Alabama basketball has been one of the SEC’s best programs over the last half decade under head coach Nate Oats. The Crimson Tide have three trips to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament over the last three years. including a Final Four appearance. They have also won two SEC Regular-Season Championships since COVID-19.
However, Tennessee has had the Crimson Tide’s number over the last four seasons. The Vols have won five straight against rival Alabama and are looking to make it six when they host Oats’ squad on Saturday night in Knoxville.
“I mean, we’re one of the better teams in the league these last two, three years. For whatever reason, we haven’t had so much success with them,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said following Tennessee’s 79-73 win in Tuscaloosa. “And a lot to do with the way that they guard, and they’re tough physically, and they make it hard, and they take away your threes. We’ve just got to have a better plan on offense.”
Alabama is averaging 70.6 points per game in the last five meetings against Tennessee and has failed to eclipse 76 points in any of the five games. The Crimson Tide’s point totals in all five games were either their lowest or third lowest of the season.
That includes earlier this season when Alabama’s 73 points against Tennessee was a season-low. In 2024, Alabama’s 71 points in Knoxville was its season low and its 74 points in Tuscaloosa were tied for the third lowest for a Crimson Tide team that made the Final Four.
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Part of Alabama’s low scoring totals against Tennessee is because of the slow tempo the Vols plays. But even factoring that in, the five games have been amidst the Crimson Tide’s four least efficient offensive outings of the season.
“I don’t know,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said Friday on why they’ve had success against Alabama. “I mean, one is probably just sheer respect, knowing that they’ve got the ability to put up a 115, 117 points on you. If you don’t guard, they can embarrass you quickly. And so you better be on high alert, or believe me, they can shoot it deep as anybody that you’ll play against. And that’s what they do.”
Statistically, Tennessee’s defense has had success in multiple ways against Alabama. Early in the winning streak, it was with forcing turnovers. The Vols have consistently limited Alabama’s looks from three-point range and the Crimson Tide have largely been inefficient.
The challenge is significant for Tennessee Saturday night. Alabama has won eight of nine games since its loss against Tennessee in Tuscaloosa. Aden Holloway and Amari Allen are both back in the fold after missing the first meeting due to injury.
Alabama has scored 90-plus points in six of its last seven games including a 100-point performance against Mississippi State earlier this week.
“They’re shooting it like crazy right now,” Barnes said. “I mean, phenomenal night the other night (against Mississippi State), which we know they’re capable of doing that. … Nate’s got them playing great basketball right now, all of them. They really seem to be locked in.”
Tipoff between Tennessee and Alabama is at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday night in Knoxville. Karl Ravech and Jimmy Dykes are on the call for ESPN.
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Alabama’s Offensive Numbers Against Tennessee In Five Game Losing Streak
Points per possession (PPP) calculated by Bart Torvik
- 2026: 73 points (lowest of the season), 1.087 PPP (fourth lowest of the season)
- 2025: 76 points (3rd lowest of the season), 1.015 PPP (2nd lowest of the season)
- 2024 (Tuscaloosa): 74 points (T-3rd lowest of the season), 1.002 PPP (2nd lowest of the season)
- 2024 (Knoxville): 71 points (lowest of the season), 0.920 PPP (lowest of the season)
- 2023: 59 points (lowest of the season), 0.853 PPP (2nd lowest of the season)
