Alabama Basketball: Lineup rundown for opener against Memphis

Alabama basketball opens its season early Friday evening against Tubby Smith’s Memphis team in Annapolis. Let’s review the injury and suspension reduced lineup.

With the stress of Collin Sexton’s eligibility resolved Alabama basketball can turn its full focus to winning games. Sexton will miss the Memphis game from a one-game NCAA suspension. Injured Tiders, Braxton Key, Riley Norris and Armond Davis are also unavailable.

Tubby Smith is a good coach but Memphis is not the powerhouse program it had been for many years. The Tigers missed out on the NCAA last season after winning 19 games. To quickly rejuvenate, Tubby added five JUCO players and three freshmen to his transfer-depleted roster. The Tigers return only one starter from last season.

Here is a more detailed review from one of our affiliated sites, Busting Brackets.

Alabama basketball is a 4.5 point favorite per SBRpicks.com. Alabama basketball is far from full strength and who knows what Tubby has cobbled together so picking this game is tough. Until Sexton returns next Tuesday, the Tide has weaknesses. Even after Collin returns, the Tide will have to remedy its foul shooting problem before it will win many close games.

The Lineup

Avery wants to run a three or even four-guard lineup a good bit. With Sexton and Davis out the Tide can run Ingram, Petty and Jones all at hybrid guard positions. Avery Jr. may get the point duties, though we believe he should only be used to spell Ingram. Ingram is a far better three-point shooter and a better passer than Avery Jr.

Inside it will be interesting to see if Giddens can establish an inside game against an opponent physically tougher than Alabama-Huntsville. The offensive combination of Giddens and Hall is a work in progress the Tide needs to perfect. If only from a defensive standpoint the Tide will need two big bodies on the court against some top teams.

It is too early to interpret Avery’s plans for Galin Smith and Alex Reese. Both clearly have potential but how much they will play this season is unknown.

Avery has a big challenge ahead managing player rotation after the return of Sexton, Key and Norris. Unlike the past decade of Alabama basketball, the Tide has so many options. Finding significant minutes for 10 or more players may boost player enthusiasm but at the risk of on-court chemistry.

Next: Avery has built the roster with new players

The SEC Coaches, All-SEC preseason poll has been released. Alabama basketball players, freshman Collin Sexton and sophomore Braxton Key were selected to the second team. Buckle up Tide fans!