NCAA Basketball: 10 bold predictions for 2022-23 season

Alabama will win the SEC regular-season title

The SEC is just as loaded at the top as the Big 12 this upcoming season. Kentucky is the consensus favorite, thanks to the return of National Player of the Year, Oscar Tshiebwe. Arkansas, led by a trio of five-star freshmen and five transfers, may have the highest ceiling. And after scoring nearly 100 points against No. 2 Gonzaga in an exhibition matchup, the Tennessee Vols are getting plenty of hype as well. Add Auburn and Florida as well and there’s a nice group of teams that can advance in March.

Yet the team I’m picking to win the SEC is someone else in Alabama. The Tide looked like they could compete for the regular-season title last year but defensive woes and reported chemistry issues limited their potential. This year, it’s a roster that should be much more stable, thanks to the presence of five-star freshman wing, Brandon Miller. He’s an elite scoring forward with NBA potential and could lead them in scoring.

Charles Bediako could easily have a sophomore breakout season at the center position, while senior forward Noah Gurley and freshman Noah Clowney add depth. And there’s a ton of scoring production in the backcourt in five-star freshman Jaden Bradley, Ohio transfer Mark Sears, and St. Bonaventure transfer Dom Welch. That doesn’t even include the return of Nimari Burnett, who missed all of last year with an injury, as well as Jahvon Quinerly, who will miss the first couple of months but should be back for league play.

Assuming Quinerly is healthy and ready to go by then, the Crimson Tide has more firepower than anyone in the conference. The offense under head coach Nate Oats always is elite but this roster should be better on the other end as well.