Opening Statement…

“Big night tonight for us. It was the Auburn-Alabama we expect it to be. It was a great game, Bruce (Pearl) had his guys ready to go. To be down 17 with just over 10 minutes to go in the game, I couldn’t be more proud of our guys. Second SEC Championship in three years here. It was really special tonight to do it in front of our fans. I mean they were great tonight I really want to thank our fans for all their support. They brought the energy I thought to our run in the second half. We achieved a lot this year. I mean shoot we just swept our in-state rival which is a big deal around here. We went undefeated at home. It's not easy to do. We still got things we want to accomplish ahead of us. The guys have worked hard and I'm super proud of them.”

Benny’s Breakdown: Rivalry games always have extra pomp and circumstance around them, but the chance for Alabama to become the outright regular-season champions with a win over Auburn, sent the crowd at Coleman Coliseum into a frenzy. It was the first celebration the team hopes will come with two more during March, but it can’t be overstated how important it was for Alabama to accomplish this goal at home. Wednesday’s win makes Alabama a perfect 14-0 at home this season. Despite a bevy of close games, the Crimson Tide took care of business at home, something Nate Oats has harped on all season long.

On what it was like to celebrate the regular-season title at home…

“These fans have been great since we've got here. I was really happy we were able to win this thing outright and do the celebration in Coleman. Winning it two years ago was great, but you're on the road in a COVID environment at Mississippi State. Tonight was special and we talked about it before the game. At the under-8:00 timeout, I said ‘We need to play a little harder. We’re not losing this game because we didn't play hard enough to win it. Our guys came out and played harder, so it was special to do it here in Coleman.”

Benny’s Breakdown: With an undefeated record at home, Alabama could have let the opportunity to celebrate a championship on its own floor slip away thanks to a sub-par start. If it wasn’t for the 24-7 run to give Alabama its first lead of the game, Auburn shot the ball well enough and stymied the Crimson Tide offense to the point where it deserved the win. Thanks to Jahvon Quinerly, Mark Sears and Noah Clowney, Alabama was able to hold on like a heavyweight prizefighter finding its balance on the ropes. It wasn’t pretty, but it was gritty and that’s what Alabama is going to need going forward.

On Jahvon Quinerly’s play…

“I can't be more proud of JQ. I told the team we're getting the March version of JQ. He's definitely the X-factor. He's played great for us, particularly in the second half of the last two games. He's obviously really talented, you look at his line tonight, he ended up with 24 points, six assists, not one turnover and led the team in plus/minus with a +16. He really got locked in on the defensive end. He knows how to win and he's making a lot of winning plays on both sides of the ball for us."

Benny’s Breakdown: Speaking of gritty performances, Jahvon Quinerly has embodied that over the past week. If it wasn’t for his second-half performances against Arkansas and Auburn, Alabama wouldn’t have a perfect home record. Plus it would need a win at Texas A&M if it wanted to be outright regular-season champions. Thankfully for Alabama, Quinerly has found that extra gear he showed last season before his ACL injury. Over the last two games, the senior averaged 20 points and 6.5 assists which is exactly what the doctor ordered for an Alabama offense that at times looked like it's been on life-support.

On what it’s like to win the title after the past two weeks…

“Listen I just couldn't be more proud of this group, to be honest. Obviously, it's a heartbreaking situation that's never lost on us, but the kids have worked really hard. Winning in the SEC is not an easy thing to do, I mean look at the teams in this league. It’s a great league. And I just can’t tell you how proud I am of this group.”

Benny’s Breakdown: While there’s been ample criticism towards Oats and the rest of Alabama for the way the last two weeks have gone, if there’s anything that’s also come to light is that nothing can prepare a team for a capital murder case including multiple teammates. The Crimson Tide know it won’t be able to turn off the national spotlight that’s burning into its program, but a brief diversion is welcomed. Brandon Miller arguably needed it the most and delivered an impressive 17 points after a terrible shooting performance. For 24 hours at least the outside noise fades slightly for a team that was desperate for something positive.

will choose between bama, villanova, ucf, and missouri on march 3rd.

Could our poor 3 point shooting over the last couple of games be because we have "dead legs" due to the grind of a long season? If it is I hope a few days off before the tournament will help. We need to be firing on all cylinders going forward.

is a 6-4 shooting guard at hoover in the 2025 class. i think he is tarik london`s son so that should help recruiting him.

