ESPN's Jay Williams: 'I'm a little bit worried about Alabama' following back to back losses

After two losses in a row, some worry is starting to creep in regarding the Alabama Crimson Tide and their impressive 2024-25 campaign.

While the Crimson Tide are still 21-5 and one of the best teams in all of the nation, Jay Williams of ESPN thinks Alabama needs to get it together. They’re a title contender, but they’ve proven to be vulnerable at some inopportune times this season.

“I personally, I think I’m a little bit worried about Alabama,” Williams said, via Saturday’s edition of ESPN’s College GameDay. I know the way last year finished, and how they got to the Final Four, but I think, you know, as you become more successful individuals, with NIL deals and attention, I think that attention can affect the team, and how they’re moving forward.

“Look, I got a chance to watch practice. Nate Oats talked a lot about, ‘Hey, last year when GameDay came here, we lost, and then we went on the road and we lost again, and we have to have a sense of urgency.’ I know Mizzou is a really good basketball team, but it was that sense of urgency that I was looking for in that game.

“Now, they could bounce back, but I think ultimately it comes down to, how do they compete? And defensively, you know, do they find the right matchups in the NCAA Tournament? But it is something I’m worried about for Alabama.”

While Williams is a little nervous for Alabama, his colleague Jay Bilas doesn’t share the same fear. According to Bilas, this is just a bump in the road for the Crimson Tide, and they’re going to figure this thing out.

“Bump in the road. They’re going to be fine,” Bilas responded. “They’re legit. They can and will get better defensively. They play at a pace where they’re going to be giving up points. But look who they played in the last two games that we’re all freaking out about. They lost the No. 1 Auburn, and they lost on the road to a team that’s now in the Top 10 in Missouri.

“We just talked about Missouri, Missouri is legit, and they’re really difficult to play there. I mean, look who Missouri’s beat. I mean, it’s not like Alabama is the only team they beat. So, do I think they could have been better in those two games? Yeah.”

All told, there’s no rest for the weary in college basketball, and Alabama will find that out in short order. The Crimson Tide are facing a ranked team in every game over the rest of their regular season schedule, beginning Saturday evening with a home game against the Kentucky Wildcats.

We’ll see if they can rise above, or if the Crimson Tide suffer their third consecutive loss. The latter would be majorly detrimental to their campaign, as teams like Tennessee, Florida and Auburn loom large on the docket.