Arizona continues its gauntlet non-conference schedule on Saturday against Alabama in Birmingham. The Wildcats will play as the top-ranked team in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2023.
Alabama has played its own gauntlet this season with a win over Illinois and losses to Gonzaga and Purdue. Arizona is sixth and Alabama is 12th in the NCAA NetRatings entering the game on Saturday. Arizona is ninth in KenPom offensive rating and 10th in defensive rating.
Alabama is second in KenPom offensive rating and 46th in defensive rating. The Crimson Tide is sixth nationally, averaging 95.1 points per game. Alabama is third nationally, making 12.6 three-point shots per game and fourth, attempting 36.1 from beyond the arc…