Looks like he may have some issues with the fatal car crash recently. They are saying he was racing the other car and he left the scene and has lied to police about it.

Panties in a wad…
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I’ve supported this team but we are a bunch of thugs. Brandon Miller does nothing to help his image. JQ is a thug

I mean yea he has had to put his foot in his mouth a few times, but come on.

Leading Indiana St 5-4 in 3rd inning. Could not be more obvious there is NO reliable #2 pitcher behind Fouts.
Expect every game she does not pitch to be a complete adventure.
Team also has committed 4 errors in just 2 innings.

Maybe FSU and Clemson jump ship?

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First Team All-SEC 8 players, Bama 0 Second Team All-SEC 8 players, Bama 0 All-Freshmen All-SEC 8 players, Bama 0 All Defensive SEC Team 6 players, Bama 0 The only Bama player named was Hannah Barber, student-athlete of the year. Congratulations to Hannah! Four more very good reasons that the leader(s) of Bama women's basketball is way behind AFTER 10 years. Alabama should get busy and make a change now. Other teams in the SEC are doing it , as we speak, in all sports. We are Alabama, what are we waiting on. ROLL TIDE!!!

A bit surprised — Liberty posted nice stats. However this coach has zero ties to the Southeast which might encumber recruiting. Also no experience with a Power 5 program.

I hope we brings some fans. Bridgestone Arena seats 18,500 for basketball.

Eli Gold says he's targeting a return date to the booth by next year's A-Day game. Here's what he said to Crimson Tide Sports Network.

"Things are coming along nicely. I am still recovering from the inability to walk like I want to. I have lost that ability. But it's now coming back."

On not being able to call the Iron Bowl.

"Today was one of my goals. I really wanted to be able to get back on the air to do the Iron Bowl, and then look ahead toward later this season and next year. It just didn’t work out."

Back as analyst.

The Southeastern Conference released its players of the week etc. and despite Brandon Millers numbers dwarfing everyone else in points, rebounds and other stats, they flat out snubbed him. Is our own SEC gone "woke" now?
Thats actually the 2nd snub this season, but this last week was clearly botched.
This is not a national publication, but our own conference doing this. Greg Sankey who I really admire has been really silent on the Miller debate and I can't get my head around what's going on inside the Birmingham offices.
Anyone else got a problem with that? I know in the overall scheme of things that Brandon Miller isn't going to lose any sleep over this, because overall it's no big deal, but it became one with me because I thought highly of our conference administrators. Until now.

Beaman will be on campus March 4. Update on Rivals:

#80 ranked 2023 6’8 SG Kris Parker will make his decision Friday. He is between UCF, Alabama, Villanova, and Missouri.

Yesterday I was hearing it was a Missouri and Villanova battle, but I am hearing some buzz for Alabama right now. It’s been quite on Alabama’s front for Parker, but it has been for Parker for months now.

Stay tuned

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I have Arkansas finishing 0-2, and while I think they’ll likely pull one out, my gut just tells me they’ll find ways to lose. At UT and then against a hot UK team is tough.

I have a unique idea for the speeding up of sporting games.

At the present time, the NCAA is studying ways to speed up the pace of play. I’ve heard that they want to restart the clock after incomplete passes, among other ideas. They are talking this idea will eliminate Seven plays and this idea will eliminate eleven plays. News flash, we are going to the game to see the plays.

At the present time a 40 minute College basketball game has 40 minutes of in game commercials. Every four minutes we have a four minute break for commercials. We now lose the first eight minutes of the second game of the night on ESPN to commercials, which last year were three minute breaks for Commercial. At the Gonzaga game I was able to go get a coke twice during the game, without missing a play.

In College Football the breaks for commercials is even greater. Everytime there is a change of possession there is a four minute break for Commercials at least 16 times during the live action, not counting halftime. In a 60 minute game we now have 80 minutes of commercials and 20 minutes for a halftime show. In a 3 hour 15 minute game there are over 100 minutes of commercial and halftime show. When I was young halftimes we’re 15 minutes. A high school game last about two hours fifteen minutes even though the game is only 12 minutes shorter.

We are going to the games to see plays, not commercial timeouts. Commercials can be run during halftime, as few watch the halftime show anyway. I don’t care what happened in the Northwestern- Minnesota game. If I cared I have the Big Ten.Network on my TV.