How Alabama women's basketball resume looks going into February: 'We are a tournament team'
As Alabama women's basketball heads into the final month of the regular season, the focus shifts toward the NCAA Tournament and whether the Crimson Tide can return after missing last season.
After returning to the NCAA Tournament and earning a first-round win − both firsts since 1999 − in 2021, the Crimson Tide made a run to the WNIT quarterfinals last season. The Crimson Tide (16-6, 5-4 SEC) is fifth in the SEC behind Ole Miss going into Sunday's game at Missouri (4 p.m., SEC Network).
What does Alabama's NCAA Tournament resume look like?
The Crimson Tide has a NET rating of 23 as of Tuesday. In Quadrant One games, Alabama holds a 2-5 record with wins over Ole Miss and Arkansas. The Crimson Tide is 4-1 Quadrant Two games, with the only loss to Missouri. Alabama has gone 10-0 in Quad Three and Quad Four games. The Crimson Tide has a strength of schedule of eighth, including a non-conference ranking of 12th.
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Where does Alabama land in tournament projections?
ESPN Charlie Creme's latest projections from Tuesday have the Crimson Tide as an eight seed in the Bloomington (Indiana) Regional, facing off with Southern Cal. Alabama has been steadily rising in the bracket after entering on the bubble earlier this season.
How can Alabama build upon its resume?
Alabama will still have plenty of opportunities to continue to build upon its resume. The Crimson Tide will only face one team with a NET under 100, Vanderbilt, in the final seven regular-season games.
The final month of the season will determine if the Crimson Tide can get by Ole Miss for the fourth seed in the SEC Tournament. The double-bye that comes with it could help the Crimson Tide go on a run that boosts its seeding.
What is Alabama saying about the tournament?
"We are a tournament team, we have a 24 NET. That's what people need to need to start talking about: People need to understand this is a tournament team. We put a schedule in place that we've responded to," coach Kristy Curry said Sunday. "... Again this is a tournament team − but we understand our work is not done and what matters is the opportunity in front of us. We have to take care of business."
When is Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament?
Selection Sunday is March 12 at 7 p.m. CT and can be viewed on ESPN. The NCAA Tournament's first round is scheduled for March 17-18.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Is Alabama women's basketball an NCAA Tournament team?
