NCAA Basketball: 25 best team rivalries heading into 2019-20 season

24. Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Auburn Tigers

While not as fierce as their football rivalry, Alabama and Auburn certainly have a history together on the basketball court. As longtime members of the SEC, they’ve played multiple times a year for decades. These two programs aren’t exactly known for their basketball prowess, though that hasn’t stopped this rivalry from being exciting over the years.

Alabama holds a hefty lead in the rivalry, leading Auburn 96 to 64. While Auburn has certainly held the edge in recent years, neither team has ever had sustained success in basketball. There have only been four matchups where both teams were ranked, with Alabama victorious each time.

They’ve never played each other in the NCAA Tournament, though Auburn did knock off the Crimson Tide for the SEC Tournament title back in 1985, their only matchup in the conference title game.

With nearly a century of history, it’s hard to pinpoint particular games or moments in this rivalry that stand out, but we’ll briefly point out a few. Back in 1983, the No. 5-ranked Crimson Tide lost a fierce game to a Charles Barkley-led Tigers team.

Alabama dominated the rivalry in the 1970s, though lost in 1975 as the No. 7 team in the nation. In February 2011, Alabama erased a late 12-point Auburn lead and won on a JaMychal Green game-winner.

Six of the last nine games have gone to Auburn, who just made an impressive Final Four this past season. Alabama is set to rebuild under new coach Nate Oats, but Bruce Pearl isn’t going to waste time reloading his roster and competing for SEC titles.

While three of the last four games were decided by 18 points or more, these teams may provide us some exciting, competitive games soon.