Alabama has blocked basketball player Justin Knox from transferring to UAB, creating a firestorm. How did Alabama allow the story to reach this point and who's in the wrong?
 
The NCAA cracked down on Auburn's "Tiger Prowl" with a new recruiting rule last week. Should the spring evaluation period be for evaluation or getting your school's name noticed?
 
Of the six SEC teams Alabama plays next season that have a bye the week before facing the Crimson Tide, Nick Saban says he's most worried about Auburn. Was it understandable or surprising for Saban to name his top rival?
 
Birmingham News sports reporters Ray Melick, Jon Solomon and Steve Irvine discuss those topics in this week's Birmingham News Sports Podcast. Have a listen.

What have we learned from Alabama's spring practices? What have we picked up from Auburn's spring practices? And why do so many fans attend spring games even though it's hard to learn anything about the teams?

Birmingham News sports reporters Ray Melick, Kevin Scarbinsky and Jon Solomon discuss those topics in this week's Birmingham News Sports Podcast. Have a listen.

What about Anthony Grant at Alabama? Will he be a success with his low-key personality?

This weekend's Final Four has been called the best ever and the worst. Some critics of college basketball say they want to see more "team" basketball. Well, this is their chance as four teams with no true superstars on the court are playing for the ultimate prize. Will people watch?

UAB's Mike Davis got a shot at two big-time programs when North Carolina State and North Carolina came to Bartow Arena for NIT games. Is it better to play two or three NIT games or to make the NCAA and lose in the first round, like Conference USA champion UTEP did?

Birmingham News columnists Ray Melick and Kevin Scarbinsky take on these topics in this week's podcast.

What about former Auburn star Chuck Person, now an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers? Will his name recognition, NBA resume and AU ties outweigh his lack of college coaching experience?

Birmingham News columnists Kevin Scarbinsky and Ray Melick and reporter Jon Solomon say in this week's sports podcast that Person would be a good choice, but he's not the only choice.

Also, with March Madness under way Scarbinsky, Melick and Solomon agree there's not much hope for a Cinderella past the opening weekend this year.

What teams will make the Final Four and what possible upsets are lurking in the bracket?

Give a listen to this week's podcast to see what the News' experts say.

Can Jay Jacobs make a case that Jeff Lebo is worth bringing back to open Auburn's new arena? Lebo will likely become just the second SEC coach since 1985 to have gone six straight years at one school without an NCAA Tournament bid, joining Ed Murphy of Ole Miss from 1986 to '92.

Can the NCAA justify expanding the NCAA Tournament, possibly up to 96 teams by this time next year? Get ready for a bloated and worse March Madness for the sake of the almighty dollar.

Birmingham News reporter Jon Solomon and News columnist Ray Melick discuss those topics in this week's Birmingham News Sports podcast. Have a listen.

Is there any way Jeff Lebo can keep his job and coach in Auburn's new basketball arena next season? The Tigers seem to be finding ways to lose -- even in the worst SEC West in recent memory.

UAB has overachieved this season, but will it be enough to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Blazers have to keep winning in the final days of the Conference USA season and take at least a couple games in the league tournament to sew up a berth.

Birmingham News columnists Ray Melick and Kevin Scarbinsky and reporter Jon Solomon discuss these topics in this week's Birmingham News Sports podcast.