A rested Grant Nelson and Cliff Omoruyi hold the keys for Alabama against Florida

Perhaps the biggest benefit of Alabama basketball’s 99-70 blowout win over Kentucky on Friday night is that it allowed Nate Oats to rest some of his veteran players. Players the Crimson Tide will need a lot out of in order to beat an elite Florida Gators squad and get to Sunday’s SEC Championship.

Thanks to the dominant victory, Oats didn’t have to play anyone more than 30 minutes. Alabama’s starting frontline will be key against the Gators. Grant Nelson and Cliff Omoruyi got ample rest against the Wildcats thanks to high-level play from Jarin Stevenson and Mo Dioubate. Nelson and Omoruyi weren’t asked for much on Friday night and the two combined to play just 29 minutes. They should be fresh and ready to go this afternoon.

Stevenson and Dioubate combined to play 41 minutes and combined for 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 stocks (blocks+steals). Those two will have a role against the Gators, but a lot will be on the shoulders of Nelson and Omoruyi against an elite Florida front-line.

To put it simply, Florida punked Alabama, particularly Nelson and Omoruyi, in the meeting in Tuscaloosa 10 days ago. Florida beat Alabama by 15 (50-35) on the glass. Florida’s starting front court of Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu combined for 36 points and 21 rebounds. Nelson and Omoruyi combined 21 points and 11 rebounds. It was a total mismatch inside.

Condon in particular was a big problem. He scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. He and Chinyelu combined for 10 offensive rebounds as Alabama could not keep Florida off of the offensive glass. Alabama’s first shot defense was solid, and Florida shot under 30% from three, but the game was decided on the glass.

Alabama has to do better on the boards on Saturday to have a shot at pulling this one out.

A 1-seed could be on the line for Alabama against Florida

Alabama and Florida aren’t separated by much. In Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology (updated on Saturday morning), Florida is No. 4 overall and Alabama is No. 5. It’s possible that the fourth and final No. 1 seed comes down to the winner of the Tide and Gators matchup on Saturday.

Historically, the selection committee hasn’t put a lot of stock into conference tournaments. Most experts feel this year will be different, however, with the strength of the SEC and how difficult winning this conference tournament would be.

Lunardi stated prior to the start of the SEC Tournament that whichever team went the furthest in the tournament between Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee would likely get the last No. 1 seed.

Alabama has only been a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament one time in program history. They were the No. 1 overall seed in the Big Dance two years ago.