Can 'Bama win the national championship in hoops?   

       

Oats is SEC Coach of the Year

           I've answered this question before, but I'll answer it again for 'Bama fans who haven't read my past responses.  Yes, they can. If Alabama shoots well from the outside, they can beat anyone in the NCAA. I'm not joking or trying to be a homer.  If Alabama has a run of games where they shoot above 40% from downtown, they can take down any team in the NCAA field this year.  That includes Michigan.        I've answered this question before, but I'll answer it again for 'Bama fans who haven't read my past responses.  Yes, they can. If Alabama shoots well from the outside, they can beat anyone in the NCAA. I'm not joking or trying to be a homer.  If Alabama has a run of games where they shoot above 40% from downtown, they can take down any team in the NCAA field this year.  That includes Michigan. 

       

Sankey enjoys the postgame.

   What separates this year's team from last year is the defense. Alabama's defense is rated 3rd by Kenpom.com. KenPom has become a site where fans can see how their team compares to others. I don't exactly understand who they arrive at their numbers. I don't always agree with their conclusions. Overall, it seems the site offers unbiased ratings (not rakings) based on mathematics. I am not sure how you arrive at the luck category, however.  His love for the Big10 is difficult to understand. I'm not intimating the Big10 isn't a great league. They have 10 teams ranked in the first ten.  Hmm? He lists Michigan #2. All of his ratings are based upon his proprietary algorithm. 

         Another internet site I like is warrennolan.com. It is an easy site to gather information such as the NET, RPI, SOS, and RPI numbers.  He also predicts scores.  He projects that Alabama will beat Iona 86-60 with a 90% to win the first-round game.  His over/under is 146. No doubt, the Tide is a heavy favorite in the Iona game.        

     The SEC got six teams in the Tournament.  Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, LSU, Missouri, and Florida got invitations. Ole Miss is on stand-by should some teams encounter COVID problems.  By the way, Ole Miss and Mississippi State got invitations to play in the NIT.  The Rebels open up with Louisiana Tech, and the Bulldogs open with Saint Louis University. The MSU-SLU game could be a good one. 

           This is a great chance for the SEC to show the NCAA that it isn't football only. It isn't just Kentucky. Don't look now, but the SEC is turning into a decidedly "west division," so to speak. Alabama, Arkansas, and LSU seem to be decidedly better than their "eastern" counterparts.  Auburn is a much better basketball school regardless of how it happened. I'm not condoning the allegations against LSU.  No one should.  The main thing that has happened to the SEC is great coaches throughout the league. No one really knew about Nate Oats.  Everyone does know. His "gimmick" offense has led to the best defense in the SEC.  I'm betting the SEC does well in the year's rendition of the NCAAT.  What do you think?