Three Games in Three Days: No. 1 Alabama's Path to its Eighth SEC Tournament Title

A look at who the top-seeded Crimson Tide will have to go through in order to bring home its eighth SEC tournament championship.

In the history of the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, the Alabama Crimson Tide has won the annual event seven times.

That’s the second-most in the league after Kentucky, who has won it 32 times since its introduction in 1933.

The Crimson Tide won the tournament in 1934, 1982, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991 and most recently in 2021.

That most recent win in 2021? It came at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. In fact, the last time the tournament was played in the Music City, Alabama took home the title. After a visit to Tampa, Fla. for the 2022 playing of the tournament — the spectacle returns to Nashville in 2023.

Here’s a look at how the field stacks up this season.

The Bracket

2023 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament / SEC

Final SEC Standings:

1. Alabama (26-5, 16-2 SEC)
2. Texas A&M (23-8, 15-3 SEC)
3. Kentucky (21-10, 12-6 SEC)
4. Missouri (23-8, 11-7 SEC)
5. Tennessee (22-9, 11-7 SEC)
6. Vanderbilt (18-13, 11-7 SEC)
7. Auburn (20-11, 10-8 SEC)
8. Florida (16-15, 9-9 SEC)
9. Mississippi State (20-11, 8-10 SEC)
10. Arkansas (19-12, 8-10 SEC)
11. Georgia (16-15, 6-12 SEC)
12. South Carolina (11-20, 4-14 SEC)
13. Ole Miss (11-20, 3-15 SEC)
14. LSU (13-18, 2-16 SEC)

Despite losing to the Aggies on Saturday, the Crimson Tide held on to the No. 1 seed. Kentucky made a late-season push, arriving in Nashville as the No. 3 seed. Missouri’s last-second heave on Feb. 11 in Knoxville took it over the top to pick up the final double-bye over the Volunteers.

Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State and Arkansas will all play on Thursday.

The 2023 SEC Tournament gets started on Wednesday night with the four teams that finished at the bottom of the standings.

South Carolina will take on Ole Miss while Georgia will face LSU on Wednesday night. The winners will keep their season alive for at least another day.

The top four seeds get the coveted double-bye and won’t have to suit up until Friday. That includes Alabama, who will be in action first on Friday at noon CT.

Quarterfinal Round: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 8 Florida / No. 9 Mississippi State

The Crimson Tide will get its title race underway against either the 8-seeded Gators or 9-seeded Bulldogs, who will play on Thursday at noon CT.

Though Florida is seeded higher, Mississippi State may be favored in this second round matchup. The Bulldogs have won seven of 10 and are making a run towards an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. A loss at Vanderbilt on Saturday didn’t help Mississippi State’s case — so the Bulldogs may need a win over the Gators and more to make the 68-team field.

Florida has lost six of 10, much to do with the loss to its best player, Colin Castleton. After Castleton broke his hand on Feb. 15, the Gators lost three in a row. Florida finished the season with back-to-back wins over Georgia and LSU to salvage the 8-seed.

Alabama went a combined 3-0 against both teams this season. The Crimson Tide defeated the Gators 97-69 at Coleman Coliseum on Feb. 8. Alabama opened SEC play with a 78-67 win over Mississippi State in Starkville before beating them again on the return trip to Tuscaloosa, 66-63, on Jan. 25.

Semifinal Round: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Missouri / No. 5 Tennessee

Assuming the Volunteers don’t fall to South Carolina or Ole Miss on Thursday afternoon, the Crimson Tide will face either Tennessee or the No. 4 seed, Missouri, on Saturday at noon CT.

The Tigers have been one of the biggest surprises in the SEC in 2022-23. Missouri went 12-21 last year and fired Cuonzo Martin. Under first-year head coach Dennis Gates, the Tigers finished fourth in the SEC with an 11-7 conference record. Missouri is winners of four straight coming into the tournament.

The Volunteers are limping into Nashville — literally. The heart and soul of Tennessee’s team, Zakai Zeigler, suffered a torn ACL on Feb. 28 in the Volunteers’ 75-57 win over Arkansas.

Without him, Tennessee lost at Auburn in the regular season finale. Averaging 10.7 points, 5.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game, the Volunteers will be a much different team moving forward without their star point guard.

Alabama won by 21 points at Missouri on Jan. 21. The Crimson Tide lost to Tennessee in Knoxville on Feb. 15.

SEC Tournament Final: No. 1 Alabama vs. ?

Realistically, any one of five teams could make the championship game on Sunday. The bottom half of the bracket seems much more open than the top. Could a seventh-seeded Auburn make its way to the final game on Sunday? Sure. Could 10-seed Arkansas grind its way to a championship appearance? Why not — with all of that talent?

Since losing by 57 points at Coleman Coliseum on Jan. 31, Vanderbilt has won eight of nine contests down the stretch. Jerry Stackhouse was named SEC Co-Coach of the Year for the turnaround. Without Liam Robbins for good, can the Commodores still make some noise at home in Nashville?

So, what about the chalk?

No. 2 seed Texas A&M and No. 3 seed Kentucky are set to meet in the semifinals on Saturday if everything goes to plan.

The Aggies are red-hot off a season-ending win over Alabama on Saturday. Still doubted by many, Texas A&M has won eight of nine — and is still listed as a 7-seed in the NCAA tournament by ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. A run in Nashville would change that. The Aggies made it to the championship game in Tampa a year ago.

Who thought the Wildcats would be here?

Kentucky was thought of as an afterthought for the NCAA tournament just a few weeks ago. Finishing conference play at 12-6, the Wildcats are now comfortably in the “Big Dance.” Now, Kentucky is looking for more. You already know there will be plenty of blue in Bridgestone Arena all weekend.

The Crimson Tide has stumbled around in its last four games. It won’t get any easier in Nashville this weekend. Alabama has already won the SEC regular season championship. In order to take home the SEC double crown, the Crimson Tide will have to win three games in three days.

Let the basketball on Broadway begin.

See Also:

Alabama Basketball: Key Focuses Heading into the SEC Tournament

Alabama Basketball Slips in Latest AP Top 25, Coaches Poll

Brandon Miller Receives Sporting News First-Team All-American Honors