Alabama Basketball: #3 Seed Already, and They're Pulling Off Moves We Only Dream About in the Emerald City
Alright, Seattle, listen up, because while we're out here grinding through the MLB and looking forward to NFL kickoff, the college hoops world is already buzzing. We're talking four months out from tip-off, and guess who’s already locked into a ridiculous projection? Alabama basketball! Joe Lunardi, the bracketology guru, just dropped his updated way-too-early forecast for the new 76-team field, and the Crimson Tide is sitting pretty as a projected No. 3 seed. Can you even imagine that kind of consistent national respect for one of our teams?
These dudes are on a serious run under coach Nate Oats, coming off their fourth straight Sweet 16 trip, and their fifth in six years. Remember that Final Four run back in 2024? They absolutely smoked the Clemson Tigers in the West Region final. That’s the kind of sustained success that makes you wonder what magic they've got cooking down there. Meanwhile, every other program is scrambling, and Bama just keeps reloading.
Trade on Every Game with Kalshi
Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.
Who's In, Who's Out, and How They Keep Dominating
Of course, it’s college ball, so there’s always a ton of roster movement. Alabama is losing some serious talent. Their leading scorer, Labaron Philon, who dropped 22.0 points per game, is almost certainly a first-round NBA draft pick next week. Starting forward Aiden Sherrell, a 6-foot-11 monster who averaged 11 points and 6.2 boards with a crazy 8.5 percent block rate, bounced to Indiana via the transfer portal. They also lost Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (13.2 PPG) to graduation, and starter Aden Holloway's status is shaky after his arrest, which stings since he was second on the team with 16.8 points per game. Add in guards Jalil Bethea, Davion Hannah, and forward Taylor Bol Bowen, who all transferred out after just one season, and that's at least three starters gone from a team that went 25-10 as a No. 4 seed last season.
But here’s the wild part: they just keep bringing in more talent. They picked up three big men from the transfer portal: Jamarion Davis-Fleming from Mississippi State, Brandon Garrison from Kentucky, and Drew Fielder from Boise State. Plus, 6-foot-7 forward Cole Cloer from NC State. They clearly learned from getting out-muscled by Michigan in the NCAA Tournament last year. And the freshman class is stacked with four-star Jaxon Richardson (No. 27 overall), Tarris Boule, and Qayden Samuels (No. 26 national player). The biggest news, though? Amari Allen, who averaged 11.4 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds last year, pulled his name out of the NBA draft to return for his sophomore season. That’s a massive boost.
The SEC Powerhouse and What's Next
Lunardi's bracket has Alabama facing the Liberty Flames in the first round, playing in San Antonio as part of the South Region. And get this: the SEC is looking absolutely loaded, with Lunardi projecting 13 schools making the tournament! Florida is a No. 1 overall seed, Arkansas is a No. 2, and then you’ve got Bama and Texas as No. 3s. Tennessee and Kentucky are No. 5s, Vanderbilt a No. 6, Georgia, Missouri, and Auburn are No. 8s, Texas A&M at No. 9, and Oklahoma and LSU snagging No. 11 and No. 12 seeds respectively. That’s a gauntlet!
Alabama kicks off their season at home against Sam Houston on November 2. They’ve got a tough non-conference slate with Seton Hall (Nov. 13), Baylor (Nov. 24), and either Gonzaga or Kansas State (Nov. 26) in the Players Era Festival. Then they hit the road to Miami (Dec. 2), play St. John's in Birmingham (Dec. 12), and travel to Iowa (Dec. 21). Plus, games against Houston in New York and at South Florida are still to be scheduled. It’s a brutal schedule, but it's what you face when you're expected to contend for a national title. Makes you eager for the real action to start, doesn't it?
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.