The Alabama Crimson Tide endured a tough loss Wednesday night as they fell to the Missouri Tigers in a high-scoring 110-98 matchup in Columbia. This marked Alabama’s second consecutive loss, following their defeat against Auburn last Saturday, and raised concerns about the team’s defensive consistency.
From the opening whistle, the Tide struggled to keep up. Falling behind early, Alabama never managed to take the lead, a concerning trend mirrored in their previous outing against Auburn. Despite an impressive offensive performance, including strong shooting numbers, Alabama’s defensive struggles proved costly. The Tigers exploited these weaknesses, leading to Alabama’s first time surrendering 100+ points this season.
Now sitting at 21-5 overall and 10-3 in SEC play, Alabama faces mounting pressure to regroup as they approach a challenging stretch in their schedule. But before they turn their attention to Saturday night’s showdown with Kentucky, a look at ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI) reveals how the Missouri loss has impacted the Crimson Tide’s national standing.
BPI Rankings Take a Hit
As of Thursday afternoon, Feb. 20, Alabama fell three spots in ESPN’s BPI rankings, dropping to No. 8 nationally. This slide reflects the defensive vulnerabilities exposed in their recent performances. Despite the drop, Alabama maintains the No. 2 remaining strength of schedule in the nation, highlighting the uphill battle they face in the regular season’s closing stretch.
Additionally, the BPI outlines Alabama’s postseason probabilities. The Tide now holds a 63.1% chance to reach the Sweet 16, an 18.1% chance to advance to the Final Four, and a 3.6% chance to win the national championship. Their chances of securing the SEC regular season title are down to 3.9%, showing how much the recent losses have impacted their outlook.
Looking Ahead to Kentucky
Next up for Alabama is another Top 25 clash, this time against the Kentucky Wildcats at home. Kentucky, ranked No. 14 by ESPN’s BPI, presents yet another test for the Crimson Tide. A win would go a long way toward rebuilding confidence and improving Alabama’s postseason metrics.
With the season nearing its conclusion, Alabama must address their defensive lapses to solidify their status as a national contender. The matchup against Kentucky offers the perfect opportunity for the Tide to right the ship and regain momentum.
