Alabama Basketball: 2024-25 season preview for the Crimson Tide

Apr 6, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide runs onto the court to warmup before the semifinals of the men's Final Four of the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the Connecticut Huskies at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

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Potential starting lineup

People were rightfully excited when Mark Sears and Grant Nelson announced they were returning to Alabama for their final season. Those two epitomize the picture of the Alabama offense: they shoot layups and three-pointers. Sears shot 43.6% from deep and Nelson was just as efficient inside shooting 61% on his two-point attempts. The other returning starter is senior guard Latrell Wrightsell who shot an even better 44% from deep.

If Sears and Wrightsell weren’t enough long-distance firepower, Oats hit the portal and landed Chris Youngblood, who shot 41% from three; he could be the guy to take over the Rylen Griffen role as a 3-and-D sharpshooter. But with Youngblood out until conference play, fellow transfer Aden Holloway could see starts until Youngblood returns.

With the perimeter covered, it was time to look at those layups, and Oats landed one of the best big men in the portal when he landed Cliff Omorruyi from Rutgers. The 6-11 imposing paint figure can be a double-double machine, but on this roster, he doesn’t have to be; the Tide just needs him to be the defensive anchor they have been missing over the last few seasons. This is one of the most veteran lineups in the country, all five guys are now graduate students in their final season, the composition of which should continue the lays and threes trend.

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