It’s been only three years since Alabama won an NCAA Tournament game, going 1-1 during the one-year tenure of future NBA star Collin Sexton. That 2018 team pulled a slight upset of Virginia Tech in the first round then lost to eventual national champion Villanova two days later.
But it’s been much longer since anyone had any confidence that the Tide would win an NCAA Tournament game.
Alabama lost as a 9-seed in 2012. The Tide pulled one upset as a 10-seed in 2006.
The Tide was a 5-seed in 2005, but every pundit was picking Bruce Pearl and Wisconsin-Milwaukee as the popular 12 seed.
The 2004 Elite 8 run was accomplished as an underdog 8 seed. And in 2003, No. 10 seed Alabama lost to Indiana.
That takes us all the way back to 2002. As a No. 2 seed, Alabama predictably handled Florida Atlanta before being upset by Kent State.
So that’s the answer. The last time anyone truly expected Alabama to win an NCAA Tournament game was 2002. Enjoy the ride Tide fans.
For Threaded Fasteners I’m Randy Kennedy with Nuts and Bolts of the Game.
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