The Alabama Crimson Tide got it done against the South Carolina Gamecocks to keep their 2017 NCAA Tournament hopes alive, but will face the top-seeded Kentucky Wildcats in the semifinals.
TV Schedule: Saturday, March 11, 1:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Alabama Crimson Tide pulled off the upset over Frank Martin and the South Carolina Gamecocks, holding the high-scoring team to just 53 points. Avery Johnson is a fantastic coach, as evidenced by his ability to shut down all players not named Sindarius Thornwell and win the game.
Alabama need a miracle to make it to the Big Dance, but history may be on their side. The winner of the SEC regular season title loses the SEC tournament more often than not since 2000, and an upset over Kentucky could be just what the doctor ordered to give the Crimson Tide the momentum necessary to win it all.
Kentucky, on the other hand, never looked like losing to their opening 2017 SEC Tournament opponents, the Georgia Bulldogs. The Wildcats dominated the Bulldogs in the first half and never took their foot off the gas defensively, winning 71-60. This team is just so good on both sides of the ball and, as long as Malik Monk is making shots, few teams in the country are going to be able to beat them.
In terms of this game, however, Alabama is lucky to have made it this far. The Crimson Tide are on the right path under Avery Johnson, but they are definitely a year or two from being contenders in the SEC. The only team in this tournament that I think is hot enough to defeat the Wildcats will be the Vanderbilt Commodores – who still have work to do before making the final.
Next: 5 predictions for the SEC Tournament
Kentucky wins big in Nashville and heads to the final, as expected.
Prediction: Kentucky 70, Alabama 55