The Rupp Arena crowd created a picture-perfect basketball environment this past weekend, even if the home fans couldn’t will Kentucky to victory over Alabama. Saturday’s 102-97 loss to the Crimson Tide in a Top 10 matchup wasn’t what Mark Pope and his Wildcats were hoping for.

Nate Oats has made Alabama a true contender. The former Buffalo head coach led the Crimson Tide to the program’s first Final Four appearance in 2024 to go along with two SEC championships and two SEC Tournament championship.

In one of the most-anticipated battles of the SEC basketball season, No. 4 Alabama handed No. 8 Kentucky its first loss in Rupp Arena this season.

Here are takeaways from the game between No. 4 Alabama (15-3, 4-1 SEC) and No. 8 Kentucky (14-4, 3-2). The battle between two of the nation’s top offenses lived up to its billing, and fast. Emphasis on fast. That’s no surprise considering both are in the top 25 for tempo, per KenPom.

Alabama (15-3, 4-1 SEC) won on the stomping grounds of the eight-time national champions in Rupp Arena, though. RECRUITING TRAIL:Alabama basketball still has shot at 5-star prospect TIME TO PANIC?Why Nate Oats and Alabama basketball are 'concerned' facing ...

With a nod to Chris Stewart, ‘Let’s get out of here!’ Here’s 20 of the best photos of Alabama’s win over Kentucky at Rupp Arena Saturday.

No. 6 Kentucky won at No. 14 Mississippi State ( 95-90). Dropped to No. 8 due to a loss at Georgia the prior week, UK then came home to beat No. 11 Texas A&M (81-69) but lost 102-97 to No. 4 Alabama.

The Crimson Tide bounced back from a midweek loss with a massive win at Rupp Arena behind a career day from Grant Nelson.

Alabama, which is 6-1 in the SEC and only a half-game behind league-leading Auburn (6-0), leads the country in scoring. It leads the conference in rebounds, shot attempts, made 2-pointers and made free throws per game.

The No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide are making the short trek to Starkville to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs in SEC play. For Nate Oats' Crimson Tide (17-3 overall, 6-1 conference), it's the latest in a series of season-long tough road tests in the mad,

The game went into the final minute, and thanks to Alabama making its free throws, the Crimson Tide finished strong to beat Kentucky 102-97 on Saturday at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.