There's a Good Reason Why They Call it March Madness, Even in Alabama: All Things CW

The NCAA Tournament could give the Crimson Tide a chance to vanquish its biggest ghost, the top seeding is still up for grabs, and lasting Impressions of Alabama Players at the NFL Combine.

This is the combined version of this week's All Things CW notes column by Christopher Walsh which appears in five parts one each weekday, with the latest on the Alabama Crimson Tide.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Tournament time is here and regardless of how Alabama basketball is able to maneuver through the upcoming Southeastern Conference's brackets in Nashville as the league's top-seeded team, the Crimson Tide appears poised to be a No. 1 team in an NCAA regional for the first time in program history.

Even with Alabama taking a loss to close the regular season at Texas A&M on Saturday, it along with Houston and Kansas are all in the running to be the top-overall seed of March Madness, depending on what happens this week.

So history is a popular subject this week in Tuscaloosa, where some of the older fans are hoping that one of the ghosts that's been hanging around over the program might get vanquished.

Twice Alabama has been a No. 2 seed, only to get bounced before reaching its projected potential in the NCAA Tournament.

In 2002, of course, Alabama was in the South Regional, hoping to get to Lexington, Ky. for the Sweet 16, only to be upset by 10th seeded-Kent State, Nick Saban's alma mater. It not only advanced from Greenville, S.C., but made it all the way to the region finals before bowing out to No. 5 Indiana (which lost in the title game).

The other time, though, was 1987, which had a stronger "This is the year" vibe to it with Crimson Tide fans.

Wimp Sanderson's team. led by Derrick McKay (18.6 points per game) and Jim Farmer (16.5), had five players who averaged double digits in scoring, including future coach Mark Gottfried. McKey, considered one of the best players in the nation, was named the SEC Player of the Year.

It closed the regular season with six straight wins to enter the postseason 24-3, and won the SEC regular-season title with a 16-2 mark (setting a school record). Ranked No. 9 in the AP Top 25, it rolled through Tennessee, Auburn and LSU to win the conference tournament at the Omni Coliseum in Atlanta.

Everything look primed for a serious run. Alabama got to play its first two games in Birmingham, where it promptly dispatched North Carolina A&T and New Orleans, to make its third-straight Sweet 16 appearance.

It then played in Louisville, which is where everything promptly ended like the proverbial needle being ripped off a record. Two names in particular would begin to haunt the Crimson Tide that day during a nightmarish 103-82 loss:

Some guard named Billy Donovan. who only put up seven shots but scored 26 points as Providence was 14-for-22 (63.6 percent) from 3-point range and 33 of 48 from the floor (68 percent, a regional record).

Some coach name Rick Pitino.

Later on, Alabama's participation in the tournament was vacated by the NCAA for the Crimson Tide using two ineligible players, as McKey and Terry Coner were both linked to sports agents. They remain the only three vacated games in program history.

Now fast-froward to this year's team and note the similarities: A program-best seeding. A star player surrounded by a lot of depth. SEC title. Controversy surrounding the program. The head coach, Nate Oats, even wears plaid sports coats, like what Sanderson often wore.

And where is Alabama projected by most to be slotted in the NCAA Tournament? The South Regional, where it could open in Birmingham and try to advance to Louisville for the Sweet 16.

It sounds like a the basketball equivalent of a horror movie in the works, and why some Crimson Tide fans a little spooked heading into the postseason. But they also know that this team is more than good enough to avoid a sequel, and write its own ending. 

Lasting Impressions of Alabama Players at the NFL Combine

Take 2: Tuesday 

The 2023 NFL Combine wrapped up over the weekend, and while teams and scouts will head off to evaluate what they saw and experienced in Indianapolis, the draft process is approaching its zenith.

With only Pro Days and individual workouts to go, the University of Alabama is still on target to have a program-record 13 selections this year, although things continue to change though the extensive process.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about this group may be that the Crimson Tide has a prospect in every position group minus wide receivers (and special teams). That includes a quarterback who may be at the top of the list for a lot of teams, and maybe the best overall player at all of the rest of the positions combined.

"In terms of overall strength of the draft, I think it's a really good corner group," Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network said during his annual combine conference call with reporters. "I think it's a good edge rusher group. I think the tight end group is the best I've seen in the last ten years. It's outstanding. So, you know, running backs is really solid."

