Alabama
College Basketball Best, March 5: Illinois vs Purdue, Florida vs Alabama, UNC vs ND
Vaughn Dalzell breaks down his best bets on Illinois vs Purdue, Alabama at Florida, plus UNC hosting Notre Dame.
Purdue at Illinois (-1.5): O/U 163.5
Illinois is 9-3 since Terrence Shannon returned to the lineup, ranking as the second-best offense in the country with nearly 90 points per game.
The Illini’s defense ranks 202nd in that span, but Purdue is barely a top 100 defensive team themselves. The two edges Illinois has going is they rank No. 1 in three-point defensive rate during that 12-game span and they have size to compete on the boards.
Purdue on the road is 6-3 this season and owns a bottom 10 rank when it comes to forcing turnovers (11.3%) and comes in at 209th for three-point defense (35.5%).
If Illinois can double-team Zach Edey enough on defense and rotate like Northwestern and Nebraska were able to, then Illinois can win.
I played Illinois on the ML at -125 odds on FanDuel and would opt to play this out to -3 if you play spreads.
Pick: Illinois ML (1u)
Alabama at Florida (-1.5): O/U 176.5
The first meeting between these two teams was one of the better games of the year. Alabama won at home, 98-93 in OT, after trailing 72-62 with 8:40 remaining (Alabama had a 24% win expectancy).
The Tide rallied back and scored 61 combined second-half and OT points to beat the Gators. Since February 10, Florida is No. 19 in Barttorvik and Alabama is No. 25 with the 226th-ranked defense.
Florida ranks 14th and 62nd in offensive and defensive efficiency during that span. The Tide are not forcing tunovers, defensive rebounding at the 302nd-best rate, and allowing 56.2% from two-point range (322nd).
Florida is coming off a road loss, which sets them up well for a home revenge spot on in the final home game. I have no trust in Alabama’s defense and while the Tide don’t lose two straight games often, the Tide also don’t win two consecutive road games often.
I grabbed the Gators’ ML at -125 odds on FanDuel and would go out to -3 if you opt for the spread. This was +1.5 yesterday.
Pick: Florida ML (1.5u)
Notre Dame at North Carolina (-15.5): O/U 138.5
Both Notre Dame and North Carolina have won five of the last six games and the Irish post the 30th-best defense in that span, while UNC is 28th.
This is the first meeting of the season between the two squads. Historically, Notre Dame has scored 69 or fewer points in five straight trips to Chapel Hill with 65 or less in the past three.
The Irish have scored 28, 31, and 30 first half points in the past three trips and I expect a lower number here. Notre Dame is playing at the 330th-ranked tempo in the country during this 5-1 stretch with the 135th-ranked offense.
Despite winning lately, Notre Dame faces a tough test at North Carolina on Senior Night. UNC has RJ Davis, Armando Bacot, and Cormac Ryan walking tonight, so I expect the Tar Heels to come out aggressive.
I played Notre Dame’s First Half Team Total Under 28.5 at -112 odds on FanDuel and would go down to 27.5 for 1 unit. The Irish have scored 31 or less first half points in four of the past five games versus unimpressive defenses in the ACC.
Pick: Notre Dame 1H Team Total Under 28.5 (1.5u)
Tulane at South Florida (-7.5): O/U 156.5
This is the first meeting of the season between Tulane and South Florida, but the story of two teams trending in different directions. USF has won 14 straight games, the nation’s longest winning streak, while Tulane lost six consecutive.
Tulane is 2-7 on the road with the 360th and 338th-ranked offensive and defensive rebounding percentages. Tulane is the worst rebounding team in the conference and shoots the two at 48.1% (12 of 14), while ranking 11th in offensive efficiency.
This is the final home game for USF and the Bulls are locked in as the regular-season conference champs. The Bulls have the best defense in the conference and I expect it to be on display.
I played Tulane’s First Half Team Total Under 35.5 at -118 odds on FanDuel and would go down to 34.5. The last three visitors to USF stayed Under this number.
Pick: Tulane 1H Team Total Under 35.5 (1u)
Season Record: 60-50 (54.5%) +4.68 units
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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.
Alabama basketball’s Nate Oats weighs in on 2026 NBA Draft exits | VIDEO
Alabama basketball’s Amari Allen and Labaron Philon are off to the 2026 NBA Draft. Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats weighed in on their decisions.
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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