from deep rank No. 2 in the SEC at 39.3% and 29.2%, respectively. Against Tennessee, Alabama went 12-for-29 on layups while shooting 37.5% from three. The Gators are also second in the SEC — and 12th in DI — in offensive rebounds after Texas A&M, who leads Division I with 15.8 per game.

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.