This is an opinion column.

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The SEC was shut out of the Final Four in 2023, but there are a handful of teams in the league this season that can make extended runs in the NCAA Tournament.

Auburn remains in that group despite the knee injury to forward Jaylin Williams, but the moment of truth for this team is here after its surprising loss to Kentucky. That it can even be characterized as a “surprising” loss speaks volumes to the state of basketball in Auburn and the SEC.

With three weeks left in conference play, the top of the SEC standings look like this: Alabama (18-7, 10-2), Tennessee (19-6, 9-3), South Carolina (21-5, 9-4), Auburn (20-6, 9-4), Florida (18-7, 8-4) and Kentucky (18-7, 8-4).

Alabama’s next five games are against teams projected to make the NCAA Tournament. That’s tough. Auburn’s slate isn’t as bad, and the Tigers have a full week off after the reality check by Kentucky. What happens between now and Saturday’s game at Georgia could define the rest of the season for coach Bruce Pearl’s talented team.

We’ve seen this scenario before. Pearl knows how to get the most out of a team with potential.

Auburn lost to Kentucky by 27 points in February of 2019. At that point in the season, Auburn had six losses to SEC opponents. What happened next? We all know the story. Auburn didn’t lose again until falling to eventual national champ Virginia in the Final Four.

The team in 2019 had two of the best guards in Auburn basketball history, Jared Harper and Bryce Brown. Auburn needs a floor general to take control of this team over the next few weeks. Between Tre Donaldson, Chris Moore and Aden Holloway, the Tigers have the depth to figure it out.

Against Kentucky, Auburn’s tough guards played timidly. It was uncharacteristic for an Auburn backcourt under Pearl, and I’d be surprised if it happened again anytime soon. Auburn wasn’t prepared for Kentucky’s sudden decision to begin taking this season seriously, and the Wildcats’ physical demeanor even seemed to surprise Kentucky coach John Calipari.

Before winning at Auburn, Kentucky had a reputation among its critical fan base for playing soft. A different team showed up to Neville Arena. There were times when Auburn couldn’t even run its plays.

“The ball pressure wouldn’t allow us to do what we needed with the ball,” Pearl said. “We need to get better at guard play. It’s clear. We need to get better.”

The good news is that Auburn has that ability.

Injuries to players like Williams never come at a good time, but expect the Tigers to use this week to refocus its attention. Knowing Pearl, Auburn’s guard play will make the necessary improvements between now and the SEC tournament in Nashville.

Williams went down awkwardly against Kentucky after a hard drive to the rim. Pearl feared the worst after the game, but Auburn later called the setback a “non-season ending” injury. The statement was vague for a reason. Auburn is going to do everything it can to protect Williams’ chances of getting drafted. In the age of transfer portal, Williams has remained loyal to Auburn and holds the school record for victories by a player (117).

It’s unclear at this point when Williams will return, but Auburn is hoping to have him for the postseason. Auburn should have a battle-hardened backcourt by then.

Oh, and for all of his personal development, someone needs to tell Johni Broome that Auburn isn’t reaching the final weekend of the basketball season based on his 3-point shooting.

FACE IN THE CROWD

Consider my shock on Sunday during UAB’s 71-62 victory against North Texas when I turned around on press row and spotted a gigantic 7-foot fan cheering in the Blazers’ raucous student section.

On second glance, that 7-footer was former UAB center Trey Jemison, who is now playing — and playing well — for the Memphis Grizzlies. Jemison originally caught on with the Grizzlies by way of a 10-day contract, but he recently signed a two-way deal with Memphis that’s good for two years.

Jemison started for the Grizzlies against the Bucks before the All-Star break and had 10 points to go along with six rebounds. A couple weeks ago, Jemison had 12 points against the Knicks in Madison Square Garden. Jemison is from Hoover but transferred to UAB from Clemson. On Sunday, he called it the best decision of his life. I pulled Jemison to the side at halftime and asked him about how UAB coach Andy Kennedy prepared him for the NBA.

“It’s all about my mentality,” Jemison said. “I’m not getting out-worked by anybody. AK told me to always keep going. He said when you’re out there training with those guys, remember that you’re the best player out there. You gotta keep going and get better. That’s helped me out so much.”

UAB basketball (17-8, 9-3) continues to make enormous strides this season with Kennedy, and it says something about what he’s building to have Jemison show up during the NBA All-Star break and stand in the front row the entire game with the Blazers’ students.

“This is family,” Jemison said. “I had to be here. I couldn’t miss this.”

The Blazers’ crowds have been excellent recently. UAB’s next home game is at 7 p.m. on Wednesday against Rice. The buzz at Bartow should again be electric thanks to a dedicated group of students representing campus ministry RANSOM. UAB’s student section deserves special recognition for its enthusiasm and support over the last three home games and it’s all thanks to RANSOM’s constant, hilarious and show-stealing energy.

The victory against Memphis was a near sellout, but I questioned whether UAB would receive the same support for other opponents. In all my years attending UAB basketball games, I’ve never seen a student section more engaged than in the victory against FAU. The student section then again delivered nonstop noise against North Texas.

I spoke to the students with RANSOM during the game against North Texas and they said Kennedy personally asked them to be at every home game. The plan for RANSOM, according to its leaders, is to engage the Birmingham community through UAB sporting events and summer camps.

“The goal is to make it the most electric arena in the nation by next season,” one RANSOM leader said to me.

SOUND OFF

Got a question about college basketball, Auburn, Alabama or college football? Want to get something off your chest? Send Joe a question about what’s on your mind for the mailbag coming on Tuesday. 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”.