7. Alabama (2-0)
Some of the names are different once again in Alabama but Nate Oats has quickly built a career on bringing in talent and winning games with the Crimson Tide. He used those recent stars to turn the tide on this basketball program and fresh off an Elite Eight is hopeful that this year’s squad can be just as successful as in recent years. This weekend may have shown that Alabama is even ahead of schedule in that regard.
Opening the season with what’s likely their only easy game of the month, Alabama coasted to a 91-62 win over North Dakota. Labaron Philon got his sophomore season off to a hot start with 22 points and 8 assists while Houston Mallette added 15 points himself. Saturday was the marvelous effort, with the Crimson Tide going to Madison Square Garden and winning 103-96 against St. John’s. Philon’s 25 points led the charge though both Aden Holloway (21 points) and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (17 points) were excellent after each of them missed the opener earlier in the week.
Oats has never been someone to take it easy in nonconference play and as a result his program already has a massive victory that’ll certainly be meaningful months from now. Alabama’s offense was on another level with that performance and it’s clear that this team can beat and hang with anyone when fully healthy and on their game. We’ll see another significant test next week back in Tuscaloosa as the Crimson Tide play host to Purdue.