Venerable Dick Vitale will be there at courtside in the O'Connell Center, and he said Sunday that Alabama needs to win at least one of its two remaining regular-season games to earn an at-large NCAA tournament berth.
He also believes second-year Alabama coach Anthony Grant should be the SEC's coach of the year.
Vitale and Dan Shulman will describe the battle for at least a share of the league's regular-season championship. ESPNU will televise the 6 p.m. CST game Tuesday in Gainesville, Fla.
"It's a monster game, not only from the pride factor of being the overall SEC champ," said Vitale, who according to an ESPN spokesperson was assigned this game a week ago.
"They're both coming off losses. This becomes a real big game from that factor itself."
The Crimson Tide (19-9) and Gators (22-6) are tied for the overall league lead at 11-3 record. Alabama lost 68-63 Saturday at Ole Miss. Florida lost 76-68 at Kentucky.
The Tide ends the regular season with a 12:30 p.m. home game Saturday against Georgia. Florida closes with a 5 p.m. game Saturday at Vanderbilt.
With a Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) of No. 12, according to WarrenNolan.com, the Gators are considered a shoo-in for an NCAA tournament berth. With an RPI of No. 89, Alabama still is considered a team on the bubble.
"I still think they've got a little work to do," Vitale said. "You never want that (tournament selection) committee to have to make the choice. You want to be able to throw the knockdown punch. Alabama certainly would throw a knockout punch by getting a win on the road over Florida.
"It's just me, but I think if they split those two games, they should be in good shape. The way they have finished after their early start has been very impressive."
Vitale noted that Alabama was 7-6 in November and December.
"They've done an amazing job," he said. "They started the year off slowly, played very poorly early. ... They were really struggling. I don't think anyone was thinking about the NCAA tournament. Right now, they're right there.
"When I look at Bama and you factor in getting better and better and better, it's something that the committee always strives to stress. To alleviate any doubt, they've got to go out and get a win. They can't afford to lose these two games back to back."
Vitale is impressed with Grant, a former assistant under Florida coach Billy Donovan.
"If I were voting today in the SEC, he's my coach of the year in the conference," Vitale said. "He got that club regrouped, focused."
Vitale said the Tide's dedication to defense has been the key to its turnaround.
"When kids make a commitment as a unit to play defense ... they've bought into Anthony Grant's theories," he said. "It takes several years to get your people to really believe."
"Tony Mitchell's an explosive dunker," he said. "You think about the kids coming off the bench like (Andrew) Steele, Ronnie's brother. You think about JaMychal Green giving them strength and physicality on the interior. He's a good athlete.
"And then you see the development of the point guard, (Trevor) Releford. If those big three are all playing well, they're going to succeed, just like they did when they beat Arkansas after losing to them earlier. ... Releford's the key. He's got to make sure he doesn't turn the ball over."
Good defense won't be enough for the Tide, Vitale added.
"They have to make some shots, because Florida will put some points on the board," he said.
Guards Kenny Boynton and Erving Walker and 6-foot-10 forward Chandler Parsons are the Gators' key players, Vitale said.
"Their guards are very streaky shooters, but when they're shooting the ball well, they're very dangerous, especially Kenny Boynton," Vitale said. "He can put up points quickly, but he can also go cold. Controlling their backcourt's a must, and ... you can't turn the ball over, because Walker and Boynton are going to convert.
"They also have to control the versatility of Parsons. He doesn't realize how good he can be. He passes the ball. He's got great size. He can shoot the 3. He rebounds like crazy. He has a little bit of an Achilles heel on the free-throw line."
Vitale, who is raising money for pediatric cancer research, said he and Shulman will focus on the Grant-Donovan connection.
"It's great TV drama, but it's a battle for the SEC, being No. 1," he said. "I'm telling you, if Alabama leaves there with a 'W,' you're talk about having a leg up. Wow!"
