Given the fact that Kentucky has lost four straight games, all of the Big Blue Nation's focus has been on the Wildcats and their woes.
But with Alabama taking on Kentucky in Rupp Arena early Saturday afternoon, it's time to take a closer look at the Crimson Tide.
Collin Sexton (USA TODAY Sports)
Alabama's stock is climbing with the tournament approaching.
In Joe Lunardi's most recent bracketology at ESPN.com, Alabama is a six seed. Kentucky is a nine. Those positions have effectively flipped in recent weeks, with the Crimson Tide winning two straight games and three of four. Included in that was an eye-popping 28-point home victory against No. 18 Tennessee and an 18-point win on the road at Florida. There have been some losses interspersed throughout Alabama's last few weeks of play, but one thing is clear: Their "A-Game" is really, really good.
Pundits are starting to talk about Alabama as a team that could be a very dangerous draw for a higher-seeded team in the second round or the Sweet 16.
The rankings haven't really caught up with the recent hype, however. Alabama is 30th in the RPI and 40th according to KenPom.
Collin Sexton is having himself a year.
Everyone knew Alabama had scored a monstrous recruiting victory when Collin Sexton picked the Tide, and he has done nothing to jeopardize his standing with NBA scouts this year. NBADraft.net currently projects him to the Knicks at No. 9, Bleacher Report recently said he should fall in the 8-14 range, while Sports Illustrated puts him with the Jazz at pick No. 13. It would be a surprise if he's not a lottery pick.
Sexton has had his issues shooting the ball from long range this year but it's his ability to get to the basket and his potential as a two-way player that has scouts really impressed.
He has been very consistent scoring the basketball in recent weeks. Over Alabama's last six games, which include those wins over Florida and Tennessee as well as a win against then-No. 12-ranked Oklahoma, Sexton hasn't scored less than 15 points in any contest. He's also shot no worse than 44-percent in any of those games.
Recently, Sexton hasn't approached the 40 points he scored against Minnesota or the 30 against Arizona in a losing effort. But he's still been one of the SEC's best guards. He gets to the free throw line a lot and makes those freebies at a 77-percent clip.
Alabama's length is unique. Sound familiar?
Alabama probably isn't as long as Kentucky's team, from the top of the roster to the bottom. But who is? Still, this Alabama team is unique in that it has the kind of length that can come close to matching Kentucky's. The Crimson Tide will not put a starter on the court shorter than 6'2. Donta Hall (6'9, 232) and Daniel Giddens (6'11, 247) have the size to move people around inside and Alabama's guards and forwards have impressive wing spans.
That hasn't helped Alabama in all of the ways it has helped Kentucky. While Kentucky is 21st in offensive rebounding percentage, Alabama ranks in the 160's. Avery Johnson's team isn't an especially strong defensive rebounding team, either.
Their length does show up in blocked shots. Alabama ranks fourth in the county with six blocks per game.
The second-best defensive team Kentucky will have faced this year.
According to KenPom, Alabama has the No. 6 adjusted defense in college basketball. Only Texas A&M (No. 4) ranks higher among teams that the Wildcats have faced.
A good part of Alabama's defensive prowess is attributable to that size and length. Like Kentucky, Alabama is one of the nation's best teams when it comes to defending the three-point line. That could be a problem for Kentucky, a team that struggles to generate any production from behind the arc anyways. Missouri has the only three-point defense ranked higher than Alabama's that Kentucky has faced, and the Wildcats shot 2 for 20 from three in Columbia.
Alabama also defends opponents well inside the arc, as the blocked shots and 46-percent makes allowed from two-point range illustrate.
But they're prone to offensive struggles.
As good as Alabama has been defensively, there have been plenty of problems when the Tide has the basketball. They rank 100th in offensive efficiency on KenPom, which is near the bottom of the SEC.
Nobody on the team with a decent number of attempts shoots better than 38-percent from long range, and only one player shoots 35-percent from deep (John Petty, 38.1).
Alabama gets a lot of its offense from driving to the basket and individual players making things happen, so they don't generally get a lot of assists. Their passing doesn't normally wow you. And they turn the ball over a lot.