However, it's a draft that doesn't have a lot of surefire standouts. For example, at cornerback, Jeremiah had 20 players with top three-round grades.

Yet he said: "I don't think there's a Patrick Surtain in this class."

Here's where the Crimson Tide contingency stands following the combine:

Will Anderson Jr.

Anderson was measured at at 6'31/2" and 253 pounds with a 337/8" arm span and 97/8" hands. His unofficial 40 time was 4.69 and his split was an unofficial 1.61.

For comparables, his measurements were very similar to DeMarcus Ware in 2005, and his split was faster than Khalil Mack, who posted a 1.64 in 2014.

But unlike all of the other top prospects, Anderson ran drills and showed why he has such a promising future in the league.

"Will Anderson completely owned the pass rush drills," Matt Miller of ESPN tweeted. "I'm blown away that he's even working out when so many top players don't. Good on him."

Jordan Battle

The safety ran the 40 in 4.55 seconds, with a 1.56 split, and 17 reps on the bench press, which was one of the better scores posted.

He also had a little fun with the media, calling Mac Jones the Crimson Tide's best trash-talker when he was at Alabama.

“It was just like some slick stuff,” Battle said. “Like, he’d complete a pass, and he was like, ‘Oh yeah, I’m coming at you every play.’ OK, I like that. Keep coming. I’m gonna catch a pick one day.”

Battle is in a group of about six who are all vying to be the first pure safety selected, and is a strong candidate to be selected during the second day of the draft.

Brian Branch

Branch, who had nothing to lose as his production value is off the charts, went through the combine as a cornerback. It was really smart, because the more versatility he could show the better, and every NFL team is always looking for help on the back end.

"That's a starter," Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said about the star position. "Now, 75 to 80 percent of the time, you're going to be in that sub package. And so that (star) position, that's a starting position. And it's tough because you also have to be really smart because you have to do a lot of different things - you got to play the run, you got to pressure, there's so many different things that you need to do.

"But that's a critical position."

He ran the 40 in 4.58 seconds with a 1.56 split, did the vertical jump in 34.5 and the broad jump in 10.5. Branch also bench-pressed 14 reps.

DJ Dale

The nose tackle is probably still looking at being a day-three selection.

Dale ran the 40 in 5.26 seconds, with a 1.81 split, with 25.5" in the vertical jump, 8’2’" in the broad jump, 7.69 seconds in the 3-Cone Drill, and 4.8 in the 20-yard shuttle.

"It's definitely something that I take pride in," Dale said on his run-stopping. "Our first job at Alabama is to stop the run and playing nose tackle in the middle, I got a lot of double teams. I took pride in that, getting those linebackers free and it was something that I was proud of."

Keep an eye on the Steelers as former Crimson Tide coach Karl Dunbar recruited Dale to Alabama.

Emil Ekiyor Jr.,

At 6-2, he's considered a little undersized by NFL standards, but being able to also play center will help his stock. Ekiyor has a strong reputation as a smart player with good technique. That, combined with what he did at the Senior Bowl, mean he didn't need to do much in Indianapolis.

He did 23 reps in the bench press.

Jahmyr Gibbs

He wowed everyone with his 40 time of 4.36 seconds (second fastest among running backs), and a 10-yard split of 1.52, which probably solidified his status as the second running back in the draft behind Bijan Robinson of Texas.

Gibbs also did the vertical jump in 33.5.

Although he led the Crimson Tide with 926 yards on 151 rushing attempts for 6.1 yards per carry as well as seven touchdowns, his receiving ability has him drawing comparisons to Alvin Kamara and Dalvin Cook.

At 199 pounds, a lot of NFL teams probably won't consider Gibbs to be an every-down running back, but he'd look great as a complimentary offensive weapon for some of the better teams that will be selected near the end of the first round.

DeMarcco Hellams

He ran the 40 in 4.57, with a 1.57 split, with a 31.0 vertical jump and 10'1" broad jump. Unfortunately, that didn't have him near the top of his position group.

Neither did his drill work. Per the Mile High Huddle, " Hellams was heavy-footed, and these drills can expose issues with the feet."

