College Basketball

Alabama Basketball: Can the Tide Beat The Kentucky Wildcats?

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:59 p.m. ET

Fansided, Ronald Evans/FanSided via Bama Hammer

Alabama Basketball has a huge opportunity Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa. Can the Tide beat the Kentucky Wildcats?

This post is labeled “Commentary” for a single reason. Unlike “Alabama Crimson Tide News” posts, in a “Commentary” post, I can use the word I. And I need to use the word I before we go too far ruminating about the Cats.

Tuesday night, I started writing the South Carolina game recap late in the 1st half. In the 2nd half, I started it over, from the beginning, twice. I started another version at the beginning of the first overtime.

That’s four versions before the final, published version. Every one of the four discarded versions carried the headline, “Alabama Loses to South Carolina …”

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That is what I am compelled to confess. I did not believe the Tide had it in them to overcome the Gamecocks. For that transgression, I am immensely sorry. I repent my sins and promise to never doubt a Tide basketball win again.

Who’s next for the Tide. We all know it is the Big Bad Blue Nation led by the evil Calipari-Wizard. My new belief is in for severe testing.

Casting about to bolster my determination, I do remember Alabama has played some of its best games against Kentucky. Needing perspective, let’s start with reality. In this century Alabama has only beaten Kentucky six times: 2001; 2002; 2006; 2007; 2011; and 2013.

But if we look all the way back to when C.M. Newton built Alabama basketball into a national power, the story is not so bleak. Kentucky lost in Tuscaloosa in 1972, 1974 and 1976. In 1978, the No. 1 in the nation, ranked Wildcats lost in Tuscaloosa by 16 points, 78-62. The Cats lost in T-Town in 1979 and again in 1981 when the Cats were ranked No. 3 in the nation.

The Cats lost four times to the Tide in Alabama (one was in Birmingham) from 1983-1985. Two of those games, the Wildcats were again ranked No. 3 in the nation. The Cats lost in Tuscaloosa in 1989, 1990,1991, and 1999.

And for a little cake icing. Going back to 1972, the Tide has beaten the Cats seven times in Lexington.

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The history shows Alabama can beat Kentucky in basketball. Is that going to happen this Saturday? Don’t ask me, I didn’t believe the Tide could beat the Gamecocks.

But at noon this Saturday in Tuscaloosa … well, you just have to believe.

Buckle-up in T-Town Saturday afternoon. This Alabama team deserves your support.