Alabama basketball blew out Kentucky on Friday, in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. The Crimson Tide won the game 99-70 and will face Florida in the semifinals.

The win was Alabama’s 25th of the season, and likely secured a high No. 2 seed for the Tide in the NCAA Tournament. As UA turns its attention to Saturday’s game, here’s what to know about the win over UK.

Keeping the ball

The Crimson Tide got off to a bit of an uncharacteristic start, but not in a bad way.

Alabama has dealt with turnover issues for the entire season. And all season, Nate Oats has bemoaned the problem, pointing to it as something his team must fix if it is to find ultimate success.

Then, in the first half of the Kentucky game, UA had just four. All of them came late in the action, and the first didn’t happen until Mark Sears gave the ball away with 3:49 left in the half.

Alabama took advantage of the lack of turnovers to take a 45-38 lead to the locker room at halftime. However, the Tide’s shooting held it back, as it sunk just 43% of its first-half field goal attempts and only made two of its 16 three-pointers.

Labaron Philon led the way for UA early, finishing the half with 10 points and three rebounds.

Slump busters

As Alabama approached the end of the 2025 regular season, it went through a brutal stretch of schedule but was by no means playing its best basketball. The Tide lost four of six entering its matchup with Auburn to close out the regular season slate.

Then, Mark Sears sunk an overtime buzzer-beater to beat the Tigers on the road. After nearly a full week off, Alabama seemed to be performing to its full potential again on Friday, finishing off the Wildcats in the second half.

Kentucky was never especially competitive after halftime, and Alabama got better following the break.

Philon kept playing well, leading the team with 21 points. Mo Dioubate led the Crimson Tide in rebounds, with eight.

Next up

Alabama’s next SEC Tournament opponent has already been determined. The Crimson Tide will face Florida on Saturday in Nashville.

The Gators beat Missouri on Friday to advance to the semifinal round. UF finished second in the league’s regular-season standings at 14-4.

Todd Golden’s team outrebounded Alabama 50-35 in the first matchup, grabbing 16 offensive boards to doom the Tide at Coleman Coliseum. Earlier in the year, Florida beat Auburn on the road as well.

Led by All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr., UF is a veteran unit with a real chance to win the league tournament. After beating the Tide, Golden explained what made his team so dangerous in big road games.

“I think it’s the strength of our team,” Golden said. “We have a very mature team, workmanlike approach. We’re very consistent and for whatever reason, I feel like we really hone in and do a great job of preparing on the road and making sure we come in with a great mentality.”