We still like Hellams to be drafted, but to make a team it'll probably need to be as a key reserve and special-teams player.

Cameron Latu

The converted linebacker didn't participate in any combine drills due to hamstring injury, which is a shame because his athleticism is his biggest asset. It's a very strong year for tight ends and Latu is a player with good promise, but he'll need to go to a team where he can develop more.

Stay tuned to see if he does anything during one of Alabama's Pro Day workouts.

Eli Ricks

When asked by an NFL reporter who he would take with the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft between two of his teammates, Will Anderson Jr. and Bryce Young, he said neither: “I’m taking Eli Ricks, to be honest.”

That answer probably went over well with NFL teams, especially since confidence is considered crucial at cornerback. However, they certainly didn't like his answer about not doing any drills at the combine due to a hamstring injury.

"But at pro day, I will be doing everything, and I expect to surprise a lot of people,” Ricks said.

He'll need to do exactly that because Ricks has limited starting experience over the last two seasons and it's a strong year for cornerbacks. Teams will have to evaluate him based on his potential, which doesn't bode well for being a day one, or even day two, draft selection.

Tyler Steen

The measurements at the Senior Bowl and combine exposed an interesting thing about Steen: He doesn't have long arms (32-3/4) but does have a long wingspan (80-1/2). It was something that teams took note of, which is why it was so important that Mile High Huddle noted that his "drills were not outstanding, but they were consistently strong.

So Steen has come out of both the Senior Bowl and combine on the plus side.

He didn't do everything in Indianapolis, but scored 29.5" in the vertical jump, 9’ 1" broad jump, 4.59 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle and 31 reps in the bench press, which was fifth best.

Henry To'oTo'o

He's a player to watch moving forward, and so is the position.

At 6-5, 249 pounds, Jack Campbell of Iowa made a strong bid to be the first interior linebacker drafted, while former Crimson Tide player Drew Sanders' stock may be sliding a bit even though he didn't do a lot in Indianapolis.

To'oTo'o is a smart, tackling machine who can drop back into coverage and did well in those drills. He also stood out in the four-bag agility drill.

He did the 40 in 4.62 seconds, with a 10-yard split of 1.57, plus scored 32" in the vertical jump, 9’8’" in the broad jump, and ran the 20-yard shuttle in 4.4 seconds.

The only problem was that To'oTo'o weighed in at 227 pounds, which is light for his position. He'll be rated higher by teams looking for more in pass coverage, but lower among those wanting more traditional interior linebackers.

Bryce Young

As noted beforehand, the key to his combine was the weigh-in and measurements. Young’s official height was 5’10”, 204 pounds with hand at 9 3/4 inches.

Not only were those numbers comparable to Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray’s in 2019 (5’10”, 207 pounds, 9 1/2 inches), but with his football smarts there's no longer any doubt about whether he's worthy of being the No. 1-overall selection.

"He has such good awareness and feel," Jeremiah said. "I think he will be able to protect himself because of that.

"In terms of the ability, it's all there. I mean, every type of throw you want to make. He can drive it. He can layer the ball. He can make plays on schedule, off schedule. The talent is exceptional. You talk to people that have been at Alabama for a long time, and they'll say, you know, we'll see how it translates, but this is the best football player that we've been around. Like, he is outstanding."

Todd McShay of ESPN called him a smaller Patrick Mahomes.

Byron Young

He didn't do any of the running drills at the combine, and his scores were overshadowed by some of the other players: 26" on the vertical jump, 9’0’’ on broad jump, 7.68 seconds in the 3-cone drill, and 24 reps in the bench press.

Young was always thought to be an interior lineman at the next level, but his stock appeared to drop at the combine.

Chad Reuter of NFL.com wrote: "Young weighed in at 294 pounds but did not move as well in position drills as some players who were 10 or 20 pounds heavier than him. He was upright and relatively slow in his movements during short-area agility drills.

Nick Saban's Record Regarding Rule Changes Has Been Remarkably Consistent

Take 3: Wednesday 

Over the past few days you've probably seen some of Saban's comments about his concern over the state of college football and various rule changes being considered in an exclusive Sports Illustrated interview with Ross Dellenger.

