Alabama basketball's 2026-27 roster isn't quite finalized. There are two major variables pending with Aden Holloway and Amari Allen, with Nate Oats stating in a recent interview that he has contingency plans for all scenarios.
Holloway has the pending legal charges stemming from his March arrest for marijuana possession, and Allen is testing the NBA Draft process. Allen is currently projected by most as a late first-round draft pick, but will have a chance to improve that standing at the NBA Draft Combine beginning March 10th in Chicago.
There's likely to still be an addition or two with some scholarship spots open for the Crimson Tide. But Oats has already accomplished his main mission this offseason: get bigger in the frontcourt and more versatile across the roster.
Alabama landed three bigs in the portal in Brandon Garrison (Kentucky), Jamarion Davis-Fleming (Mississippi State), and Drew Fielder (Boise State). Alabama also returns London Jemison as a versatile wing/forward, and with the additions of three versatile wings in the high school class - to go along with NC State's Cole Cloer in the portal - Alabama will be able to play a multitude of different styles.
Bart Torvik has taken note of that. While the analytical site has the Crimson Tide at just No. 19 overall, the biggest reason for optimism is the defensive ranking of No. 21.
Bart Torvik expects a major defensive jump for Alabama basketball in 2026-27
The lower ranking overall is because Bart Torvik doesn't trust Alabama's offense next year, ranking them No. 14 overall. Oats has put a Top 5 offense on the court in each of the last three seasons, and that end of the court is the least of the Crimson Tide's concerns.
If you trust Oats to put together another Top 5-ish offense, then also improving to the Top 20 range defensively would mean Alabama is a real contender next season.
Alabama finished 61st in KenPom's defensive efficiency this past season, a fact that caused the Tide to have a Sweet 16 ceiling.
Losing Aiden Sherrell was a tough blow in the Transfer Portal, but Garrison and Davis-Fleming should bring a lot more defensive versatility to the five spot. They can both switch instead of playing strictly drop, allowing Oats to be more multiple in defensive coverages.
Alabama tried to switch more last season, but reverted to drop coverage because the personnel wasn't a great fit for it. That should change this year with switchable fives and versatility across the roster.
Assuming Holloway is back, he's likely to be the only rotational player -as things stand, at least - that is under 6-foot-6. He could be the only player in the starting five who is shorter than 6-foot-8.
With Holloway and Allen both back, the Tide's starting lineup would likely look like this:
PG: Aden Holloway
SG: Amari Allen
SF: London Jemison
PF: Drew Fielder
C: Brandon Garrison
Alabama could kick Jemison to the bench and play Allen at the three with a freshman like Qayden Samuels or Jaxon Richardson manning the two spot. Fielder will also play some minutes at the five, and both Allen and Jemison can play the four when Oats wants to play smaller lineups. The difference this coming season will be that, barring multiple injuries, neither Allen nor Jemison should be asked to play the five.
A lot still hinges on whether Holloway and Allen are both back in Tuscaloosa next season, but there are growing reasons for optimism about next year's team as Oats works to finalize the roster.
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