Home / Sports / Iron Bowl of Hoops: Ranked Rivals Clash Again
Iron Bowl of Hoops: Ranked Rivals Clash Again
8 Feb
Summary
- Alabama and Auburn, both 5-4 in SEC play, face off in a crucial conference game.
- Last season's top-ranked matchup saw Alabama avenge a loss to Auburn.
- Charles Bediako's eligibility is pending for Alabama's pivotal game.
The basketball Iron Bowl takes center stage on Saturday, Feb. 7, as Alabama faces Auburn in a pivotal SEC matchup. While not a top-ranked showdown like last year's historic contest, this game carries significant weight for both teams, who enter with identical 5-4 conference records.
Last season, the rivalry was defined by top-ranked matchups, including an overtime thriller where Alabama edged out Auburn. This year's iteration sees both teams unranked but fighting for conference positioning. Alabama is coming off a crucial 100-97 victory over SEC leader Texas A&M, a win that snapped a two-game skid and propelled them forward.
Auburn, led by coach Steve Pearl, seeks to recover from a recent road loss to Tennessee. Adding a layer of uncertainty is the pending decision on the eligibility of Alabama center Charles Bediako, stemming from a Friday injunction hearing.
This 23rd regular-season game for Alabama and 10th SEC game is being played at Neville Arena. The series history favors Alabama, who lead 101-69, though they hold a 29-36 record on the road against the Tigers.