His questioning Alabama football potentially getting Auburn, LSU and Tennessee as the Crimson Tide's permanent three opponents in the Southeastern Conference's nine-game schedule format drew a lot of attention.

His also weighing in on NIL, player safety and NCAA rules changes, did not, or at least not as much.

Over the years, Saban has changed his mind on a few things due to the altering landscape in collegiate athletics, including expanding the College Football Playoff. It's not that he was ever against it, but the coach was concerned about player safety with the sport adding more potential games.

What's changing is the reaction by everyone else to Saban's suggestions.

Granted, some are claiming Saban is grousing over the potentially brutal scheduling trifecta, because they're going to complain over anything he says regardless. Moreover, scheduling inequity has been part of the SEC as long as anyone can remember (although it does seem kind of ridiculous that the two programs geographically closest wouldn't play each other in the proposed format).

Haters are going to hate. That and with Oklahoma and Texas in the mix, every team is going have a pretty vicious-looking schedule.

But overall, Saban's been very consistent about his concerns and what he speaks up about. Like when the two-team BCS morphed into the College Football Playoff, the first thing he said was it might crush the bowl structure.

It's especially true regarding player safety.

Go back to 2014. Saban was among those who lobbied for players to get stipends, and an early signing date but not in late December when it would overlap the ongoing season. Think the NCAA would like to go back and rethink either of those changes?

Saban was also asked for his opinion by the NCAA Football Rules Committee when it was considering of a 10-second defensive substitution proposal.

There was outrage, and it was led by coaches of hurry-up offenses, many of whom otherwise couldn't compete at a high level, and claimed that Saban was trying to ban no-huddle schemes.

He wasn't. Here's what Saban said:

"I personally think it is a player safety issue. We are the only game that the college game is longer than the pro game. An NBA game is longer than a college basketball game.

"In the NFL, the lowest team averages 59 plays, the highest team in the 70s—75, 72, I don't know what it is for sure. And in college, the lowest team is, like, 62 plays a game, and the highest team is 90. Not only are there more plays in college, there is a greater deviation in the plays."

[A quick note, last season Alabama averaged 70 plays per game against FBS opponents, which ranked 67th in the nation. Texas Tech was first at 89.2. Ole Miss led all SEC schools at 78.8.]

"So how do you prepare the player to play the different kind of games he's going to play in, and what does that do to him in practice, and what is the cumulative effect of that?

"In the NFL, all the official does is stand over the ball until the officials are ready to call the game. That's all they do.

"I'm saying all that to say this: The reason they came up with the 10-second rule, which I had nothing to do with, was the fact they used to stand over the ball for 10 to 12 seconds when we had a 25-second clock before they chopped the clock to start the 25-second clock. So they figured why not do the same thing with the 40-second clock. And when they actually studied the no-huddle teams, they only snap the ball an average of four times a game inside of 10 seconds. So you're not really affecting how they play.

"But what keeps you from ever being able to take a defensive player out—whether he's hurt, pre-existing condition, whatever it is—is the fact that they might snap the ball. So you can't do anything. You can call time out to get a guy out. If you tell a guy to get down, it's really against the rules, and they boo him out of the park.

"So for all of you out there who know what I'm thinking and the fact that I'm trying to create an advantage for the defense, I'm not trying to create an advantage for the defense. I don't think we even need an advantage. Why do we need an advantage? If you look at the statistics, we've been playing better than most.

"But it is an advantage to go fast, and I can understand exactly why coaches who go fast want to do it. It's an advantage. There's no question."

The 10-second proposal ended up being put in a drawer and forgotten. The ridiculous excuse given was that there was a lack of evidence that more plays led to more injuries and concussions.

Saban was left doing the only thing he could, change Alabama's offense to benefit from the rules like everyone else, and the Crimson Tide went on to win more championships.

Now, here we are again, and Saban saying almost the exact same things due to college football looking to shorten games games, allegedly in the name of player safety.

We've been here before.

In 2006, when Saban was still with the Miami Dolphins, college football adopted rule changes to do the exact same thing. For one season it started the game clock on the spot after change of possession and when the ball was kicked on kickoffs, reducing the average game by about 15 minutes.

However, everyone hated the changes and they were quickly repealed.

