Alabama Basketball: 5 crucial games on 2019-20 schedule to look out for

TULSA, OKLAHOMA - MARCH 24: Head coach Nate Oats of the Buffalo Bulls yells to his team during the first half of the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at BOK Center on March 24, 2019 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts in the first half during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal against the Virginia Cavaliers at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Auburn (H) – Jan 15

I do not care what sport Alabama is playing, getting swept by Auburn is not going to go over well. The Tide lost to the Tigers twice, including an 84-63 beatdown in the Plains. Yes, Auburn went on to make the Final Four, but losing to Auburn twice is not acceptable.

Bruce Pearl’s team is losing a lot from last year’s Final Four team. Jared Harper, Bryce Brown, and Chuma Okeke going to the NBA will leave a huge gap in the Auburn offense, as those three players scored a combined 43.2 points per game. Brown, in particular, will be a huge loss as he shot 41% from three, was sixth in the SEC in scoring, and played the second-most minutes in the entire conference.

The two in-state rivals will play in Tuscaloosa first this year and a win for Alabama is as near to a must-win as you can get. Early in the SEC schedule, Alabama will get their shot against the Tigers in mid-January. While they lose a lot, Auburn’s guard play is going to be excellent again. John Petty, Kira Lewis, and Jahvon Quinerly (assuming the NCAA grants his waiver) will need to be excellent for the Crimson Tide to win.

Beating the Tigers at home is important before Alabama has to travel to Auburn will be crucial. Not only would they be a great win on Alabama’s resume, but a rivalry win in front of the home fans would gain respect for Nate Oats.

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