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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Outlook and expectations for the Crimson Tide

With perhaps the deepest roster in college basketball, Alabama made sure they'll have plenty of options on any given night. They also ensured they had a roster that should play to the strengths that made them a success last season. The Tide has a team that can deliver the first national title in school history.

The roster is deep and talented and fits what Nate Oats wants to do offensively, like a glove. The problem for Alabama has come at the other end of the floor. Their 111th finish in defensive efficiency last season was last among power-conference teams that made the tournament. The Tide were also 201st in two-point defense and 127th in effective field goal defense. If Alabama wants to win the first title in school history, the defense must improve.

Oats recognized the deficiency and made Omoruyi a priority in the portal. The big man should make a big difference in the interior defense, which feeds into another of Alabama’s strengths, defending the three-point shot, where they held opponents to just 31.7% last season.

Next. Preseason top 25 power rankings for 2024-25. Preseason top 25 power rankings for 2024-25. dark

Alabama will never be an elite defense, but with such an elite offense, they don’t have to be. An adequately improved defense paired with that offense makes them a national title contender.

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