Tennessee and Alabama will meet in a game on Saturday that will be as big as a regular season game can be.

Both the Vols and Crimson Tide, storied rivals enter the first day of March in line for one of the four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament and resumes that make compelling arguments for both. The result when the two teams play at Food City Center (4 p.m. ET, ESPN) could eliminate one from contention and keep the other in play.

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Fifth-ranked Tennessee (23-5, 10-5 SEC)) has won each of the last three, two of which were top 15 match ups. The Vols toppled then-No. 1 Alabama in Knoxville in 2023 and beat the Crimson Tide twice last season.

But this one, situated on both schedules just two weeks before selection Sunday, may be the most high profile as Tennessee puts its nation-best defense up against one of the best offenses in college basketball in Alabama (23-5, 12-3).

That script is a familiar one and in each of the last three meetings, it was the Vols' defense that won out. Will it play out again with a potential 1-seed on the line?

Here's what you need to know about the match up.

Who: No. 6 Alabama (23-5, 12-3 SEC) at No. 5 Tennessee (23-5, 10-5)

When: Saturday, March 1 | 4 p.m. ET

Where: Food City Center | Knoxville

TV: ESPN (Karl Ravech, play-by-play; Jimmy Dykes, analyst, Dick Vitale, analyst; Molly McGrath, reporter)

Radio: Vol Network (Bob Kesling, play-by-play; Bert Bertelkamp, analyst)

Series: 156th meeting all-time (Alabama leads, 82-73)

KenPom Projection: Tennessee 79, Alabama 74

POINTS PER GAME

Alabama 91.5

Tennessee 74.3

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE

Alabama 48.5%

Tennessee 45.2%

THREE-POINT PERCENTAGE

Alabama 35.0%

Tennessee 34.4%

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Expert Opinion: Alabama reporter previews massive game with Tennessee

ASSISTS

Alabama 17.0

Tennessee 15.5

REBOUNDS

Alabama 43.7

Tennessee 37.8

BLOCKS

Tennessee 5.2

Alabama 4.6

-- The injury report was clear for Tennessee less than 24 hours before tip-off. Center Felix Okpara had been listed as “questionable” and then “probable” due to a left knee injury in each of the previous two games, but played in both, turning in a big performance with 15 points and seven rebounds vs. LSU.

-- Alabama guard Mark Sears was “probable” on the initial injury report. Sears leads the Crimson Tide and is ranked second in the league in scoring with 19.0 points per game. He is averaging 28.6 points in his last three games after scoring 35 against Missouri and 30 vs. Kentucky. Sears scored 22 against Tennessee last season.

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: How Tennessee basketball dominated LSU in the paint, kept 1-seed hopes alive

-- Tennessee leads the country in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom. The Vols are limiting opponents to just 87.5 points per 100 possessions. Alabama meanwhile ranks third in offensive efficiency, averaging 127.7 points per 100 offensive possessions.

-- One of the four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament is in play for both Tennessee and Alabama, and Saturday’s result could determine which team gets it. ESPN has the Vols as a 2-seed and the No. 5 overall seed in the East Region. The outlet has the Crimson Tide currently projected as a 1-seed and the No. 3 overall.

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