BIRMGINHAM, Ala. (WAFF) – The unofficial sign of the madness of the college basketball season tipped off in Birmingham, Tuesday at SEC media days.
The Alabama Crimson Tide is predicted to finish at the top of the Southeastern Conference and ranks No. 2 nationally, following a historic post season run that ended in the Final Four a season ago. Alabama has no plans to stop there, as they head into the season as favorites to win their first National Championship.
“To a championship level, there‘s six programs at Alabama that have won National Championships, basketball is not one of them,” said head coach Nate Oats on the podium, “We‘re trying to get it to that level. We feel like we’re at a level where we can compete.”
Meanwhile, the Auburn Tigers won’t make it easy on their in-state rivals. The reigning SEC champions were picked to finish second in the conference and come into the season ranked No. 11 nationally.
In order to get to the level it takes to compete in the postseason, the Tigers have crafted a grueling non-conference slate that includes a date with the Duke Blue Devils. An effort by head coach Bruce Pearl to get his Tigers ready for a challenging 2024-25 season, following an early exit in the first round of March Madness last season.
“Sometimes you have to act like you belong,” said Coach Pearl, “You can’t always control the recruiting. You can’t control the transfer portal. But you can control who you schedule. Just the thought that Kelvin Sampson thought enough about the Auburn basketball program to want to get in on that neutral/neutral game.”
Alabama will get their season rolling at home against UNC Ashville on November 4. Auburn will open up against Vermont on November 6.
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