Projecting Alabama basketball's beginning of season rotation following exhibitions

Alabama basketball completed its exhibition schedule that featured wins over Wake Forest (preseason ACC No. 3) and Memphis (preseason AAC No. 2).

Now, the Crimson Tide has its eyes set on the beginning of the regular season next Monday evening at Coleman Coliseum against UNC Asheville.

The two-game exhibition slate gave us a glimpse what what Nate Oats' rotation could look like, though far from a perfect science with four projected contributors out for both games.

When full strength, Alabama's projected starting five is a group of graduate seniors: Mark Sears, Latrell Wrightsell, Chris Youngblood, Grant Nelson, and Clifford Omoruyi.

Wrightsell, Youngblood, and Nelson all missed the exhibition schedule along with freshman backup center Aiden Sherrell. Only Youngblood should be out on Monday when the regular season starts, and he's not projected to play until sometime in December.

With Wrightsell and Nelson expected to play on Monday, four of Alabama's starting five should be those two plus Sears and Omoruyi. Oats will have an interesting choice for the fifth spot in the starting lineup, which I believe is likely between a pair of freshmen and could very well depend on how he feels about the matchup.

Freshman guard Labaron Philon was terrific in both exhibition games, showcasing his high energy motor and a better than expected three-point shot. Philon hit 5-of-11 attempts from three in the two exhibition games. He looks like one of the Tide's best on-ball defenders already and is a real pest willing to pick up full court pressure. He's always around the ball and stuffs the stat sheet. He had 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists in last night's win over Memphis.

The other option if Alabama wants to play bigger would be Derrion Reid, another impressive first year player. Reid didn't shoot the ball great in the preseason, but he flashed a high basketball IQ, great energy, athleticism, and defensive versatility that will make it tough to keep him off the court.

Regardless of who starts, the problem will come with who plays and how much on down the roster. Because if the exhibition games were an indication, there's only one player who doesn't look good enough at this point to be in the rotation, and that's freshman wing Naas Cunningham who is still very raw and could be headed toward a redshirt.

Alabama Basketball's projected rotation:

So my official prediction for the first game is this starting lineup:

Mark Sears
Labaron Philon
Latrell Wrightsell
Grant Nelson
Clifford Omoruyi

I expect the first subs to come in for Omoruyi and Wrightsell as Oats looks to avoid foul trouble for the rim protecting center and for Wrightsell to be on a bit of a minutes restriction early on. Derrion Reid and Aden Holloway will be the first guys off the bench.

Jarin Stevenson will replace Nelson soon after, followed by Alabama going a bit bigger by sitting Philon for either Sherrell or Mo Dioubate.

Roles are easy to find for the starting five plus Holloway, Reid, Stevenson, and either Sherrell/Dioubate.

The player who is hard to find minutes for is Pepperdine transfer Houston Mallette, but he played well enough in the two exhibition games - hitting three three-pointers in each game - that he should find time on the court. You figure Sherrell or Dioubate will be an odd man out, but they both bring different things to the floor. Sherrell is the only other true five on the roster behind Omoruyi, and Dioubate might be a tweener but good things happen when he is on the court.

Everyone outside of Cunningham will likely play in the first few games for the Crimson Tide as they get warmed up for the tough portion of their out of conference schedule. Oats will be throwing out random rotations to see who plays well with each other. The lineup will tighten when Alabama travels to Purdue on November 15th for its first real test of the season.

Expect each night to take on its own life. There are some guys who will play big minutes regardless of the opponent, but Alabama has the versatility to mix and match its rotation based on each individual matchup. Some guys will have big roles some nights and perhaps even log a DNP the next.

The challenge for Oats will be to keep each guy engaged for when their number is called.