NCAA Basketball: Preseason top 25 power rankings for 2023-24 season

19. Alabama Crimson Tide

2022-23 season record: 31-6 (16-2 SEC)

Outside of Purdue, Alabama was viewed as the best team in NCAA Basketball for most of last season and a real threat of winning it all. But they ended up relying on star wing Brandon Miller too much, losing to San Diego State in his worst performance of the year. He’s gone, along with several key starters such as Noah Clowney, Charles Bediako, and Jaden Bradley (as well as 6th Man Jahvon Quinerly).

There are two key returning players that the Tide will be relying on more this year. Mark Sears proved to be a quality impact transfer for the team, averaging 12.5 ppg and 2.6 apg as a combo guard. And Rylan Griffen (5.9 ppg) is a consensus breakout candidate to watch as he replaces Miller on the wings.

Among the various transfers brought in for Alabama are a pair of star mid-major players. Grant Nelson is a skilled forward from North Dakota State, averaging 17.9 ppg and 9.3 rpg, and made the Summit League All-Defensive team. And Aaron Estrada won CAA Player of the Year twice at Hofstra, coming off averaging 20.2 ppg and 4.3 apg. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. was a double-digit scorer at Cal State Fullerton, while Mohamed Wague comes from West Virginia to add depth at the center position.

If reaclassed five-star freshman forward Jarin Stevenson can add something this season, Alabama will once again be an offensive juggernaut. Yet the defense will be a question since the top three individual defenders are gone and the newcomers come from the mid-major ranks. It worked with Sears but will it work for the others at the SEC level?