With two weeks remaining in the regular season, Tennessee basketball is tied atop the SEC standings with Alabama at 11-3.
The Crimson Tide fell to Kentucky 117-95 in Rupp Arena on Saturday afternoon while Tennessee knocked off Texas A&M 86-51 in Knoxville to avenge its loss against the Aggies in College Station two weeks prior.
The Vols currently hold the tiebreaker against Alabama after defeating the Crimson Tide 91-71 in Knoxville last month. If Tennessee were to finish the regular season tied with Alabama atop the standings, they will likely own the tiebreaker to be the one-seed in the SEC Tournament.
Tennessee’s SEC hopes looked shaky two weeks ago when they dropped its third conference game in 10 matchups. But the Vols took care of business as double-digit favorites in four straight games while Kentucky did Tennessee a pair of favors by knocking off both Auburn and Kentucky.
Auburn also knocked off Alabama just days after Tennessee fell to Texas A&M in College Station.
Tennessee and Alabama face off next Saturday in Tuscaloosa in what will be one of the biggest matchups between the two teams in basketball history. ESPN’s College GameDay is going to Tuscaloosa for the first time in basketball for the matchup that will have major SEC Championship ramifications.
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Outside of the matchup against each other both teams have tough closes to the regular season though Tennessee’s is more difficult. The Vols host Auburn in Knoxville on Wednesday night, plays at South Carolina the Wednesday after the Alabama game and conclude their regular season against Kentucky on Saturday, March 9.
Alabama faces Ole Miss in Oxford on Wednesday night, plays at Florida the Tuesday following its matchup against Tennessee and hosts Arkansas in Tuscaloosa to conclude the regular season.
Tennessee is looking to win its second regular season SEC Championship in Rick Barnes’ nine seasons as head coach while Alabama is looking to win its third regular season SEC Championship in Nate Oats’ five seasons as head coach.
While it is largely a two-team race for the regular season crown, Auburn and South Carolina still have an outside shot to earn a share of the conference title as they enter the final two weeks 10-4 and a game back of the Vols and the Crimson Tide.
Tipoff between Tennessee and Alabama is at 8 p.m. ET next Saturday night at Coleman Coliseum. ESPN is broadcasting the game.