This time, college football will prohibit consecutive timeouts, have no untimed downs at the end of the first and third quarter after a defensive penalty, and continue to run the clock after a first down.

Saban's a bit of a traditionalist, yet he's pretty much fine with all that. However, if player safety is the real concern (and let's be honest, this is totally being driven by TV) then there's a much better way to meet that goal and bring the college game more in line with the pro version, by allowing defenses a chance to substitute.

“When a team can snap the ball within seven seconds of the clock, is that really good for player safety?” he says. “I’m just asking the question.”

He's probably going to keep asking it until more people listen. 

Why This is the Best Day of the College Basketball Season

Take 4: Thursday 

This is the day.

If you're a true sports fan there may be no better day during the calendar year. We're talking general greatness, you don't need to have a team playing to enjoy, a get up and watch-until-you-drop kind of day.

It's even better if you are a college basketball fan.

As terrific as the first couple of days and weeks are during the NCAA Tournament, when every game is win or go home, the Thursday of Championship Week is even better for sports junkies.

It has a little bit of anything, a whole lot of everything, and is kind of like the weather this time of year, all over the place.

The smaller conferences are winding down with their automatic berths, while the bigger ones are heating up. It's the day you want to stay home if you still have cable, and try to wear out the batteries on your remote control. Streaming? Yeah right. Maybe on secondary devices and your phone. The remote rules on this day.

Granted, the whole week is something special if for no other reason than every team plays, and each can make the NCAA Tournament. It might mean having to win up to five games, like with the staggered West Coast Conference bracket, and even with the worst teams there's the line from the movie Dumb and Dumber "So you're saying there's a chance ... "

True college basketball aficionados are still talking about Tuesday night's double-overtime semifinal of the Big Sky Tournament, with Montana State pulling out the 60-58 victory over Weber State. It then had to face Northern Arizona (12-22) last Wednesday with the automatic bid on the line, but that's the way brackets work sometimes.

The Lumberjacks had finished ninth in a 10-team league, yet they were one step away ... until the Bobcats ended their run 85-78 and celebrated after midnight CT.

Does that count as being part of Thursday? Sure, why not ...

But what takes this particular day to the next level are the games that really help determine who's in, and who's out, of the NCAA Tournament. It's when the bubble teams square off against each other, or a borderline team has to pull off an upset to improve its resume.

Take for example the SEC Tournament, being played up in Nashville. Few people were going to get excited about LSU vs. Georgia, or Ole Miss vs. South Carolina when those teams were probably playing for the opportunity to just play one more game.

But Auburn vs. Arkansas on Thursday? That might be the game of the tournament. Could the loser be out? Does Mississippi State have to beat Florida to get in? How desperate will the Bulldogs play?

Looking elsewhere, North Carolina vs. Virginia is considered a must win for the preseason No. 1 Tar Heels. Pitt against Duke. Is North Carolina State vs. Clemson a winner-takes-all game?

In the Big Ten, is Rutgers vs. Michigan essentially a play-in game? Does Penn State fall off the bubble with a loss to Illinois?

Does Providence get bounced if it loses to UConn? Is Oklahoma State in or does it have to beat Texas? How big is Arizona State vs. Southern California?

And it's like this all day long — 57 games, beginning at 10 a.m. — and for me the heart of March Madness.

Two final thoughts about the Thursday of Championship Week:

• It was three years ago (1,093 days) that the SEC announced it was canceling the remainder of its men's tournament in Nashville over COVID fears, just before Alabama was set to tip against Tennessee in the second round. The winner slated to face regular-season championKentucky.

How was that three years ago?

• It makes me think of Luke Ratliff. No one would love this more, and what Alabama basketball has accomplished this season, than the "Fluffopotamus."

Our passionate friend is truly missed. 

T.G. Paschal/BamaCentral

What Alabama Needs to be the Top-Overall Seed in NCAA Tournament

Take 5: Friday

We told you a week ago that Alabama basketball had almost certainly already locked up a No. 1 seeding in the NCAA Tournament, and nothing that's happened since then has altered its status.

Even if Alabama fails to notch a win at the SEC Tournament, the Crimson Tide is on target to make program history on Selection Sunday. Regardless of what happens in Nashville, it would shocking if it isn't the top seed in the South Region, playing in Birmingham the first weekend of March Madness.

