Alabama men’s basketball can officially, and finally, turn its attention completely to the biggest regular-season matchup in program and conference history.

The polls set the stage Monday for the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 game in SEC history this Saturday by ranking the Crimson Tide No. 2 and Auburn No. 1 in the AP top 25. The coaches poll flipped the two with Alabama in the top spot and Auburn second.

But before either team could focus on the premier weekend matchup, both had another conference game to win first. And they did. Alabama won easily against Texas on the road, dominating the Longhorns 103-80. Auburn beat Vanderbilt on the road 80-68.

And now the two basketball rivals will collide in the Iron Bowl of basketball on Saturday (3 p.m., ESPN) at Coleman Coliseum.

“We’ll see Saturday who’s the best team in the country I guess,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said after beating Texas. “Do we think we’re the best team in the country? I think we’ve got a chance to be. Auburn’s the best team in the country right now. We’ve got to knock them out on Saturday if we want to claim to be the best team in the country.”

The game will be for national supremacy in the polls. But there’s more than that at stake. It’s a rivalry game that matters every year, no matter the ranking or record of either team. Plus, the winner will hold first place in the conference standings in what’s shaping up to be a two-team race between Alabama (21-3, 10-1 SEC) and Auburn (22-2, 10-1) for the regular-season crown.

Jarin Stevenson, fresh off a season-high 22 points against Texas, stressed that preparation over the next three days will be key in deciding the matchup.

“It’s a chance for us to prove ourselves,” Stevenson said. “I feel like we’ve got a great team.”

But does Alabama have the best team in the country?

Saturday should provide that answer.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.