Alabama basketball and the SEC office has released their conference schedule for the 2015-2016 season. It’s almost time to Buckle Up!
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While the non-conference basketball schedule has been out for some time now, fans can finally view the SEC slate as well, since Alabama basketball released the full schedule on September 6.
The in-conference portion of the schedule is vitally important for a team in Alabama’s position (that is, a program hoping to improve on last year’s success) since the Crimson Tide struggled at times against weaker SEC opponents.
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Many SEC teams’ chances are uncertain at this point in the year, and the talent of Alabama’s conference opponents will be somewhat difficult to gauge until the basketball season begins in November. From this point, though, the schedule looks fairly manageable.
Opening this portion of the schedule against Mississippi State gives the Tide the opportunity to start the conference slate off with a win. While the next two opponents, Vanderbilt and Florida, will be more difficult, these two games will both be played in Tuscaloosa.
Perhaps most crucially, Alabama only plays Kentucky once: and in Tuscaloosa. While there will never be an “easy” game played against a program of this caliber, Alabama’s in-conference schedule is made noticeably easier by the absence of a trip to Lexington.
Alabama will also play interesting games against teams like South Carolina and Texas A&M, programs that — like the Crimson Tide — hope to improve upon impressive flashes of success last season. Many SEC schools are trying to raise their basketball profiles, and the conference should be interesting in that regard this season.
Alabama’s in-conference schedule reveal isn’t nearly as exciting as similar unveilings in professional sports, since the opponents are already known. Nonetheless, looking at the actual dates and times for upcoming basketball games is exciting, and also means that the season is approaching quickly.
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