Iron Bowl of Basketball Part 2: Will the Tide Cut Down the Nets Tonight?

7/27/22 MBB Practice Alabama Alabama Head Coach Nate Oats Photo by Robert Sutton

After one of the best regular seasons in Alabama Crimson Tide Men’s Basketball program history, they will have a chance tonight to end it in perhaps the most perfect fashion possible. If Alabama defeats the Auburn Tigers tonight, they will win their second SEC regular season title in three years and have the chance to cut down the nets in front of their home fans in the last game of the season at Coleman Coliseum.

For Auburn, a massive opportunity lays ahead of them as well. The Tigers find themselves on the bubble with just two games remaining, tonight at Alabama and Saturday at home against Tennessee. They really need to win at least one of these final two to lock up their tournament status as we head into the postseason. The Tigers are coming off an obliteration at the hands of Kentucky in Lexington and the Crimson Tide do not present the easiest opportunity to bounce back.

Last time out, Auburn played one of their better games of the year against Alabama in Neville Arena in a matchup that ultimately ended in a 77-69 win for the Tide. They will have to be even better tonight to come away with a season-defining win on the road.

Could this be any more perfect? An Iron Bowl of Basketball in Coleman Coliseum with high stakes for both teams. A win for Alabama gives them a sweep over their most hated rival and an opportunity to give their fans one final win in the home arena in what has been an amazing season, not to mention a conference title. A win for Auburn would mean a signature victory of the season and give them a ton of positive momentum headed into the SEC Tournament and ultimately the NCAA Tournament.

Will the Tigers salvage their season? Will the Crimson Tide cut down the nets? One thing is for certain: a lot of questions will be answered at the striped palace in Tuscaloosa tonight.