There’s precious little breathing room in the best rivalry in the sport at the moment. This season alone, they became the first SEC teams to play a 1 vs. 2 showdown, with No. 1 Auburn getting the better of No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa’s pulsating, ready-for-liftoff Airplane Hangar.

Two players who aren’t above-the-title standouts but could well be the X-Factors to victory for the Tigers and Crimson Tide.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A pair of Alabama men’s basketball earned All-SEC honors, as the league office announced the 2025 men’s basketball awards on Monday. Mark Sears was named Southeastern Conference First Team All-SEC with Labaron Philon selected to the conference All-Freshman Team.