Alabama's loss to Tennessee won't hurt the Tide...

    This is the first time I've seen an SEC basketball game officiated like the Tide/Tennessee game. If the officials called an NCAA Tournament game like they did in Knoxville, they'd never officiate there again. The officials took the skill part of hoops away and turned it into a free-for-all. After watching the game again, I saw many wrong calls and no-calls, which were atrocious. Luckily for the Tide, that game doesn't matter. The Tournament is based on the NET rankings. The Tide is currently 2nd in that category. Houston is 1st, and of course, the Crimson beat them earlier this season. 

    Maryland beat Purdue last night. The Boilermakers have lost three of their previous four games. Houston is winning because they need to have quality teams in their league. Memphis is the only decent team remaining on their schedule. The Tigers are without three key players for an unspecified time. Tennessee is 3rd in the NET, and  UCLA ranks in the top four. Purdue is 4th, and Kansas is 5th. 

   The BIG 12 is the premier league this season. They have several quality teams. I'd pick the BIG 10 and the SEC next in line. The SEC's net ranking is hurt by a lackluster Kentucky team.  

    The key game in the SEC this weekend is Tennessee visiting Kentucky. The Vols will check in as a slight favorite. Kentucky could help their Tournament seeding with a win. The Vols will get a different type of officiating in Lexington. Don't be surprised if the Wildcats win. Bama is a prohibitive favorite over Georgia. Georgia has improved but continues to lose games. I'm hoping the Tide comes back and wins with fewer turnovers.

    Arkansas lost to Texas A&M after having a nine-point cushion at halftime. Nick Smith, a possible lottery pick, is poised to return to the Razorback lineup. That could make a big difference for them. Bama plays Arkansas on 2/25 in Tuscaloosa. Alabama then travels to TAMU for their season finale. 

    TAMU has Missouri in Columbia this weekend. It should be interesting to see how A&M plays an offense similar to Alabama. The Tigers are coming off an embarrassing loss to AU. If TAMU loses another game, that would make the Tide's chances of winning the regular SEC season easier. 

    Joe Lunardi keeps Bama as the overall number-one seed today. He also picks six other SEC teams to be selected. Tennessee, Kentucky, TAMU, Arkansas, Auburn, and Missouri are on that list. The Vols are a 3 seed. No other SEC team is better than an 8 seed. 

   Up for discussion:  Does the Tide's early schedule lead to team fatigue down the stretch? 

Note: Don't be surprised if Charles Bediako doesn't play on Saturday. He has been given two days of rest and is now "day to day." Oats wondered if it might have been better not to play him against Tn. He may decide to do the safe thing.