Are Alabama basketball fans overreacting to the probable departure of Aiden Sherrell? Before the Transfer Portal opened on Tuesday, it was learned that Sherrell and Taylor Bol Bowen would seek new teams. Gloom and doom spread like wildfire across Alabama message boards.
After losing to Michigan in the Sweet 16, Nate Oats said that the Crimson Tide must get bigger. Losing a 6'11" starter would make an Alabama weakness worse.
Quick speculation was that Sherrell was being lured by dollars beyond what Alabama viewed as warranted, possibly in the $2M-plus range. If Alabama could not afford the price, how could it afford to land a top replacement who would seek as much or more? Also reported was that Nate Oats and his staff have not given up on retaining Sherrell.
Some Alabama Basketball Good News
One day or one month is too early to rank teams for a coming season. Nonetheless, preseason rankings for 2026-27 have already begun, and for Alabama basketball fans, a couple of them are welcome.
The Field of 68 is one 'way too early' rankings source that has the Alabama Crimson Tide ranked No. 7. Florida at No. 4 is the only SEC basketball team ranked above Alabama. Also in the top 25 are Arkansas (No. 10), Tennessee (No. 14), Vanderbilt (No. 160, and Texas (No. 18).
Jon Rothstein also ranks the Crimson Tide at No. 7. According to Hunter De Siver, Rothstein projects Alabama to have a starting roster of Aden Holloway, Jahlil Bethea, Amari Allen, London Jemison, and Keitenn Bristow. Along with the Crimson Tide's outstanding freshman group, Rothstein included returners Davion Hannah and Collins Onyejiaka.
Recently Kalen DeBoer commented on the quick impact of some transfers expected to have starting or key roles. DeBoer said the cost of the transfers was less than the cost of the players Alabama was replacing. Perhaps Nate Oats can pull off a similar feat.