This is an opinion column.

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The mark on Alabama this season is that it might not have a tough enough defense to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

It looked the part on Saturday night against Tennessee in the Crimson Tide’s biggest basketball game of the regular season. The only problem is that Tennessee was just better.

The SEC is one of the deepest leagues in the country this season. We knew that going into a hectic week for the league standings. Six teams had a shot at the league title on Monday. In back-to-back games, Tennessee then went out and used the Alabama schools to prove without a doubt who’s the best of the best.

First it was Auburn up in Knoxville. On Saturday, it was Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Playing as arguably the hottest team in the country, the Volunteers looked every bit like a No.1 seed in its 81-74 victory at Coleman Coliseum.

I guess the question now is who had the better loss against Tennessee, Alabama or Auburn?

I’ll take the Tigers, who played it close on the road despite Vols star Dalton Knecht going for 39 points.

Alabama at its moments against the Vols, but Tennessee did the flexing when it mattered most. A win at Alabama with Knecht scoring just 13 points will impress the NCAA selection committee more than any blowout at home.

RELATED: 3 takeaways from Alabama’s loss to Tennessee

RELATED: 3 takeaways from Auburn’s win against State

The conference tournament is going to be fun in a couple weeks, but it feels like seeding in the SEC for the NCAA Tournament is already taking shape. Tennessee should be no worse than a No.2, but is probably a No.1. Alabama, Kentucky and Auburn will be next in line as three or four seeds followed by South Carolina and Florida.

Those predictions are subject to change, of course. That’s what makes “bracketology” so much fun, and maddening. If Auburn or Alabama run through the SEC tournament, then we’ll recalibrate. Alabama is the defending champ and Auburn has the depth to make some noise. Based on what we’ve seen the last couple weeks, however, it’s going to be hard slowing down Tennessee and Kentucky in Nashville.

Is Alabama (20-8, 12-3) built for a deep run in March? We’ll know more about this team’s ability to win ugly games in the SEC tournament. Alabama might not be as talented this season as in 2023, but in college basketball it’s not always about who has the better players this time of year. Last season’s team had its problems. The chemistry is better with this group and hopefully that allows Alabama to improve over the next couple weeks.

Still, give me Auburn’s defense and experience over Alabama’s offense going into the SEC Tournament. The Tigers (22-7, 11-5) took care of Mississippi State 78-63 on Saturday. It was a nice bounce-back victory after that battle up in Tennessee.

It wasn’t really a great game for Tennessee against Alabama, and that’s what made it so impressive. The Vols were in control by the end despite some early struggles and an off night for their best player. That’s the mark of a championship-caliber team. During one bone-crunching stretch in the second half, Tennessee and Alabama were 2 of 23 combined from the field. Alabama came out of that fight with the lead. It didn’t last. Tennessee was simply too physical.

Tennessee’s Knecht went into Coleman Coliseum with all the hype. He’s the 6-6 transfer from Northern Colorado who came out of nowhere this season. He’s a projected lottery pick, so give credit to Alabama’s defense for forcing him to find open teammates.

Knecht will be treated like the Vols’ version of Michael Jordan during the SEC tournament. Tennessee is the obvious pick to win it, but an Iron Bowl of basketball in the championship game would be a dream.

BERMAN HURTING

I hated to see Lior Berman go down for Auburn in the Tigers’ victory against Mississippi State. He suffered a non-contact injury to his left knee with 9:38 left in the second half. Berman was originally a walk-on for Auburn and has had an excellent career.

Berman was having a notable game against the Bulldogs and had been receiving more minutes since the injury to Jaylin Williams. I’ll never forget Berman’s homecoming in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. It was a special moment to play back in Birmingham after winning state championships at Legacy Arena. If Berman is out, then look for Denver Jones to play an even bigger role in the final week of the season.

DYNASTY TALK

Is Samford coach Bucky McMillan building a dynasty at Samford? He apparently thinks so.

The Bulldogs finished its regular season on Saturday with a 92-80 victory against The Citadel. Samford is 26-5 going into the SoCon tournament. The 26 wins are a school record.

“I’m just really happy for these seniors,” McMillan said. “The guys who came here and built it and came here before it had ever happened.

“What Alabama football team do you remember? What running back do you remember from the Saban dynasty? Mark Ingram because Mark Ingram started it. I can’t tell you some of these guys recently and I love watching Alabama football. We’ll remember these guys when we’re cutting down the nets on the regular.”

That’s some bold confidence from Bucky Ball going into March. Samford is projected as a 12-seed in the NCAA Tournament, but the Bulldogs have to get through the SoCon tournament first.

SOUND OFF

Got a question about spring football in the SEC or college basketball? Want to get something off your chest? Send Joe a question about what’s on your mind for the weekly mailbag. Let your voice be heard. Ask him anything.

Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of the signature book about Nick Saban’s reign at Alabama, “We Want Bama”.