Alabama’s NCAA tourney hopes take a hit after 4-game skid

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama’s onceflourishing NCAA Tournament hopes lately have taken quite a beating.

A four-game losing streak has left coach Avery Johnson and the Crimson Tide (17-13, 8-9 Southeastern Conference) urgently trying to find a way to salvage the program’s first NCAA bid since 2012.

Johnson is still striking a positive tone for a team that just a few weeks ago was celebrating a 28-point romp over No. 16 Tennessee.

“I’m not throwing a chair. I’m not punching a hole in the wall,” he said after Tuesday night’s 73-52 loss to Florida . “I’m going to go and get in front of the video at some point and figure out what’s wrong with our team. Other teams have survived fourgame losing streaks.

“The season is not over. We have a lot of season left. We’ve just got to figure out how to put the pieces together and that’s my job.”

The problems started following a high point for a team led by freshman point guard Collin Sexton. Alabama looked awfully strong after routing the Volunteers 78-50 and handling LSU 80-65 .

Since then, the team has dropped two straight at Coleman Coliseum and fallen by double digits on the road against Kentucky and No. 14 Auburn .

Now, the Tide needs a strong finish heading into the regular season finale Saturday at Texas A&M and the SEC Tournament to feel confident about its chances for a tourney bid.

Alabama was 57th in the NCAA’s RPI after the Florida game and has been afflicted by inconsistency even before the current skid.

“We’re trying to build our resume so that we can eventually make it to the tournament and try to have a chance to get some experiences that some of these other teams like Arkansas and Florida have,” Johnson said. “We’re not there yet.

“Even as disappointed as we are, or as dejected as we are, you’ve got to pick yourselves up and get ready to go back to work because nobody feels sorry for you in this league. This league is that good. Nobody feels sorry for you.”