Texas vs Alabama: Preview, prediction, how to watch SEC men’s basketball game

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After back-to-back SEC losses, Texas basketball enters a challenging week in a precarious spot when it comes to the NCAA Tournament.

The Longhorns (15-9, 4-7 SEC) still rank high in certain metrics like the NET ratings (No. 31) and the KenPom ratings (No. 32), which are used by the NCAA Tournament selection committee in March. But losses against No. 1 Alabama on Tuesday (8 p.m., ESPN, 1300, 98.1) or No. 18 Kentucky on Saturday will dig a deeper hole for Texas in the SEC standings. Even if this year’s version of the SEC projects as one of the highest-rated conferences in college basketball history, Texas coach Rodney Terry knows his team needs to get a few wins over some of the nation’s best teams to ensure a fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever had been a part of a league that’s been as ultra-competitive as this league is, where you literally have to coach every game like it’s an NCAA Tournament game,” Terry said. “You can play 30 good minutes in this league — really good basketball at a very, very high level — and you’ve got nothing to show for it at the end of the day.”

MORE: 3 things to watch in Texas basketball’s SEC stretch run

It doesn’t get much more competitive than Alabama (20-3, 9-1), No. 1 in the USA Today coaches poll and No. 2 in the Associated Press poll. But the Tide are just part of what’s been a grueling schedule; they’ll be the fourth different opponent this year for Texas that has reached either No. 1 or No. 2 in the AP poll, joining Auburn, Tennessee and Connecticut.

Here’s what to know about the Longhorns’ SEC game against Alabama.

Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner, left, knocks the ball away from Texas guard Tre Johnson during Vanderbilt’s 86-78 win over the Longhorns Saturday in Nashville. Johnson attempted just three free throws in the loss, and Texas coach Rodney Terry says the freshman should be getting more calls from the officials.

More: Texas men’s basketball: 3 things to watch as Longhorns enter…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/texas-vs-alabama-preview-prediction-212214641.html

Author : Austin American-Statesman

Publish date : 2025-02-10 21:22:00

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