Can Alabama Basketball Bounce Back?

Coaches and fans are mixed on where the Alabama men's basketball team should land after a rocky 2021-2022 season.

ESPN writer, Jeff Borzello has the Crimson Tide ranked 15th in the nation, with a starting lineup of Jahvon Quinerly (Sr.), Jaden Bradley (Fr.), Darius Miles (Jr.), Brandon Miller (Fr.), and Charles Bediako (Soph.).

Besides Miller and Bradley, Alabama have also picked up ESPN 100 recruits, Rylan Griffin and Noah Clowney in the Class of 2022. Fans are holding their breath in anticipation of how this young team will play together. If everything works out this team could be a sleeper team for the Final Four.

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The Alabama men's basketball team is predicted to finish fifth in the SEC this year. When considering how the Crimson Tide ended last year, losing to Vanderbilt in the first round of the SEC tournament, there is controversy on whether fifth place is a fit ranking or not.

However, with Alabama's significant turnover thus far, there's lots to be said about the expectations of this team. Head Coach Nate Oats, stated his team may have a few growing pains at the beginning of the season, but he is planning on peaking by the end of the year.

Oats also believes his recruits have built chemistry already with existing players and  focused on straying away from complacency this year. Statistically speaking, Oats is honing in on three aspects of the game, rebounding percentages, turnover rates, and shot selection. If this team can work on those three things, the Crimson Tide has a really good chance of making it far.

Alabama's first SEC game is on December 28th, when the travel to Starkville, to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs, at 8 p.m. CT, on the SEC Network