Alabama’s final exhibition came with the kind of edge you usually save for March, not mid-October.
In Birmingham, the Crimson Tide slipped past Auburn 87-85 at Legacy Arena, and the atmosphere matched the score. Players, coaches and fans from both sides treated it like more than a preseason tune-up, turning the night into a tense, heated battle that felt a lot bigger than an exhibition.
Auburn head coach Steven Pearl captured the mood afterward: "That felt like a Sweet 16 game in October," Auburn head coach Steven Pearl said after the game. "That was a hell of an environment for a college basketball tonight."
Alabama head coach Nate Oats said he wanted exactly that kind of test. "Got real chippy, those guys played hard," Alabama head coach Nate Oats said during the postgame press conference.
"I think part of the reason for us playing is I wanted an intense exhibition game. Like, this is not easily replicable.
You don't get this in practice. You don't get this in your buy games.
This is a rivalry game. This an SEC game, so to be able to play an SEC game in the middle of October lets you know what you've got to work on."
The Crimson Tide got a huge night from its sophomore guard, who finished with 23 points, including 18 in the second half, while adding four steals, four rebounds and two assists. The freshman guard also delivered, scoring 20 points with four assists and hitting the shot that put Alabama ahead 85-82 with 36 seconds left in regulation.
Alabama also got production across the roster. The freshman forward brought energy and athleticism to the floor, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
The junior forward led the team on the glass with eight rebounds and added nine points. The Kentucky transfer chipped in nine points and five rebounds in 21 minutes, while the Boise State transfer logged five points and four rebounds in 22 minutes.
The night was all about the intensity, and Alabama’s exhibition win over Auburn had plenty of it.
In Other News...
Alabama Faces A Brutal Late Twist Before Texas A&M Showdown
Alabamas injury report for the Texas A&M game delivered a rougher-than-expected update late in the week, with three key players in Racin Delgatty, Zabien Brown and EJ Crowell all downgraded to doubtful. The Tide are already preparing to be without star wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams and defensive lineman Terrance Green, a combination that tightens the margin for error as they get ready for a matchup that has taken on added weight.
Texas A&M, meanwhile, got a more encouraging read on its own availability list, with Mario Craver and DJ Hicks both upgraded to probable. For Alabama, the timing makes the depth chart even more important and leaves the final call on several contributors hanging over what was already shaping up as a demanding road test. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Saban Just Shared A Side Of Himself Alabama Fans Know Well
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The setting made the conversation even more fitting, with Salt Lake City set to host the 2034 Winter Olympics and hockey very much part of the local sports conversation. Sabans comments underscored how naturally he sees the overlap between the two sports, from assembling talent to creating a team that can sustain success, even if the details of how deep that interest now runs were left hanging. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Faces A Costly Availability Problem Before Texas A&M
Alabamas availability report ahead of Texas A&M brought an unwelcome update for a team trying to keep its footing in a key SEC stretch. Zabien Brown, Racin Delgatty and EJ Crowell were all downgraded to doubtful, a rough sign for a roster already dealing with injury concerns after the physical win over Tennessee.
Delgatty is expected to miss a second straight game, while Brown and Crowell were hurt in that Tennessee matchup and now face a questionable path to Saturday. On the other sideline, Texas A&M got a bit of a boost with two players upgraded to probable, adding another layer to a game where availability could matter as much as form. [Read more 🡒]