March Madness bracket preview sets Auburn, Alabama on NCAA Tournament collision cours
When Associated Press No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Alabama play Saturday afternoon, it could be the first of several meetings this season.
Based on the NCAA selection committee’s top-16 reveal a month from Selection Sunday, the two SEC juggernauts could be on a collision course for the NCAA Tournament championship game.
Auburn is the No. 1 overall seed and is projected to play in the South Region. Meanwhile, Alabama is also a 1-seed but on the other side of the bracket in the Midwest Region.
With the programs well-positioned to earn two of the four top seeds, Saturday’s unprecedented showdown could be a teaser of a much bigger game between the two later this season.
Auburn is first in NET rankings and KenPom. The Tigers lead the NCAA with 13 Quad 1 (Q1) wins. Alabama ranks sixth in NET and KenPom. It’s tied with Kentucky and Tennessee for the country’s second-most Q1 wins (eight).
The in-state rivals are arguably the country’s two best offensive teams. Auburn is first in offensive rating and ninth in scoring (84.8 points per game), while Alabama is second in offensive rating but first in scoring (90.5 points per game).
Auburn is led by National Player of the Year contender Johni Broome, who is averaging 18.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. Per Stathead, the Tide have an NCAA-high seven games with at least 100 points this season.
The teams will meet again on the final day of the regular season and potentially a third time in the SEC Tournament. Both are currently in line to finish in the top four of the conference standings and receive a double-bye into the quarterfinals.
One hitch in a potential national title rematch is history.
Since the men’s NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, it has only produced nine national championship games between 1-seeds. (h/t Stathead)
There has also never been an all-SEC championship game and only two between conference foes during that span.
The way Auburn and Alabama have played this season, it would surprise no one if Saturday’s serving was the amuse-bouche to a meatier game later this year.
College basketball revolved around the state of Alabama on Saturday, and it could remain the sport’s epicenter for the rest of the season.
