Perhaps the nationwide angst over the return of Charles Bediako can officially end. Because Bediako or not, one thing has become clear about Nate Oats' Alabama basketball team in 2025-26:
They're not good enough to go on a serious run anyway.
They are soft, completely overmatched in the paint, and lack the mental fortitude to withstand the storms.
Following Sunday's 100-77blowout loss to Florida, the fifth straight defeat at the hands of Todd Golden's Gators, it has become abundantly clear that this team has a lower ceiling than fans wanted to believe after a hot start to the season that included impressive road wins over St. John's and Illinois.
This is a flawed roster construction, injuries be damned. And the Hail Mary addition of Bediako hasn't changed that.
The most important observations from Alabama's loss to Florida
1. Alabama got punked in the paint by Florida. Again.
As has been the case for the majority of the last five meetings against Florida, Alabama was completely overmanned on the interior. Florida was the more physical team and completely dominated the Crimson Tide in the paint.
Florida hit only three three-pointers. They were completely disinterested in even attempting anything from behind the arc. And why would they? They got whatever they wanted in the paint time and time again.
Florida scored 72 points in the paint. When they did miss a shot, it rarely mattered because they got the offensive rebound anyway. The Gators broke the Crimson Tide's spirit on Sunday.
Florida was the championship-quality team that Alabama can only wish it were.
2. Todd Golden has Nate Oats' number
Oats won the first two meetings against Golden, but now the Florida head coach has reeled off five straight wins in the series. It's why Golden had the confidence to say that the Gators would "beat Alabama anyway" despite the addition of Bediako. He knew his team would back him up.
And back him up they did.
Golden knows how to expose the weaknesses of Oats' teams. He's done it now, time and time again, and Oats has been unable to respond.
Similar to the struggles Oats has had beating Rick Barnes, Golden has become just as much of a nuisance. Something has to give.
3. Turnovers were a major problem for Alabama
Unlike most Oats teams in Tuscaloosa, this Alabama team has actually done a pretty good job of taking care of the basketball. Coming into Sunday's game against Florida, the Crimson Tide ranked 5th in turnover rate in the country, and that's in spite of a fast-paced tempo.
That fell apart against Florida. Alabama turned it over 18 times. That included five turnovers within the first four minutes of the second half, which allowed Florida to turn a 10-point lead at halftime into a 20-point lead with 16 minutes to go. That run effectively ended the game.
Alabama's guards, none more than Labaron Philon, struggled with the physicality of Florida's guards. From the opening tip, the Gators blitzed the point of attack, and the Tide never responded.
Alabama looked to have a significant advantage in the backcourt against Florida. That was clearly not a reality.
4. Alabama's defense simply isn't good enough once again
It's not a coincidence that the two SEC Championship-winning teams Oats has had in Tuscaloosa are the only two teams he's had that were elite on the defensive end. In 2021 and 2023, the Crimson Tide ranked 3rd in KenPom's defensive efficiency metric. Those teams won SEC regular-season and tournament championships before bowing out in the Sweet 16 both years.
Alabama went on a Final Four run two years ago despite playing poorly for most of the season defensively, but those limitations were obvious when they ran into UConn. A year ago, Alabama made the Elite Eight, but it was well behind the four Final Four teams because they didn't play defense at the level those teams did.
Coming into Sunday's game against Florida, Alabama ranked 63rd in defensive efficiency. That number will fall further after a pitiful performance in Gainesville.
If Oats wants to get Alabama back to being a legitimate National Championship contender, something has to fundamentally change on the defensive end of the court.