The Rupp Arena crowd created a picture-perfect basketball environment this past weekend, even if the home fans couldn’t will Kentucky to victory over Alabama. Saturday’s 102-97 loss to the Crimson Tide in a Top 10 matchup wasn’t what Mark Pope and his Wildcats were hoping for.

Over at USA TODAY Sports, Alabama moved up to a No. 1 seed, replacing the Tennessee Volunteers in the latest projections from the three-man panel of Eddie Timanus, Erick Smith and Paul Myerberg. The trio see Nate Oats’ team facing projected MAAC champion Marist in a first-round game.

Nate Oats has made Alabama a true contender. The former Buffalo head coach led the Crimson Tide to the program’s first Final Four appearance in 2024 to go along with two SEC championships and two SEC Tournament championship.

ESPN’s Matchup Predictor, which offers a prediction model based on its Men’s College Basketball Power Index ratings and other variables, currently gives Alabama a slight edge to win Wednesday’s game in Starkville: 53.7 percent compared to Mississippi State’s 46.3 percent.

Alabama (15-3, 4-1 SEC) won on the stomping grounds of the eight-time national champions in Rupp Arena, though. RECRUITING TRAIL:Alabama basketball still has shot at 5-star prospect TIME TO PANIC?Why Nate Oats and Alabama basketball are 'concerned' facing ...

In one of the most-anticipated battles of the SEC basketball season, No. 4 Alabama handed No. 8 Kentucky its first loss in Rupp Arena this season.

Here are takeaways from the game between No. 4 Alabama (15-3, 4-1 SEC) and No. 8 Kentucky (14-4, 3-2). The battle between two of the nation’s top offenses lived up to its billing, and fast. Emphasis on fast. That’s no surprise considering both are in the top 25 for tempo, per KenPom.

For the first time under Mark Pope’s leadership, UK basketball lost at Rupp Arena. The Kentucky coach explains a home defeat to Alabama.

The Crimson Tide bounced back from a midweek loss with a massive win at Rupp Arena behind a career day from Grant Nelson.

Alabama went 25-12 overall last season, posting a 13-5 mark in SEC play. It reached the Final Four for the first time in program history. Its season ended in an 86-72 loss to eventual national champion UConn in the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament.

The matchup in Rupp Arena on Saturday between the Kentucky Wildcats and Alabama Crimson Tide will feature the number one and three scoring offense in college basketball. Alabama is currently the ...

The game went into the final minute, and thanks to Alabama making its free throws, the Crimson Tide finished strong to beat Kentucky 102-97 on Saturday at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.