Alabama

Goodman: Alabama’s big test is here, and the Tide is ready

Published

1 year ago

January 31, 2025

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Goodman: Alabama’s big test is here, and the Tide is ready

This is an opinion column.

______________________

There are two key similarities between Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats and former Alabama football coach Nick Saban.

No.1, they both know how to dress, or at least understand that maintaining a classy image in public comes with the job and is a sign of respect for the people they represent.

This might seem trivial to some, but those are probably just the guys who think it’s OK to wear flannel shirts with dress slacks, flip-flops away from the beach, workout attire away from the gym, sweatpants in public, tactical pants to church, saggy jeans anywhere, camo, team jerseys outside of stadiums, tucked in T-shirts and square-toed shoes or boots.

Everyone else appreciates the fact that Oats isn’t the best dressed coach in college basketball by accident and that Saban (or at least Miss Terry) has impeccable fashion sense.

Secondly — and this might be a little more important — Oats is like Saban in that he never wavers from the coaching ethos that winning is all that matters.

Too cutthroat? Maybe for some, but that’s one of the things that makes Oats good at his job.

Oats hasn’t turned Alabama basketball into a national contender by handing out participation trophies, which is why sitting point guard Mark Sears against LSU didn’t come as much of a surprise.

The broadcasters calling the game for ESPN made a big deal about Sears being on the bench, but it’s not the first time that Oats has kept Sears out of the rotation this season and it might not be the last either.

Maybe Oats was trying to send a message by putting his best offensive player on the bench, or maybe Alabama’s coach just wanted more length on defense for the second half. Either way, it was the right call. Alabama won and Oats even noted afterwards that it was some of the best defense Alabama had played all season to end a game.

Sears was back in the lineup on Wednesday against Mississippi State and led Alabama with 17 points, six rebounds and nine assists. Once again, though, Oats made the correct decision late in the game when he subbed out Mark Sears and Aden Holloway in favor of taller players.

If only the football coach at Alabama knew how to manage his team so effectively.

No.4 Alabama basketball (18-3, 7-1 in the SEC) returns to action on Saturday with a home game against Georgia. The Tide is one of the deepest teams in the country, and Oats is going to need it to finish out this season. The remaining schedule is like nothing I’ve ever seen. Ten games remain and Alabama’s final seven opponents are all currently ranked in the AP Top 25.

Alabama could make it all the way to the championship game of the NCAA Tournament and have an easier road.

No one has it easy in the SEC, of course. The league has never been better. Some are calling it the best conference in college basketball history. Maybe so. No.1 Auburn (19-1, 7-0) plays eight ranked opponents across its final 11 games. Tennessee, which has lost three of its last four games, is grinding through a stretch of nine ranked teams in its first 10 conference games.

Coach John Calipari left Kentucky for Arkansas this season, but the Hogs are only 1-6 in the SEC.

Lamont Paris won SEC Coach of the Year in 2024, but his South Carolina Gamecocks are 0-8 to begin conference play this season.

The toughest football conference in the country is now the best basketball conference, too. The SEC’s greatest February of hoops begins on Saturday, but that’s just a build up for the big finish.

With Auburn and Alabama one and two in the SEC standings, it looks like league bragging rights and the regular-season title will go through the Heart of Dixie. Alabama and Auburn play twice over the final three weeks of the season. It will be a test of mental toughness like this league has never seen.

In benching Sears, Oats made sure that his point guard would be ready for the fight. And if Sears needs a rest, well, Alabama’s cutthroat, win-first coach planned ahead by taking Auburn’s old point guard and making him better.

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Got a question for Joe? Want to get something off your chest? Send Joe an email about what’s on your mind. Let your voice be heard. Ask him anything.

Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of the book “We Want Bama: A Season of Hope and the Making of Nick Saban’s Ultimate Team.”

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Alabama

Cooler, quieter weather settles into Alabama after warm weekend

Published

3 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Cooler, quieter weather settles into Alabama after warm weekend

COOLER: After a weekend with highs well into the 80s, we expect a high in the 68-76 degree range across Alabama today with a good supply of sunshine. Tonight will be clear and cool with lows in the 40s and 50s.

