Alabama big-man lands on list of disappointing transfers and it's not surprising

Nate Oats desperately needed to add a big man in the Transfer Portal this offseason after losing both Cliff Omoruyi and Grant Nelson. Even with the return of promising freshman Aiden Sherrell, depth on the interior was a major concern.

Oats wasted little time in adding Patriot League Player of the Year Noah Williamson from Bucknell quickly after the portal opened. After averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds per game a season ago, Williamson was expected to play a big role for the Crimson Tide this year.

There were warning signs from his tape, but nobody saw Williamson struggling at the level he has coming.

In 13 games, Williamson is averaging just 1.1 points and 1.6 rebounds per game on 22% shooting from the floor. After averaging over 17 points per game a season ago, Williamson hasn't even scored 17 points all season.

That's why it's no surprise to see the Field of 68 list Williamson as one of the most underperforming transfers in the country this season. It's certainly well-deserved criticism:

Noah Williamson has been a bust for Alabama

Oats has a strong track record in roster building at Alabama, both through high school recruiting and the Transfer Portal. His hits have far exceeded the misses, but Williamson is the most glaring miss of his tenure in Tuscaloosa so far. And it's what will likely stand between this team and having a legitimate shot at winning the whole thing.

Fortunately for Alabama, Sherrell has blossomed as a sophomore. In just over 21 minutes a night, Sherrell is averaging nine points and six rebounds to go along with nearly three blockers per game. However, Alabama's fast-paced system makes it difficult for bigs to play more than Sherrell already does. The workload has already weighed on Sherrell somewhat, with him missing the majority of the second-half against Arizona with full-body cramps.

Alabama desperately needs a big to take some off of Sherrell's plate. Alabama has struggled mightily on the glass as a result of Williamson being mostly unplayable. Taylor Bol Bowen, Keitenn Bristow, and even freshman guard Amari Allen have consistently been asked to play up a spot in the lineup, but that has just exacerbated the issues on the glass.

Williamson's struggles probably aren't fixable. He looked a bit better in Alabama's win over Yale on Monday. He hit a corner three for his first points in over a month, but picked up three quick first-half fouls that didn't allow him to maintain a rhythm.

It won't be surprising if Oats and Preston Murphy look to address the glaring need for another big man by adding a mid-year player to the roster, like we've seen several teams do already.

Williamson's issues probably leave them no choice if they hope to be serious contenders in March.