After the 2025-26 college basketball season, Nate Oats made a decision. He determined his 2026-27 Alabama basketball team had to change. Oats said, "We got to get bigger." Size was a factor when the Crimson Tide lost to Michigan in the NCAA Tournament. The word 'bigger' did not tell the full story. Oats could have elaborated by adding that Alabama had to become physically tougher.
All indications are that Oats has backed up his talk with action. The '26-27 Alabama basketball roster will include two 6'10" players, two 6'11" players, and one seven-footer. Two of the five are also heavyweights: 6'10: Brandon Garrison weighs 245lbs, and 7' TJ St. Louis weighs 265lbs.
Like 6'11 sophomore Collins Onyejiaka, it is not known how many minutes freshman St. Louis will get. Oats will not always want to play big. Spreading the floor in the Oats' system works best with just one guy playing the dunker role when Bama has the ball. But against some teams, playing big may be a necessity. Two teams that fit that scenario are the Florida Gators and the Texas Longhorns.
The national consensus is that with Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Reuben Chinyelu, Todd Golden has the best frontcourt in college basketball. In last season's 23-point loss to Florida, the Gators didn't just outrebound the Tide (44-33); they held Alabama's 2-point shooting to 46.4%. On the season, Alabama was 57% making twos. The most glaring deficiency Alabama had against Florida was that the Gators scored 72 points in the paint to Alabama's 26 points.
Another SEC team that could be a load for Alabama inside is Texas. The Longhorns will start 7' 255lbs. center Matas Vokietaitis and transfer 6'7" David Punch, who plays bigger than his height. Texas also added reclassified 5-star Marcus Spears Jr. The 6'9" phenom could contribute quickly. Still, Texas has other options: 6'9", 245lbs. John Clark; 7'1", 255lbs. Lewis Obiorah; and 6'11" freshman Coleman Elkins.
In the regular season, Alabama plays only single games against the Gators and Longhorns. Earlier games against Houston and possibly Gonzaga in the Players Era tournament can test the Tide frontcourt. Kelvin Sampson has inside size that includes 7'1", 290lbs. Arafan Diane. The Zags have four 6'10" players, plus Arizona State transfer 7'1"Massamba Diop.
Note: Alabama stats provided by ESPN and Sports Reference
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