The weather stays unusually quiet for the rest of the week (for late March). We might consider mentioning a small risk of a shower Wednesday, but the weather will be generally rain-free with afternoon highs rising back into the low to mid 80s by Thursday and Friday.

THE WEEKEND: At this point the weekend looks dry and cooler. Highs both days between 66 and 74 degrees; mostly sunny days and fair nights.

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And, the latest global model output suggests the dry pattern continues into the first half of next week. It will be sometime in early April before we experience our next widespread rain/storm event

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Alabama

Alabama vs. Texas Tech live updates, score for March Madness

Published

15 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

Alabama vs. Texas Tech live updates, score for March Madness

On Sunday night, one of the NCAA Tournament’s top second round matchups is set to take place from Tampa when the Alabama Crimson Tide and Texas Tech Red Raiders meet with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.

The Crimson Tide and Red Raiders both cruised to victories during the first round, with each winning their game by 20 points. Alabama defeated Hofstra on Friday afternoon, while Texas Tech toppled Akron.

Two programs who are familiar with the big stage in March Madness, Alabama and Texas Tech are led by two of the premier coaches in the SEC and Big 12, Nate Oats and Grant McCasland. Alabama and Texas Tech also have some premier talent at the guard position in particular with Labaron Philon and Christian Anderson, making this a must-see matchup in the second round.

Following are live updates from the second round NCAA Tournament showdown between Alabama and Texas Tech.

Alabama: Labaron Philon, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Amari Allen, London Jemison

What channel is Alabama vs. Texas Tech game on today? Time, TV schedule

TV Channel: TBS
Start Time: 9:45 p.m. ET

The Crimson Tide and Red Raiders are set to tipoff at 9:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 22, from inside of Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. A second round NCAA Tournament matchup, the game will be televised live on TBS.

Alabama vs. Texas Tech NCAA Tournament Availability Report

According to NCAA Tournament Availability Report as of Saturday, March 21:

Alabama:

Aden Holloway, Guard – Out
Davion Hannah, Guard – Out
Keitenn Bristow, Forward – Out
Collins Onyejiaka, Center – Out

Texas Tech:

JT Toppin, Forward – Out
LaTrell Hoover, Forward – Out

Alabama vs. Texas Tech predictions, picks, odds

Odds are according to BetMGM as of Saturday, March 21:

Point Spread: Texas Tech by 1 1/2
Money Line: Alabama (minus-105), Texas Tech (minus-115)
Over/Under: 164 1/2

Prediction: Alabama 83, Texas Tech 80 – Expect a complete team effort to win this game for either team, but for the Crimson Tide to eventually come away victorious with a close victory.

Alabama basketball 2025-26 schedule

Nov. 3: vs. North Dakota (W, 91-62)
Nov. 8: at St. John’s (W, 103-96)
Nov. 13: vs. Purdue (L, 87-80)
Nov. 19: vs. Illinois (W, 90-86)
Nov. 24: vs. Gonzaga (L, 95-85)
Nov. 25: vs. UNLV (W, 115-76)
Nov. 26: vs. Maryland (W, 105-72)
Dec. 3: vs. Clemson (W, 90-84)
Dec. 7: vs. UTSA (W, 97-55)
Dec. 13: vs. Arizona (L, 96-75)
Dec. 17: vs. South Florida (W, 104-93)
Dec. 21: vs. Kennesaw State (W, 92-81)
Dec. 29: vs. Yale (W, 102-78)
Jan. 3: vs. Kentucky (W, 89-74)
Jan. 7: at Vanderbilt (L, 96-90)
Jan. 10: vs. Texas (L, 92-88)
Jan. 13: at Mississippi State (W, 97-82)
Jan. 17: at Oklahoma (W, 83-81)
Jan. 24: vs. Tennessee (L, 79-73)
Jan. 27: vs. Missouri (W, 90-64)
Feb. 1: at Florida (L, 100-77)
Feb. 4: vs. Texas A&M (W, 100-97)
Feb. 7: at Auburn (W, 96-92)
Feb. 11: at Ole Miss (W, 93-74)
Feb. 14: vs. South Carolina (W, 89-75)
Feb. 18: vs. Arkansas (W, 117-115)
Feb. 21: at LSU (W, 90-83)
Feb. 25: vs. Mississippi State (W, 100-75)
Feb. 28: at Tennessee (W, 71-69)
March 3: at Georgia (L, 98-88)
March 7: vs. Auburn (W, 96-84)
March 13: vs. Ole Miss in SEC Tournament (L, 80-79)
March: 20: vs. Hofstra in NCAA Tournament first round (W, 90-70)
March 22: vs. Texas Tech in NCAA Tournament second round

