Alabama Looks to Rebound Against Robert Morris Before Conference Play Begins

No program in college basketball might be more excited about the calendar turning to 2014 than the University of Alabama. After dropping games in a row and six of its last eight, the Crimson Tide has one final chance to regain some momentum before conference play begins on Tuesday.

When Robert Morris and Alabama tip off at 4:30 p.m. inside Coleman Coliseum, this game will mean far less than many expected it to when the schedule was released. The Colonials grabbed some headlines last Spring after upsetting Kentucky at Rupp Arena in the first round of the NIT, but this year's team hasn't been nearly as competitive. The Wildcats have already disposed of Robert Morris by 38 points and Oklahoma State beat them 92-66 last time out.

Alabama's situation hasn't been that lopsided but the win-loss record isn't much better. At 5-7, the Crimson Tide's season has been a series of competitive games with fizzled-out finishes. Every loss has been by fewer than 10 points with an average margin of defeat of 5.4 points.

Playing competitively hasn't been the problem. Winning has. Alabama usually finds itself with a lead or within a possession of the lead late in the game but always seem to let the game slip away. As a result, a great non-conference schedule has turned into a devastating start to the season with Alabama's NCAA Tournament chances all but evaporating.

But the new year can become a fresh start. A win on Saturday can build some much-needed confidence before Vanderbilt comes to town on Tuesday. This team needs to get off to a good start against SEC competition because the schedule only gets tougher in February. If not, 2014 might look a lot like the end of the 2013.