SEC Basketball: Improving bottom teams of conference for 2019-20

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BOISE, ID – MARCH 15: Head coach Nate Oats of the Buffalo Bulls reacts against the Arizona Wildcats during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Taco Bell Arena on March 15, 2018 in Boise, Idaho. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

The Crimson Tide made the NIT, but still made a coaching change

Despite earning a bid to the NIT, Alabama decided to move on from coach Avery Johnson, despite the fact that Johnson has three trips to the NIT and an NCAA Tournament berth in his four seasons in Tuscaloosa. With the change, key members of the Tide entered the transfer portal, namely Dazon Ingram and Kira Lewis, Jr., leaving some Alabama fans on edge. Ingram has committed to Central Florida, but Lewis is returning to Alabama, giving new head coach Nate Oats a solid young player to build upon.

Alabama was able to snag Oats, one of the hottest coaching commodities in the game after he had compiled a 59-13 record at Buffalo over the last two seasons. Oats not only convinced Lewis to return but also guard John Petty who tested the waters of the NBA. Joining Lewis and Petty are shooting guards Jaylen Forbes and Jaden Shackelford, while small forward Juwan Gary is the highest rated recruit in a top-20 class for Oats.

He also dipped into the transfer market to find a point guard, snagging James Bolden from West Virginia, who will be eligible immediately for the Tide. It will be interesting to see how Oats handles a new level of competition, but the hope is that he can get Alabama out of the purgatory of mediocrity.

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