BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Money is everything.
This is a universal truth of college athletics that goes back decades and has a particularly negative connotation right now, as purists lament everything from the rampant growth of NIL, to conference realignment, to the countless ongoing NCAA-related court cases, to the expansion of the College Football Playoff. There is plenty to dislike about the state of college sports and the way it affects the fan experience.
But on Thursday night in Birmingham, money created a showcase that turned into the perfect exhibition basketball game. You will not find a no-stakes contest on a hardwood floor that can deliver the atmosphere, product, and storylines that Alabama’s 87-85 Iron Bowl of Basketball win over Auburn did at Legacy Arena…