How Nate Oats will use the Crimson Tide roster with or without Quinerly

Alabama basketball fans are excited about Nate Oats. Let’s take a look at how he will use the Crimson Tide roster next season.

Before considering the Alabama basketball lineup for next season, some Tide fans may need some catching up. Along with lots of new players, there are also new rules changes for the 2019-20 season.

The NCAA has approved moving the 3-point line back to match the distance used in International rules. The past season distance was 20 feet and nine inches. It will be 22 feet and 1.75 inches next season. The increased distance was used in the NIT Tournament this past season. According to the NCAA the result was the percentage of three-point makes dropped from 35.2 percent for the NIT teams in the regular season, to 33 percent in the NIT Tournament.

The reasons for moving the line back were explained by the NCAA as,

"Making the lane more available for dribble/drive plays from the perimeter.Slowing the trend of the 3-point shot becoming too prevalent in men’s college basketball by making the shot a bit more challenging, while at the same time keeping the shot an integral part of the game.Assisting in offensive spacing by requiring the defense to cover more of the court."

The other new rule is an offensive rebound will re-set the shot clock to 20 seconds, rather than going back to 30 seconds. Nate Oats commented on the shot-clock change,

"I like it. If we get an offensive rebound, we aren’t going to hold it for 20 seconds anyway. If the other team gets an offensive rebound, we don’t want them running off another 30 seconds."

Dare we say buc___ __? No, we are not going there. But the pace of Alabama basketball will definitely be speedier next season.

It is hard to discuss lineups without knowing to include Jahvon Quinerly or not. The former 5-Star, McDonald’s All-American has requested a waiver so he can play for the Crimson Tide without sitting out a season. Initially, it was thought his odds were no better than 50-50.

Based on the FBI investigation into ‘pay-for-play’ in college basketball it has become known reports Quinerly’s family received a $25K payment for Jahvon to play at Arizona – were false. It appears Jahvon’s NCAA appeal will be based on the fact the widely reported accusations caused him to not play for the school of his choice (Arizona) but instead for Villanova. Waivers have been approved for more trivial reasons.

Alabama basketball fans need to understand if Quinerly’s waiver is approved, Nate Oats will not have an overabundance of point guards. Oats often uses a pair of guards to share ball distribution duties. Combo guards in many current systems of play have made the term point-guard antiquated.

Nate Oats will play guys who can dribble, pass and score all over the court. Depending on how an opponent must be defended, that could mean playing three or four guards in some games. In a standard lineup, Oats will play two guards, two hybrid guard-forwards and a big who can shoot away from the basket.

Without Quinerly available, a best guess for an eight-man rotation is Kira Lewis; Beetle Bolden; John Petty; Herbert Jones, James Rojas or Juwan Gary; Galin Smith and Alex Reese.

Raymond Hawkins could work his way into an expanded rotation later in the season. If available, Quinerly will make the above rotation, nine rather than eight. Jaden Shackelford and Jaylen Forbes were Top 100 recruits. Under a new coach, no one has a guaranteed spot. If Jaden and Jaylen can outshoot some of their teammates, playing time will be available.

Another thought for the consideration of Alabama basketball fans – Jahvon Quinerly is an important addition – but his first season in the SEC (if next season) may not be as productive as Kira Lewis and Beetle Bolden.