Alabama Basketball: Will Tide be better than Auburn for 2019-20?

Alabama basketball has a bright future ahead with Nate Oats as their coach, but will they be better than their in-state rivals this upcoming season?

It might be college football season, but there is a lot to be excited about with Alabama Basketball this year. After firing Avery Johnson, they decided to hire Nate Oats out of Buffalo. Oats has already had an impact on both recruiting and conditioning. This summer, Alabama has done workouts that vary from boxing to boot camp.

That’s just what the team has done off the court. On the court, Oats plans on bringing in a new coaching strategy filled with creative offenses to get players open. That was what hurt the Tide most last season. They ran too many isolation plays without movement. This year, everyone will move, and they will all be in better shape to help with that.

So, can they beat the Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl of Basketball? They got swept last season, but things seem to be trending up this year. Auburn is coming off of a Final Four run, but they have lost almost all of their key returning players. Without Bryce Brown, Jared Harper, or Chuma Okeke, the Tigers simply have to rebuild. They are excited about who they have coming back, but this will take some time for the Tigers.

One thing that hurt Alabama last year was the inability to keep up with Auburn in tempo. With these new workout routines, they should be in better shape. They also have Kira Lewis returning for his sophomore season, and he is easily one of the best point guards in the SEC.

The Tide also have incoming transfers Beetle Bolden and James Rojas to pair with a great recruiting class. If Oats wants to use the entire roster, its talented enough to deliver.

With the way both of these programs are trending, I don’t see Auburn beating Alabama in both games. Alabama will definitely at least split the series. In fact, I think the Tide has a great chance to sweep the Iron Bowl of Basketball this year.