Despite Up-and-Down Season, Bama Remains at Doorstep of Success

There are several differences between the John Petty and Herb Jones-led squad of Alabama basketball in 2021 and the Jaden Shackelford and Keon Ellis-led squad of this season. Defensive metrics have plummeted for the Tide in 2022 and shots just seem to not go Bama's way on some nights but, when it comes to success, this year's squad has still positioned itself to repeat a run in March as a No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament.

"I think our guys got to be reminded, and I think people around here need to be reminded, that this has been an unbelievable season," said Alabama Basketball coach Nate Oats.

The 2021-2022 SEC Champion Alabama team set high expectations for the Tide's future under Oats. However, what many fans see as regression in 2022, is just 80 minutes of basketball away from repeating the success of arguably one of the program's best teams in 2021.

This year's Jekyll and Hyde-esque team could lose in the first round or make it to an Elite Eight appearance, it entirely depends on which Alabama squad we have seen this year decides to show up. Will it be the Alabama team that beat No. 3 Gonzaga and No. 4 Baylor that shows up in San Diego? Or will it be the one that lost to Georgia, giving the Bulldogs its only conference win on the year that makes the trip?

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No. 6 seeded Alabama (19-13, 9-9) finished unranked and on a three-game losing streak ending the season on day two of the SEC tournament against Vanderbilt. The Crimson Tide has amassed 58 turnovers across the losing streak and is No. 2 in the conference for the highest amount of turnovers per game (14.6).

Whichever team shows up for the Tide will play Friday, March 18 at 3:15 p.m. CST and take on the winner of the Rutgers and Notre Dame play-in matchup scheduled for March 16.

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