This is an opinion column.

Alabama basketball is beyond statements of arrival.

They’ve been here.

That’s what made Thursday night in Coleman Coliseum a fascinating study of contrast takeaways.

Alabama lost.

Nate Oats sounded disgusted by certain details of Purdue’s 87-80 win that, combined with Saturday’s win at St. John’s, revealed a few truths.

This Crimson Tide team lost a core of perhaps its most talented players, but can still play with anyone in the country. It has a backcourt that’s as good as any nationally -- maybe even better than last year’s, which included All-American Mark Sears.

Conversely, it appears to have an issue that stung its Final Four team once it arrived on the grandest stage.

They got bullied by the big bodies of a program that’s been here for generatio

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