However, the Crimson Tide does still have one final thing it can secure this weekend, outside of the automatic bid that goes with the conference tournament title: The top overall seeding of the NCAA Tournament.

Alabama, Houston and Kansas are the three teams still in the mix. Of them, Houston has the longest odds due to only playing six Quad 1 opponents, and it lost at home against the Crimson Tide. Although the Cougars are atop the NCAA NET rankings (with Alabama second and Kansas eighth), all indications are that they're third with the selection committee.

Kansas was 15-6 against Quad 1 teams before beating West Virginia on Thursday. However, the Jayhawks will be without head coach Bill Self for the rest of the Big 12 tournament after he subsequently ended up in the hospital with an illness.

Alabama and Kansas are thought to be neck-and-neck for the top-seeding bragging rights, so if one wins its conference tournament and the other does not it could easily be the difference.

They're that close.

BTW, Alabama and Kansas have never played in college basketball.

One final thing of note, keep an eye on Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament.

The Boilermakers still have a chance to be the fourth No. 1 seed, with UCLA the other top option in the West Region. If it's the Bruins, Purdue could end up the No. 2 seed in the South with Alabama.

Louisville, the site of the South Region finals, is only a three-hour drive from West Lafayette, Ind.

5 Things That Got Our Attention This Week

1) Stat of the week

Nate Oats joined C.M. Newton as the only two Alabama men's basketball coaches who have led the Crimson Tide to multiple SEC regular season championships.

2) Suggested reading

Former Crimson Tide wide receiver Calvin Ridley wrote an emotional Players’ Tribune essay discussing his mental health and suspension from the NFL after betting on games during the 2021 season. The 28-year-old who was reinstated this week wrote he did not want to “sugar coat” anything, saying gambling was the “worst mistake of [his] life.” He also discussed his depression and anxiety at the time of the incident, and his difficult childhood. "Football saved my life. It’s still my purpose. I still love it, maybe now more than ever."

3) Bryce Young on Bill O'Brien

You might have missed this quote from the NFL combine about the former Crimson Tide offensive coordinator who is back with the New England Patriots:

“I loved OB. They’re getting a great play-caller, great football mind. He helped me a lot to develop and grow and really come into my own. He helped me in a lot more ways than people know.

"So, I love OB. Definitely, I know he’s gonna do great things up there.”

4) Tua's own version of NIL

Tua Tagovailoa has filed a trademark application for his own name. The Miami Dolphins quarterback plans to launch a line of clothing, footballs and under-eye grease.

5) More Nick Saban

The Crimson Tide coach followed up his exclusive interview with Sports Illustrated by making an appearance on ESPN’s Know Mercy podcast with Stephen A. Smith. While nothing he said could be considered new, the following was still noteworthy.

As for how much longer he might continue coaching, he said: “I love trying to build a team with a group of people. I enjoy doing that. … I am also very aware that I don’t want to ever ride the program down. In other words, there’s going to come a time when my age and my circumstance—everybody is going to be able to tell somebody, ‘Well, he’s not going to be there. I mean, how long is he going to coach, until he’s 90?’ That will start to affect the program maybe in an adverse way. I don’t want to get there.”

“… I can still do the work at a quality level that is making a contribution to the success of the organization,” Saban said. “So, I’m not there yet.”

Saban also said that NIL “wasn’t supposed to be me going to give a speech to raise money from alumni so we can get enough money in our collective so we can pay players.”

Instead, Saban would prefer an NFL-style system where players are employees and sign contracts with a particular team under a salary cap. “Pay the players, and they can become employees, which a lot of people in college — that’s not what college football or amateur sports are supposed to be — but I would rather see that than be where we are now, where nobody has a contract, you can leave whenever you want, and we can actually create an institution that can pay you to play for our school. I asked the question then and I’ll ask you now: is that what we want college football to become?”

Happy Spring Break and March Madness everyone!

See Also:

Take 1: March Madness May Give Alabama a Chance to Vanquish Its Biggest Ghost

Take 2: Lasting Impressions of Alabama Players at the NFL Combine

Take 3: Nick Saban's Record Regarding Rule Changes Has Been Remarkably Consistent

Take 4: Why This is the Best Day of the College Basketball Season