re: Tide Hoops | Offseason

I don't see chemistry being too big of an issue, it's a veteran squad. The returning players know the expectations, the vets coming in know their role and (in some cases) are taking less playing time to be in this system, and the freshmen coming in know they have to earn it and if they're not ready, we know Oats isn't afraid to sit them. I would like to see:

Sears
Wrightsell
Youngblood
Nelson
Cliff

The only legitimate knock I can see if being a bit undersized in the backcourt and at the wing position, however, Youngblood is a bulldozer and then Cliff at the rim kinda negates bigger Guards taking advantage of Sears. Expecting Nelson's shooting numbers to increase a bit, you have shooters at 1-4, a couple of lockdown defenders, a top PG, and a crazy amount of experience.

Holloway CG
Philon CG
Reid 2-4
Stevenson 4
Sherrell 4/5

So look, it's almost worthless trying to limit these guys to a position on paper, we know the Oats system is positionless basketball. You're either a ballhandler, wing or big. However, where Bama is going to shine this year is their depth and the versatility that it brings. That is, IIRC, 3 McDonald's All-Americans off the bench. Either backcourt player can spell Sears at the 1 for a few minutes and they're also both talented enough to ease Wrightsell's minutes down a bit more than the average starter (I have no idea how Oats will handle him, he's one concussion away from being done). Reid is going to get starter minutes sooner than later, I think he's a future lottery pick and his only concern is his jump shot but he does everything else so well for his size. Stevenson is the only player I don't have multiple positions for, I think he's stuck as a stretch 4 and can play some emergency minutes at the 5 if needed. Sherrell is a tailor-made 5 for this system, he was considered a 4 but gained quite a bit of weight this past year so definitely a big but has kept some of those qualities that made him a top 4 like his perimeter shot. Can you imagine a talented big in this system that can also shoot it? That's Sherrell. The front-court minutes are going to be very intriguing to watch.

Mallette
Naas
Mo D

That's right everyone, our last three off the bench as of now, include:

Mallette had one of the highest catch-and-shoot percentages in the country last year and finished at 41.5% from 3. Cunningham, the former #1 recruit in the country has all the potential in the world. Mo D, who we saw grow throughout the year, and honestly, if it wasn't for him, not sure we win that GCU tournament game. He looks like a player that has bought in and having a guy with his March experience now at the end of the bench is quite valuable.

This will be worthless if Sears and/or Stevenson stay in the draft but you're looking at the best roster ever assembled at Alabama if they do return. There are a couple of things to be objectively concerned about but landing Cliff was so big because it raises the ceiling of this team to a true title contender.

It can be difficult to gauge the success of a season just based on a singular run in March. Two years ago we had Miller and Clowney in the lineup, doubled dipped on SEC titles, and scored the #1 overall seed. Then they got bounced to an SDSU squad that gave us hell, couldn't get a 3 to fall, and Miller wasn't 100%. A couple of years before that, we had Oats developing Herb, Ellis, Petty, and JQ to the next level and scoring a 2 seed, after once again double dipping SEC titles, just to shoot 44% from the free throw line and lose in OT. Then this past year, a disappointing finish to the season that gave us a 4 seed, went on a run to our first-ever Final Four with a top offense but poor defense. That's what makes a single elimination tournament that decides your season great/horrible at the same time. I'm expecting another double dip of conference titles this season and about the same kind of run, maybe even further come March.