Record: 24-9 overall (13-5 SEC)

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Alabama

Timmons, Cody lead Alabama past Rhode Island 68-55 for NCAA Tournament win in 1st round

Published

1 day ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

Timmons, Cody lead Alabama past Rhode Island 68-55 for NCAA Tournament win in 1st round

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Jessica Timmons scored 21 points and Essence Cody added 19 as Alabama beat Rhode Island 68-55 Saturday in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.

The Crimson Tide (24-10) won a first-round tournament game for the third straight year by shooting 53.2% (25 of 47) and dominating inside, outscoring the Rams (28-5) 42-12 in the paint.

Other than Brooklyn Gray’s 3-pointer on the Rams’ first possession, sixth-seeded Alabama led throughout. The Tide outscored Rhode Island 14-1 over the first 7:26 of the second quarter to build a 30-14 lead.

Defense played a big role in Alabama’s run as 11th-seeded Rhode Island went just 1 for 19 over an 11-minute stretch in the first half. That included missing eight 3-point attempts and committing a pair of shot-clock violations.

“We were just wanting to keep them in front and contest every shot,” Alabama coach Kristy Curry said. “So I thought our kids did a really nice job of staying consistent with the game plan. I thought that gave us a lot of energy when we started to see success with the tendencies and how we wanted to play.”

The Rams closed out the first half on a 9-1 run and cut Alabama’s lead to eight points at the break.

Alabama Forward Essence Cody (21) in action against Rhode Island at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY on Saturday, Mar 21, 2026. (Rodger Champion | Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics)

Cody drew her third foul just 72 seconds into the second half, sending the 6-foot-4 junior to the bench for nearly the remainder of the quarter. Rhode Island closed within four points three times in the third before the Crimson Tide used a 12-0 run to pull away.

Rams coach Tammi Reiss said point guard Sophia Vital picking up her third foul midway through the quarter hurt her team’s chances.

“What you’re hoping for is it’s a game in the fourth quarter,” she said. “You’re not playing catch-up.”

Timmons scored eight of her 11 third-quarter points during the run.

Alabama Guard Jessica Timmons (23) in action against Rhode Island at KFC Yum! Center in... — Alabama Guard Jessica Timmons (23) in action against Rhode Island at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, KY on Saturday, Mar 21, 2026. (Rodger Champion | Crimson Tide Photos / UA Athletics)

Diana Collins pitched in with 16 points, going 7 for 9 from the field, for Alabama

Palmire Mbu and Ines Debroise each scored 11 points for the Rams, who shot 32.8% (19 of 58).

Atypical Tide attack

Alabama entered Saturday averaging 22.7 3-point attempts per game. The Tide put up a season-low 10 on Saturday, but what that created was an opportunity to dominate inside.

“A lot of teams’ game plan is going to be to run us off the line, and if they do, we’re going to score in the paint,” Timmons said.

Alabama converted four of its 3-point attempts, including three by Cody, who made 10 of 30 heading into March Madness.

The three makes were a career high for the junior post player, who said they helped create chances for her teammates to attack the rim.

Rams set new standard

Rhode Island played in its second NCAA Tournament and first in 30 years Saturday, and Reiss hopes the Rams won’t have to wait that long for a third trip.

The seventh-year coach has led the program to four 20-win seasons out of the last five. She said she took inspiration from Danny Hurley, who had re-established the Rams men’s team before guiding UConn to back-to-back national titles.

“I was like, this is going to happen,” she said. “We promised Rhode Island this, and now we achieved it. Now can you sustain it? That’s the question, and that’s the next phase of Rhode Island basketball. … It’s been a process. A lot of ups, a lot of downs, but well worth the journey.”