Alabama Makes Case to be Ranked No. 1 in Win Over Arkansas

Fayetteville, Ark. - The Alabama Crimson Tide began the toughest back-half schedule of any team this season on Saturday night. Coming out of Alabama's mid-week bye, Alabama started with two road trips before returning to Coleman Coliseum for the Iron Bowl of Basketball.

Alabama completed the first of nine challenges it will face before the start of the SEC Tournament in March, securing a victory on the road against John Calipari and the Arkansas Razorbacks, 85-81.

At this point in SEC play, a team's strengths, and weaknesses, are evident. The difference between good, great, and elite teams is how the coaches and players adjust to the pitfalls that could otherwise derail a special season. Alabama's pitfall is turnovers. The Crimson Tide can score at will on anyone in the country, but knock Alabama off its rhythm by forcing turnovers early, and it is often a long night for Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide.

The Razorbacks appeared to have that game plan going into the night. They forced Alabama into sloppy passes and affected the Crimson Tide's shots, with Alabama turning the ball over nine times in the first half.

Oats and Alabama recognized where defeat could come from on Saturday, and adjusted at halftime to avoid another upset of a top-three team on the day.

Oats and the Tide saw just five turnovers in the second half.

Alabama's reserve unit from the bench was one area where the Crimson Tide knew it could easily handle Arkansas. The Razorbacks have not run with much depth this season, and the rotation got even thinner with the loss of Boogie Fland in January. Alabama's bench unit of Aden Holloway, Labaron Philon, Mouhamed Dioubate, and Aiden Sherrell totaled 31 for Alabama in the win - led by Dioubate with 14 from the bench.

Alabama has made its case to be ranked as the No. 1 team in the country on Monday. Auburn, the incumbent No. 1 team, fell at home to the Florida Gators, and Duke, the previous No. 2 team in the country, fell to Clemson just before halftime of Alabama and Arkansas.

The road is treacherous, and Alabama will certainly be tested more than just Saturday night against Arkansas, but the first test has been passed by Oats and the Crimson Tide.

Alabama ended the game complacent, with Arkansas going on a 14-2 run to cut the deficit to just three toward the end of the game. Grant Nelson got the putback to put the victory away for Alabama.

Alabama could be the No. 1 team in the country for the second time in three seasons next week. The Crimson Tide's next game will come on Tuesday, February 11, back on the road in Austin, Texas against the Longhorns.

Crimson Tide Stat Leaders

Points: Grant Nelson, Chris Youngblood - 15
Rebounds: Aden Holloway - 5
Assists: Aden Holloway - 4

Alabama Players in Double Digit Points

Chris Youngblood - 15
Grant Nelson - 15
Mouhamed Dioubate - 14
Mark Sears - 11

Wyatt Fulton is the TIde 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.