Alabama basketball is coming off the most successful three-year run in program history. From winning the SEC regular season and tournament titles in 2022-23, to the program's first Final Four in 2024, to a second consecutive Elite Eight in 2025. Alabama has made the second weekend of the tournament three consecutive seasons, and advanced past the program's Sweet 16 class ceiling in back-to-back seasons.
Nate Oats has elevated Alabama's standing as a basketball program to unforeseen heights. Last season, Alabama entered the year on the shortlist of National Championship contenders and ranked No. 2 in preseason polls. To say that not winning the SEC and then getting knocked out in the Elite Eight was a disappointment speaks to the level Oats has raised this program to.
It's only natural after that run of success, and the loss of a big group of seniors, including All-American Mark Sears, who is probably now on the program's Mount Rushmore, that the Crimson Tide can expect a small step backwards next season.
Just don't tell Oats that.
"I like our group," Oats said to Andy Katz on The Sideline. "I think they're a lot of good kids. We're not going to be ranked preseason top five like we've been. We lost a first-team All-American in Mark Sears, who has been great for this program. So we've got some scoring to replace, but we've got pieces.
"I think if we can get them connected and on the same page and playing hard together, we've got a chance to be pretty good again."
Despite lower expectations, Alabama basketball has the same ceiling
On paper, the roster Nate Oats has built is a good one. Balanced, versatile. The Tide should be better defensively and, while they might not have an alpha scoring option like Sears, could end up being one of the better shooting teams in the country.
The keys have been handed to sophomore point guard Labaron Philon, whose return changed the entire trajectory for this team. Oats wisely added shooting all around him. With Latrell Wrightsell and Houston Mallette healthy, along with the return of junior guard Aden Holloway, and the addition of forward Taylor Bol Bowen out of the Transfer Portal, Alabama has four guys on the roster who are proven 40%+ shooters from three-point range.
Aiden Sherrell and Noah Williamson can both be "stretch fives," meaning Philon will frequently be surrounded by three or four players who can shoot every time he is on the court. That's not to mention Miami (FL) transfer Jalil Bethea, who struggled from three last year with the Hurricanes, but was billed as an elite shooter coming out of high school.
"We will have shooting, that's for sure. We got a lot of shooting out there," Oats said.
If things come together like Oats hopes, this team has the chance to be special. Again. The expectations will be lower. Alabama will probably be between 15-20th in the preseason polls. But this team has the same ceiling as the last three. If things come together, the Crimson Tide can reach the Final Four.