Alabama Will Host Defending Champions in Big 12/SEC Challenge
The 2021 Alabama Basketball schedule is taking shape ahead of the new year. For the sixth time in program history the Crimson Tide will participate in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Alabama will host the defending NCAA champion Baylor Bears on Jan. 29, 2022.
Alabama is 3-2 all time in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, most recently losing a road game to the Oklahoma Sooners in 2021. The Tide has been matched up with the Baylor Bears in the event on one other occasion, losing in Waco in 2019 73-68.
Alabama currently holds a 7-2 series advantage over the Baylor Bears in their programs histories. The Tide is currently 3-0 in Coleman Coliseum in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, defeating Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Kansas State.
The SEC is 2-4-2 all-time in the challenge but is the current victor, winning last year's challenge 5-4.
The Baylor Bears completed a 28-2 season which they defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the NCAA championship game to win the school's first basketball national championship. Head coach Scott Drew has been in charge since 2003 leading the Bears to the NCAA Tournament nine times, including the last six seasons in a row.
The Bears won't bring back everyone from its national championship team but Drew has taken advantage of his success on the recruiting trail. Baylor brings in the No. 13 recruiting class for his upcoming season, highlighted by 5-star forward Kendall Brown.
Alabama will have new talent of its own after winning the SEC regular season and tournament championships in 2020-21. Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats went out and procured the No. 9 recruiting class in the nation with 5-star guard JD Davison as the crown jewel of the class.