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And so it begins tonight, with greater expectations and possibilities than ever, in a most unlikely place at a most opportune moment. It's basketball season in this suddenly basketball state, and if your favorite football team has let you down, chin up. Your favorite basketball team is here to lift your spirits, climb a ladder and cut down nets.
Again.
If you thought last year was impressive, memorable, historic and legendary beyond your wildest hoop dreams, with Auburn, UAB and Samford winning their conference tournaments, with the Bulldogs doubling down after taking the SoCon regular season crown, with four teams from the state reaching the NCAA Tournament together for the first time, with Alabama going from at-large to in charge en route to its inaugural Final Four, buckle up, buttercup.
You, Ennis Whatley, Charles Barkley, Mo Finley and Joey Davenport ain't seen nothin' yet.
Picture this. It's Monday evening April 7th in San Antonio's Alamodome, a fitting site for the showdown to end all showdowns. The Final Four is down to two teams and one game for the 2025 national championship.
One team is Alabama. The other is Auburn. It's the apocalypse upon us, Crimson Chaos ready to rumble with the Jungle, the unthinkable, unimaginable, glorious epitome of March Madness.
Wimp no doubt thinks this fever dream is smart. Sonny probably thinks it's funny.
Don't laugh. As God, Buck Johnson and Chuck Person are my witnesses, it could happen. Look at the elite shooters, jumpers, defenders and avengers Nate Oats and Bruce Pearl have assembled, each a potent mix of proven veterans and hungry, able newcomers, led by Alabama All-American point man Mark Sears and Auburn All-American post man Johni Broome.
Look at the way these programs have challenged each other to raise their games and the manner in which they've responded, stacking SEC championships and top 10 rankings all the way up to No. 1. Look at all the preseason polls and metrics that add up to the Tide and Tigers being on the short list of legitimate Final Four contenders.
Factor in some good fortune on the road from here to the Alamo, sprinkle in some unfinished business as powerful motivation and you've got the makings of a magical meeting at the summit that's happened only twice before a very long time ago. ...
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