Following the Compass - 2020

Every October 5th, I select my teams for the annual Following the Compass games. Rough recap, I draw teams, pick a game off their schedule for the next calendar, and try to follow their season and teams and if possible attend the game I selected. If I can't, I'll watch it and probably tell you about it.
This year marks a first for me. For the first time, I drew two teams from the same state. I've had some states repeat in being drawn, like New York, Illinois, Texas and Louisiana. I've even had the same nickname - Bears, Chicago and Mercer - show up in the same year, but never two teams from the same state. So which state is it?

That's right. Not only did I get the state of Alabama, but I selected the University of Alabama. While the school is known for their football team, I actually selected a game for their basketball team. Specifically, a conference game in Tuscaloosa on February 1st against the University of Arkansas. This will be the first time I have selected a game involving the SEC, though the next team I drew is from a conference I seem to have a knack for drawing from: The Sun Belt.

South Alabama has been a relevant, tournament team as recently as 2013, and the Sun Belt is a perennially dangerous mid-major conference. The Jaguars were above .500 for the first time since that 2013 tournament appearance, so this is a team on an upward trajectory. I drew game 8 off of their 2020-21 schedule, so not the coming season, but the year after. In 2019-20, their 8th scheduled game is game 3 of their Gulf Coast Showcase experience in Fort Myers, Florida, and last season, it was a home game against Florida A&M. South Alabama is a big enough draw that they aren't on the road the whole non-conference season, and when they are, it could be in a bracketed tournament. There is a decent chance that their game will be in Mobile, their home site. Along with Denver (formerly), Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee State, Arkansas State, Tulane, Florida Atlantic, Texas San Antonio, North Texas and Louisiana Tech, South Alabama is the TENTH Sun Belt team I will see in either football or basketball.

My previous trip to Alabama involved the SWAC, when Jackson State went to Alabama State in Montgomery to play an incredibly high scoring game. It holds a special place in my heart, as it was the first solo trip I took as part of this weird adventure. Perhaps another trip to Alabama is coming soon.