Alabama Basketball Building Toward a Brighter Future

This season is not over for Alabama Basketball but fans are already looking toward 2017-18 with anticipation and optimism.

For fans of Alabama Basketball, it’s never a good look to say “wait until next year.” It’s a passive-aggressive form of deflection designed to make you feel better about what’s going on right now.

But in light of Alabama’s last two games — losses to Georgia and Texas A&M that burst the Tide’s bubble chances — pointing to the future seems like a logical step.

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And the future looks bright.

Here are the Alabama Basketball issues this year, and almost every year in recent memory. Not enough shooters. Not enough ball handlers. Not enough elite-level passers. And no one — not a single player — who can do all three.

These deficiencies were glaringly evident in Saturday’s game at Texas A&M. Part of the issue was the short turnaround from a Thursday night game at home, followed by a travel day to Texas. But equally detrimental to the Tide’s chances was the lack of a player who can beat teams off the dribble, shoot the ball well if open, or find the open man consistently after the defense collapses on him.

Here’s the solution next year. Collin Sexton, a 6’1″ guard with an NBA-ready handle, elite-level vision and a silky-smooth shooting touch from anywhere on the floor. He’s a true triple-threat player, something the Tide hasn’t had since the days of Ronald Steele, and before that, Mo Williams. Sexton’s arrival will also allow Dazon Ingram to move to the three, a more natural fit for his skill set.

Sexton will be joined by John Petty and several other players who will greatly improve the team’s overall skill level. With Sexton beating defenders off the dribble, breaking down defenses, and forcing opposing players to either let him shoot or force him to kick the ball out, Alabama will get much better looks at the basket than it has the last few seasons.

No matter how the rest of this season plays out, Alabama Basketball fans have a reason for optimism. Look for the 2017-18 edition of the Crimson Tide to go dancing for the first time in years. They may go deep into the tournament. They may not even win a game. But they will almost certainly be on the dance floor.

Next: A Look at All the New Players for 2017-18 Basketball

Alabama Basketball will face Ole Miss in the last home game of the season, Tuesday at 7:30 PM. Go to our Facebook page and tell us what you think about Crimson Tide chances in 2017-18.

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