A quick preview of the roster suggests that Alabama basketball is still a year away from serious contention.
Alabama basketball season is almost here (Alabama plays host Faulkner in an exhibition game Nov. 3 at Coleman Coliseum), and questions about how high this team’s ceiling is continue to mount. Can coach Avery Johnson lead the Crimson Tide into the NCAA Tournament?
A quick preview of the roster suggests that Alabama is still a year away from serious contention. As with all squads this close, though, there is alway the potential for unexpected growth.
In terms of raw talent, the Crimson Tide is undeniably better than last season. Even without Retin Obasohan, the former cornerstone of the team, the 2016-17 version of the Crimson Tide look. much deeper and skilled than any team in recent memory.
For example, there are more quality players at every position. Dazon Ingram is back for a (hopefully) full season, and newcomers like Corban Collins, Bola Olaniyan, and Ar’Mond Davis add valuable skills and depth at nearly every position. There is also the potential for returning players (like Riley Norris) to continue to improve, making the pure talent level even higher.
It’s also worth considering that Avery Johnson has had a much bigger role in crafting this roster than he did with last season. With hand-picked players, Johnson should have much more freedom to pursue the coaching schemes and plays that best fit his specialties.
Here, though, caution is important. As much fun as last season’s team was to watch (and how much more fun this year’s version should be), Alabama is still probably a year away from serious contention. The talent level is still well below most top programs, and Johnson is still settling in as a coach.
Given the current growth trajectory, the Crimson Tide should continue to thrive as years pass. After another year of recruiting and coaching, Alabama could be poised to seriously compete in the SEC (and earm a NCAA Tournament spot). Nothing is guaranteed, of course, but this is a team with a very bright future.
The SEC (with the exception of Kentucky) is pretty wide open, and could be for several years. Even if Alabama doesn’t make a leap this year, that time isn’t far off.
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