This state's greatest hoops season demands Alabama vs. Auburn as the grand finale

Before we get to the next-level madness and the SEC-centric brackets, let's draw a line at center court. Between the regular season and the postseason. Between every other season they've played college basketball in this once football-only state and this one.

Because no matter what happens from here, the bar has been raised. History has been made. This has been the greatest basketball season in the Heart of Dixie, the home of Charles Barkley, Robert Horry and Mo Finley. Let me count the ways.

There are 10 Division I teams in the state. Eight of them have won 20 or more games. Alabama State, which captured the SWAC Tournament and its automatic NCAA Tournament bid for the first time in 14 years, can make it nine 20-win teams with a victory in the First Four.

As a reward, the Hornets, led by former Auburn assistant Tony Madlock, would play No. 1 overall seed Auburn.

About that. With everyone throwing roses at Florida during its run to the SEC Tournament title, it was nice to see the Division I Men's Basketball Committee stand by its principle that the entire season matters. From November to now, Auburn compiled the strongest resume in the country.

This is the second time in three years that the selection committee ranked a team from this state as the top seed in the entire field. Two years ago, it was Alabama, and it's a new rule in the Iron Bowl of Basketball, the best roundball rivalry in the country thanks to Bruce Pearl and Nate Oats. Anything Alabama can do, Auburn can, too. And vice versa.

No. 1 seed Auburn, No. 2 seed Alabama and No. 16 Alabama State aren't the only state teams dancing this week. No. 14 seed Troy is back in the bracket for the first time in eight years as the Sun Belt champion. This is the third time in four years this state has sent four teams to the NCAA Tournament, and seven of the state's DI programs have been represented in that run.

Not to mention, North Alabama, Jax State and UAB reached their conference tournament championship games in the last week before falling short, leaving them one win shy of joining the bracket.

But wait. There's more. In addition to the four NCAA Tournament teams, four more state teams made the NIT: UAB, Jax State, North Alabama and Samford. That's eight of the state's 10 Division I teams

There's only one way for this epic, historic season to end. IBOB III: Armageddon. Alabama vs. Auburn for the natty and eternity. ...

Read Kevin's entire column in the Lede.

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