Alabama basketball to face Big 12 power at Madison Square Garden: report

Alabama men’s basketball is headed back to the world's most famous arena. The Crimson Tide are set to return to Madison Square Garden this season for a high-profile showdown.

A Major Matchup at the Jimmy V Classic

According to CBS Sports, Alabama will take on Houston in the 2026 Jimmy V Classic. The event is set to feature another marquee game as well, with Duke slated to face Georgia. Last season’s edition of the event, held on December 9, 2025, saw Clemson face off against BYU and Florida square off against UConn.

Familiar Territory for the Tide

This trip to Madison Square Garden is a homecoming of sorts for Alabama. The Crimson Tide previously played at the venue on November 8, 2025, when they secured a hard-fought 103-96 victory over a ranked St. John’s squad.

Series History Against the Cougars

Alabama enters the contest holding a 4-3 all-time record against Houston. The Crimson Tide are currently riding a three-game winning streak against the Cougars, including a victory in Las Vegas in 2024. That run was preceded by a home-and-home sweep that saw Alabama win both in Houston and at home in Tuscaloosa.

Before this recent stretch of dominance, the programs rarely crossed paths. Prior to the current winning streak, the most recent meeting between the two schools took place in 1979, a game Houston won 83-75. Houston claimed three of the first four matchups in the series, which dates back to 1956.