Alabama Basketball: Looking at the 2021-22 non-conference schedule

One of the most talked-about stories of the college basketball offseason has been the rumored non-conference schedule for Alabama Basketball, one of the toughest in the country. As you’ll see below, the Crimson Tide’s full non-conference schedule released Tuesday features plenty of must-see matchups including three Final Four teams from a year ago.

Looking at the Alabama Basketball 2021-22 non-conference schedule

Here is a look at each of Alabama Basketball’s 2021-22 non-conference opponents, as well as a short preview of what the matchup will look like.

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs – November 9

The Crimson Tide will open the 2021-22 season at home against the 2020-21 C-USA West Champions who finished last season with a 24-8 overall record and third in the NIT Tournament. Alabama and Louisiana Tech last met during the 2017-18 season in Tuscaloosa where the Crimson Tide won 77-74.

South Dakota State Jackrabbits – November 12

Alabama will host the 2020-21 Summit League regular season conference champions in game No. 2 of the season in what will be the first meeting between the two since 2012.

South Alabama Jaguars – November 16

South Alabama will travel to Tuscaloosa this season for the first meeting between the two schools since 2010.

Oakland Golden Grizzlies – November 19

Oakland comes to Tuscaloosa after finishing fifth in the Horizon League a year ago at 10-10 in conference play, 12-18 overall.

ESPN Events Invitational (Orlando, FL) – November 25-28

This is arguably where the Crimson Tide’s 2021-22 schedule picks up as they will begin the tournament with a rematch against Iona, whom Alabama defeated 68-55 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago. Depending on the result of that game, the Crimson Tide will then face either Drake or Belmont in Orlando on the 26th.

The final game for Alabama in Orlando will come on the 28th against an opponent that is currently TBD. The opponent will be one of the these four teams – Kansas, Dayton, Miami (FL), or North Texas.

Gonzaga Bulldogs – December 4

Alabama will then travel for what will arguably be their toughest test of the non-conference schedule, a neutral-site game in Seattle, WA against 2020-21 national runner-up Gonzaga. The Bulldogs will be a preseason Top 5 team nationally as their 2021-22 roster is headlined by five-star freshmen Chet Holmgren and Hunter Sallis, as well as returning National Player of the Year candidate Drew Timme.

Houston Cougars – December 11

Playing their second 2020-21 Final Four team in a row, Alabama will return home to face Houston, an opponent they were originally scheduled to play last season. The Cougars should be one of the top teams in the AAC this season headlined by the returning Marcus Sasser and Texas Tech transfer guard Kyler Edwards.

Memphis Tigers – December 14

Alabama will play one true road game in the non-conference this season which is a mid-December trip to Memphis to face head coach Penny Hardaway and the Tigers. Memphis should be the preseason favorite to win the AAC in 2021-22 with a roster headlined by five-star freshmen Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren.

Jacksonville State Gamecocks – December 18

The Crimson Tide and Gamecocks will play in Tuscaloosa for the second consecutive season after Alabama won last year’s season-opener 81-57.

Colorado State Rams – December 21

Alabama will face Colorado State in Birmingham in the last game before SEC play begins. The Rams finished third a season ago in the Mountain West regular season at 14-4 in conference play.

Baylor Bears – January 29

Alabama’s final non-conference game comes in the Big12/SEC Challenge when defending national champion Baylor visits Tuscaloosa in one of the most-anticipated matchups of the annual head-to-head between the two conferences. Baylor lost multiple prominent players off last seasons title winning team, but have talent headlined by five-star freshman Kendall Brown and returning Matthew Mayer.

Alabama Basketball’s 2021-22 non-conference schedule is certainly one of the toughest in the country, and even if the Crimson Tide don’t come out of it undefeated, it’ll be hard to find a better SOS come Selection Sunday in March.