…and Alabama has done a lot of it.

By Bigs

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Take a look at this graphic.

One, it’s wicked cool (shoutout to T3 Bracketology on Twitter). No, I am not calling it X.

Two, me and Nubbs’ favorite team is in there. The Alabama Crimson Tide have made the Sweet 16, again.

Now, for all of our dear readers that aren’t consumed with the wonder of college basketball’s greatest offering, as Nubbs so eloquently laid out here in March Madness is upon us…. , the Sweet 16 contains the remaining 16 teams that started from a field of 64 (68 if you count the First Four games). Alabama is one of those 16 teams.

The importance of this achievement can’t be overstated. It means that you went through 2 games against some of the best basketball teams in the country. That is impressive and worthy of congratulations in and of itself. However, this isn’t the first time Alabama has made the Sweet 16. In fact, it is the 4th YEAR IN A ROW that they have the Sweet 16.

Here are some notable programs who have NEVER made four straight Sweet 16’s:

• Indiana Hoosiers
• Connecticut Huskies (although their women’s team has)
• Purdue Boilermakers
• St. Johns Red Storm
• Villanova Wildcats
• Providence Friars
• Etc.

I could go on, but you get the picture. It is hard to maintain the level of talent, coaching, and discipline that is required to reach the point where only 16 teams remain FOUR consecutive times. It is a feat.

Why don’t we take a look at what each of those teams did in the tournament, yes?

2023 Tournament

Alabama is a 1 seed. Led by future NBA draft 2nd overall pick Brandon Miller, 21st overall NBA draft pick Noah Clowney, a litany of high quality transfers, and pure determination, the tide cruised to the Sweet 16 with complete embarrassments against 16 seed Texas A&M Corpus Christie 96-75, and 8 seed Maryland 73-51. However, they would run into a brick wall named the San Diego State Aztecs in the Sweet 16, ultimately falling to the veteran laden team 64-71. A bitter end to an incredible season.

2024 Tournament

THE YEAR. Alabama returns just 3 players from the former number 1 overall seeded team the year before: Mark Sears, Nick Pringle, and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. It didn’t matter though. They skidded through the end of the season. It didn’t matter though. The Tide goes into the tournament a 4 seed, and the rest is history.

First round: Hard nosed game against a scrappy mid-major in 13 seed Charleston, 109-96.

Second round: Scrappy game against an upset team led by an electric guard in 12 seed Grand Canyon, 72-61.

Sweet 16: Alabama takes on the 1 seed in the region, the North Carolina Tarheels. One of the most storied programs in CBB history. A back and forth game, down to the final few minutes. A tough bucket here, a well calculated foul there, Alabama breaks through to their second Elite 8 in program history, 89-87.

Elite 8: Alabama meets another unlikely winner in the 6 seed Clemson Tigers. They had a tough path of their own, going through 3 seed Baylor and 2 seed Arizona before getting there. It was a high quality game with a lot on the line. It would be first Final 4 for either team, so the stakes were high. After a grueling game of back and forth, the Alabama Crimson Tide beat the Clemson Tigers of an early season rematch, 89-82.

ALABAMA MAKES THE FINAL FOUR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN PROGRAM HISTORY. The monumental achievement speaks for itself.

Final 4: They had done it. Alabama had reached the point where only 4 teams remained. However, the team they met there proved to be too much. The UConn Huskie’s were going for 2 straight national championships, and they wouldn’t be denied. Alabama loses 72-86. Silver lining? That is the smallest margin of victory UConn had in the tournament, even including the national championship!

2025 Tournament

Another great year. Alabama heads into the tournament as a 2 seed on the backs of stellar guard play from phenom freshman Labaron Philon, Mr. Clutch Mark Sears, and the slim reaper forward known as Grant Nelson. However, the 1 seeds in each region are monsters (they all made the Final 4, spoiler).

First Round: Wake up call of a game against another scrappy mid-major in 15 seed Robert Morris, 90-81.

Second Round: A clash of styles in a game against a storied program from the West Coast Conference, a mid-major, but a special one, in the St. Mary’s Gaels. A team that plays blistering, high efficiency offense in Alabama, versus a defensive juggernaut in St. Mary’s. Unstoppable force versus immovable object type feel. Offense prevails, Alabama wins 80-66.

Sweet 16: A record setting night. Alabama matches up against a team not unlike itself. The BYU Cougars prided themselves on 3’s and efficiency on the offensive side. However, Alabama simply did it better. An all time high TWENTY FIVE (25) 3 pointers were made by the Tide, setting an NCAA tournament record, and gave way to a 113-88 ROUT of the Cougars.

Elite 8: Alabama meets the buzzsaw. Duke was the 1 seed, and led by two 5-star freshman and a big man that Alabama had no answer for, Duke pummels our Alabama Crimson Tide, 65-85.

2026 Tournament

Alabama is a 4 seed again. The same as the fated 2024 run. We are here, now. Alabama has played 2 games, their first and second round games. They handled the Hofstra Pride after a shaky start, beating them 90-70. They put on a clinic against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, playing the best basketball they’ve played all year, beating them 90-65.

We ran into Michigan. I am updating this on April 27th, long after Michigan went on to win the whole tournament. At least we lost to them, right?

Thanks, March. It was madness. We all LOVED it. Anything can happen next year, so here’s to that. Let’s get it.

Deuces, peace, and Roll Tide.

Bigs out.