Alabama Upset by 15-Seed Ole Miss in SEC Tournament Quarterfinals

Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats and players Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway discuss the disappointing loss.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 2:49am

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Alabama, the 2-seed in the SEC tournament, suffered an upset loss to 15-seed Ole Miss in the quarterfinals. Head coach Nate Oats and players Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway spoke to the media after the game, acknowledging that the Crimson Tide did not bring the necessary effort and intensity to match Ole Miss, who has been playing well lately. Oats took responsibility for not properly preparing his team for the threat posed by the Rebels, while the players cited defensive lapses and a lack of energy as key factors in the defeat.

Why it matters

Alabama was widely expected to make a deep run in the SEC and NCAA tournaments, but this loss raises questions about their ability to maintain focus and intensity against lesser opponents who are playing with nothing to lose. The Crimson Tide will need to regroup quickly and rediscover their defensive intensity if they hope to make a meaningful postseason run.

The details

Ole Miss, led by head coach Kermit Davis, came out with more energy and effort than Alabama, dominating the boards and making the Crimson Tide uncomfortable on both ends of the floor. Alabama struggled to finish drives to the basket and failed to get stops on the defensive end, allowing Ole Miss to build a comfortable lead. The Rebels held off a late Alabama comeback attempt to secure the upset victory.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 14, 2026 in the SEC tournament quarterfinals.

The players

Nate Oats

The head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team.

Labaron Philon

A guard for the Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team.

Aden Holloway

A guard for the Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team.

Kermit Davis

The head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“We tried to tell our guys this is a lot different team than what we saw in Oxford. They had us down in Oxford, too, then we figured some stuff, went on a run and beat them. This team is playing harder, more connected. Looked to me like we didn't think they were that much better than the first time we played them, despite the fact they just won two games.”

— Nate Oats, Head Coach, Alabama Crimson Tide (ASAP Sports)

“I would just say coming in on the defensive end, being able to just get those extra stops that we needed, giving up a couple rebounds that could have went our way, started our break. We couldn't really get it going on the defensive end.”

— Labaron Philon, Guard, Alabama Crimson Tide (ASAP Sports)

“I would say they were doing a good job switching out, putting length on our guards, making it tough to make kick-out reads, make tough rim finishes. I just give a lot of credit to them how they came out on the defensive end, especially to start the game.”

— Aden Holloway, Guard, Alabama Crimson Tide (ASAP Sports)

What’s next

Alabama will now await their seeding and opponent for the NCAA Tournament, where they will look to rebound from this disappointing loss and make a deep postseason run.

The takeaway

This upset loss serves as a wake-up call for Alabama, reminding them that they cannot take any opponent lightly, especially in the high-intensity environment of March Madness. The Crimson Tide will need to rediscover their defensive intensity and team-first mentality if they hope to live up to their preseason expectations and make a strong push in the NCAA Tournament.