Alabama is also one of the nation's worst free throw shooting teams.
But with Alabama taking on Kentucky in Rupp Arena early Saturday afternoon, it's time to take a closer look at the Crimson Tide.
Collin Sexton (USA TODAY Sports)
Alabama's stock is climbing with the tournament approaching.
In Joe Lunardi's most recent bracketology at ESPN.com, Alabama is a six seed. Kentucky is a nine. Those positions have effectively flipped in recent weeks, with the Crimson Tide winning two straight games and three of four. Included in that was an eye-popping 28-point home victory against No. 18 Tennessee and an 18-point win on the road at Florida. There have been some losses interspersed throughout Alabama's last few weeks of play, but one thing is clear: Their "A-Game" is really, really good.
Pundits are starting to talk about Alabama as a team that could be a very dangerous draw for a higher-seeded team in the second round or the Sweet 16.
The rankings haven't really caught up with the recent hype, however. Alabama is 30th in the RPI and 40th according to KenPom.
Collin Sexton is having himself a year.
Everyone knew Alabama had scored a monstrous recruiting victory when Collin Sexton picked the Tide, and he has done nothing to jeopardize his standing with NBA scouts this year. NBADraft.net currently projects him to the Knicks at No. 9, Bleacher Report recently said he should fall in the 8-14 range, while Sports Illustrated puts him with the Jazz at pick No. 13. It would be a surprise if he's not a lottery pick.
Sexton has had his issues shooting the ball from long range this year but it's his ability to get to the basket and his potential as a two-way player that has scouts really impressed.
He has been very consistent scoring the basketball in recent weeks. Over Alabama's last six games, which include those wins over Florida and Tennessee as well as a win against then-No. 12-ranked Oklahoma, Sexton hasn't scored less than 15 points in any contest. He's also shot no worse than 44-percent in any of those games.
Recently, Sexton hasn't approached the 40 points he scored against Minnesota or the 30 against Arizona in a losing effort. But he's still been one of the SEC's best guards. He gets to the free throw line a lot and makes those freebies at a 77-percent clip.
Alabama's length is unique. Sound familiar?
Alabama probably isn't as long as Kentucky's team, from the top of the roster to the bottom. But who is? Still, this Alabama team is unique in that it has the kind of length that can come close to matching Kentucky's. The Crimson Tide will not put a starter on the court shorter than 6'2. Donta Hall (6'9, 232) and Daniel Giddens (6'11, 247) have the size to move people around inside and Alabama's guards and forwards have impressive wing spans.
That hasn't helped Alabama in all of the ways it has helped Kentucky. While Kentucky is 21st in offensive rebounding percentage, Alabama ranks in the 160's. Avery Johnson's team isn't an especially strong defensive rebounding team, either.
Their length does show up in blocked shots. Alabama ranks fourth in the county with six blocks per game.
The second-best defensive team Kentucky will have faced this year.
According to KenPom, Alabama has the No. 6 adjusted defense in college basketball. Only Texas A&M (No. 4) ranks higher among teams that the Wildcats have faced.
A good part of Alabama's defensive prowess is attributable to that size and length. Like Kentucky, Alabama is one of the nation's best teams when it comes to defending the three-point line. That could be a problem for Kentucky, a team that struggles to generate any production from behind the arc anyways. Missouri has the only three-point defense ranked higher than Alabama's that Kentucky has faced, and the Wildcats shot 2 for 20 from three in Columbia.
Alabama also defends opponents well inside the arc, as the blocked shots and 46-percent makes allowed from two-point range illustrate.
But they're prone to offensive struggles.
As good as Alabama has been defensively, there have been plenty of problems when the Tide has the basketball. They rank 100th in offensive efficiency on KenPom, which is near the bottom of the SEC.
Nobody on the team with a decent number of attempts shoots better than 38-percent from long range, and only one player shoots 35-percent from deep (John Petty, 38.1).
Alabama gets a lot of its offense from driving to the basket and individual players making things happen, so they don't generally get a lot of assists. Their passing doesn't normally wow you. And they turn the ball over a lot.
Alabama is also one of the nation's worst free throw shooting teams.
