If you tuned into Bridgestone Arena on Friday night, March 14, 2025, you saw the No. 3 seed Alabama Crimson Tide put on a clinic against the No. 6 seed Kentucky Wildcats, rolling to a 99-70 win in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. This wasn’t just a victory—it was a statement. Alabama never trailed, jumping out to a 14-2 lead early and holding a 52-35 edge at halftime. The Tide’s relentless pressure and balanced attack proved too much for a Kentucky squad that couldn’t find its rhythm. For Alabama, it’s a third win over the Wildcats this season (a first in program history), while Kentucky heads home wondering what might’ve been.
Let’s start with Alabama’s standout performers, because there were plenty. Freshman guard Labaron Philon led the way with 21 points, showcasing his poise and knack for getting to the rim. He was efficient, too, going 9-of-15 from the field, and added a couple of assists to boot. Mark Sears, the All-SEC first-teamer, chipped in 18 points, including a pair of layups that kept the momentum firmly in Alabama’s favor. Then there’s Jarin Stevenson, the 6’10” sophomore who’s turning into an X-factor—13 points, three triples, and some timely boards. Alabama’s depth was on full display, with seven players scoring at least seven points.
Kentucky had its moments, mostly thanks to Otega Oweh, who’s been a revelation this season. The junior guard poured in 19 points, hitting 7-of-14 shots, and tried to keep the Wildcats in it with his relentless drives. Koby Brea added 15 points off the bench, including three makes from beyond the arc, giving UK a flicker of hope in the first half. Andrew Carr rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points, but it wasn’t enough. The Wildcats shot a respectable 44.6% from the field, but their 16 turnovers—many of them live-ball miscues—turned into a 29-6 Alabama advantage in points off turnovers.
The game’s tone was set early. Alabama came out swinging, with Philon and Sears combining for a quick 10 points in the opening minutes. A Clifford Omoruyi dunk off a Philon feed made it 14-2, forcing Kentucky coach Mark Pope to burn a timeout. The Wildcats clawed back to within nine late in the first half, thanks to a Brea triple and an Oweh bucket, but Alabama answered with a run capped by Stevenson’s corner three. By halftime, the Tide led 45-38, and you could feel the air leaving Kentucky’s sails.
Second-half fireworks came courtesy of Alabama’s pressure defense. Mouhamed Dioubate’s three-pointer at the 16:31 mark pushed the lead to 57-44, and Kentucky never got closer than 11 after that. The Tide’s ability to turn turnovers into transition buckets—like Philon’s back-to-back layups off steals—buried the Wildcats. Alabama shot 50.7% for the game and hit 11-of-29 from deep, while their defense held Kentucky to just 5-of-19 from three-point range. It was a masterclass in pace and execution.
For Kentucky, the absence of point guard Lamont Butler loomed large. Out with a shoulder injury re-aggravated in Thursday’s win over Oklahoma, Butler’s steady hand was missed. Freshman Travis Perry started in his place, but the Wildcats couldn’t handle Alabama’s ball pressure without their veteran floor general. Oweh fought valiantly, slicing through for a couple of and-ones, but the Tide’s length—think Stevenson and Omoruyi—stymied Kentucky’s offense at every turn.
Nate Oats, in his postgame press conference, praised his team’s defensive effort. “Our plan was to try to keep them out of transition and get them off the three-point line and pressure the ball,” Oats said. He highlighted the matchups, noting, “These guys played great. This is the best Jarin (Stevenson) has played all year and Labaron (Philon) is peaking at the right time.” Oats clearly had a plan, and his team executed it to perfection.
On the flip side, Kentucky’s Mark Pope will point to those turnovers as the dagger. The Wildcats coughed it up 16 times, and Alabama capitalized with layups and open looks. A key sequence in the second half saw Sears strip Perry, leading to a Stevenson layup that made it 76-47. Kentucky’s defense, ranked 56th in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency, couldn’t get stops when it mattered, and their offense stalled against Alabama’s athleticism. It’s a tough pill to swallow after a gritty win over Oklahoma the night before.
Statistically, Alabama dominated the intangibles. They outrebounded Kentucky 41-34, grabbed 7 offensive boards, and racked up 17 assists on 36 made field goals. The 29-point margin was the Wildcats’ worst SEC Tournament loss ever. Kentucky’s 70 points were respectable, but they came too late, with many scored in garbage time as the outcome was decided.
Looking at the bigger picture, Alabama’s peaking at the right time. “I hope that’s coming,” Oats said when asked about his team hitting its stride, referencing last year’s Final Four run. “It looked like it tonight.” He singled out Stevenson’s potential, saying, “If he hadn’t gotten in foul trouble, he was headed for maybe a double-double. For sure he was headed for 20.” For Kentucky, this loss stings, but with Butler expected back for the NCAA Tournament, they’ve got time to regroup.
Next up, Alabama faces No. 2 seed Florida in the SEC Tournament semifinals on Saturday, March 15, at 3:30 p.m. EDT (2:30 p.m. CDT) at Bridgestone Arena. The game airs on ESPN, with radio coverage on the Crimson Tide Sports Network (SiriusXM channel 81). The #5 Gators won 99-94 at Alabama on March 5 but Bama will look to flip the script in this rematch. Oats acknowledged the challenge, noting Kentucky’s depleted backcourt gave his guards an edge Friday, but Florida’s a different beast.
Kentucky, meanwhile, heads home to lick its wounds and await Selection Sunday on March 16. The Wildcats’ NCAA Tournament fate is secure—likely a 4 or 5 seed—but this blowout won’t help their seeding case. Alabama’s rolling into the semis with momentum, while Kentucky’s left pondering how to solve the Crimson Tide puzzle.
For Tide fans, it’s a night to savor; for Big Blue Nation, it’s back to the drawing board.