Alabama Basketball: Getting ready for the Nate Oats era in Tuscaloosa

The Nate Oats Alabama basketball era opens this month with the Crimson Tide taking on Georgia Tech in a public exhibition contest.

It is a great time to be an Alabama basketball fan. The first game action of the new Crimson Tide, Nate Oats era is Oct. 27 in Tuscaloosa. The new Crimson Tide will play Georgia Tech in an infrequent public, exhibition game. The complete 2019-20 Crimson Tide schedule is linked below.

Nate Oats’ fast-paced style will match up with some top teams in the coming season. In late November, the Crimson Tide will play North Carolina and either Michigan or Iowa in the Bahamas. Before the SEC regular season begins, the Tide will face Penn, Stephen F. Austin and Richmond in Tuscaloosa. Also in the early slate is a game in Huntsville against Belmont, and road games to Penn State and Rhode Island. In January, the Tide will meet Kansas State in the SEC-Big 12 challenge.

There is considerable optimism for Nate Oats’ first Tide team. The Crimson Tide has generally been predicted to be in the top five teams in the SEC. Some national basketball pundits have picked the Tide as high as the No. 3 team in the SEC.

Reviewing the new Alabama basketball roster

Starters returning are point guard, Kira Lewis Jr. and guard-forward players, John Petty Jr. and Herbert Jones. Other key returners are forward Alex Reese, and forward-center, Galin Smith.

Redshirt freshman center, Javian Davis-Fleming also returns. Nate Oats has loaded his roster with talented newcomers. West Virginia transfer guard Bettle Bolden will be a regular in the new rotation. Four freshmen were added in forward, Juwan Gary; guards, Jaden Shackleford and Jaylen Forbes and another big man in Raymond Hawkins. All four are athletic and can run the floor. Shackelford has been scorching from outside the arc in early practices. Forbes and Gary are offensive threats as well.

The only disappointment has been the injury to JUCO-transfer, forward James Rojas. Rojas would have been a key component for Oats but he is out for the season. It was reported his ACL injury occurred while on a jet ski. His rebounding and inside scoring will be missed.

A huge bonus for the season would be NCAA approval of a transfer waiver request for Jahvon Quinerly. The transfer from Villanova is an explosive offensive player.

 How good will the Tide be?

Immediate success is not guaranteed. The Crimson Tide lost an important inside physical component with the Rojas injury. On the flip side, there will be depth and plenty of skill at guard and the wings. Kira Lewis and John Petty should shine in Nate Oats’ system of four-out, one-in offensive fast-tempo basketball. The newcomers are very good. If Alex Reese, Herbert Jones and Galin Smith make positive strides, the Tide could be very difficult to defend.

Florida and Kentucky will probably be the best teams in the SEC. Alabama basketball could be in the thick of the next group with LSU and Auburn. Which is not to suggest Tennessee and Mississippi State will not have tough teams. It will be another season when any SEC road game will be a challenge.

2019-20 Alabama basketball schedule

Also, Nate Oats is making waves in recruiting. The early signing period for basketball is in November. Don’t be surprised if Oats pulls in a pair of 5-Stars.