Heading into the 2024-25 season, the University of Alabama basketball team will have to live up to expectations. After a Final Four appearance and a highly successful offseason, expectations are sky-high for Nate Oats and his Crimson Tide team.
Oats' teams in Tuscaloosa have mostly played good, complementary basketball, combining solid defense with offensive efficiency. But the defense struggled last season. Opponents allowed the Tide to score almost at will, which led to Alabama's poor performances against good teams. Despite having the best offense in the country, the team was disappointing, even disappointing, for much of the season.
Alabama managed to flip the switch and play better defense in the NCAA Tournament, but they'll have to be even better in 2024-25.
Clearly the most important addition for Alabama this offseason was on the defensive end of the court. Cliff OmoruyiThe Rutgers transfer has 221 blocks in 121 games and will be a much-needed anchor for the Tide defense. Grant NelsonHe leads Alabama with 1.6 blocks per game and has a career block success rate of 173, so the addition of him should help Alabama improve its rim protection significantly going forward.
Alabama's frontcourt is not only tall and athletic, but also mobile, with Omoruyi and Nelson as the main players but also a sophomore. Jarin Stevenson And new students Aiden SherrellMost of Alabama's big men are switchable, so it will be tough to get an advantage on the perimeter.
The Crimson Tide also has great defensive potential on the wings. Alabama lost several key defensive players to the transfer portal during the offseason. 6-foot-6 wing Rylan Griffin was a proven defensive player who could lock down opposing guards at times, while 6-foot-9 redshirt forward Chris Parker had never played for the Crimson Tide but showed great defensive potential. Coach Oats has done an excellent job of replacing a player with this length and versatility.
Sophomore forward Mo Diubate And new students Nurse Cunningham and Derrion Reed It gives the Tide a lot of flexibility on the perimeter. The three young forwards are active defenders who can defend from the perimeter to the block. The freshmen will have to prove themselves, but Diubate has already shown he's tough enough to guard opposing centers when the time comes.
Alabama should also get some strong ball pressure from its guards on the perimeter. Aiden Holloway, Latrell Lightsell Jr.and Chris Youngblood.
Alabama has plenty of shooting talent on its 2024-25 roster, but it's their newfound defensive versatility that could make this team a championship contender.
