Alabama Crimson Tide 2024 preseason set, plus NBA Summer League news

Though yet to be officially announced, Alabama Basketball has a firm 13-game non-conference schedule set for the 2024-25 season. The two most recent additions are a home, season-opener against UNC-Asheville, on Nov. 4 in Tuscaloosa, and Arkansas State, also in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 8.

After hosting McNeese State on Nov. 11, the Alabama Crimson Tide will have a month filled with tough competition. The run begins on Nov. 15 at Purdue. The Boilermakers were an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 team last season. After the Purdue game, Alabama will host another Sweet 16 team, Illinois. The Tide will battle the Illini on Nov. 20 in Birmingham.

The day after Thanksgiving, Alabama will take on Houston in the Players Era Tournament in Las Vegas. Houston was also a Sweet 16 team last season. Game two in Las Vegas, on Nov. 27 will be either Notre Dame or Rutgers. The third game opponent for the weekend is TBD, on Nov. 29.

On Dec. 4, Alabama will be in Chapel Hill to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels. In last season's NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, the Crimson Tide beat the Tar Heels, 89-87. The one-month gauntlet continues on Dec. 14, with the Crimson Tide hosting Creighton in Tuscaloosa.

Before the SEC basketball season begins, Alabama will travel to play North Dakota State on 12/18, followed by home games against Kent State on Dec. 22 and South Dakota State on Dec. 29. The South Dakota State Jackrabbits won the Summit Conference last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Eighteen grueling SEC games will follow, including pairs of games against Auburn, Kentucky, and Mississippi State. Eleven of the Tide's SEC games will have opponents who participated in last season's NCAA Tournament.

Nate Oats seeks tough competition every season. Alabama lost 11 games last season before advancing to the Final Four. The Crimson Tide might follow the same pattern in the 2024-25 season.

Alabama Basketball and NBA Summer League News

Nine former Alabama Crimson Tide players will be in the NBA's Summer League. The two most recent additions are Kira Lewis and JD Davison. Davison has signed a new 2-way contract with the Boston Celtics. In his first two contracts, Davison starred for the Maine Celtics and saw limited game action with Boston. As a free agent, Kira Lewis will be playing with the Houston Rockets in the Summer league.

Other former Alabama players in the Summer League are Brandon Miller, Keon Ellis, Noah Clowney, Aaron Estrada, Jaden Shackelford, Charles Bediako, and Alex Reese. Ellis began Summer League play with an 18-point game for the Sacramento Kings.