re: Bama Basketball Offseason Megathread

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Alabama Crimson Tide (+2000)

That much uncertainty in the top group also lends itself to a team from the middle of the pack surging into the conference title race. Alabama is the prime candidate to be that team given how much talent head coach Nate Oats has accumulated on this roster.

Oats employs a wide open “pace-and-space” system that favors quick, skilled guards, and the Crimson Tide have a ton of them. They return four players, headlined by last year’s star freshman Jaden Shackelford, sharpshooter John Petty, and defensive star Herb Jones, and welcome in a litany of quality perimeter threats.

Villanova transfer Jahvon Quinerly is the most hyped addition as the former five-star prospect is expected to start at point guard after sitting out a year ago due to transfer rules. He’s a phenomenal offensive threat who can create for himself and others and fits this system to a tee. Yale grad transfer Jordan Bruner should be the centerpiece of their frontcourt with his rebounding and shot-blocking prowess.

Bruner leads the nation’s No. 12 recruiting class in which the Tide also landed top 60 prospects Josh Primo and Alex Tchikou. Primo is a versatile 6-6 combo guard who is a reliable shooter, while Tchikou will likely backup Bruner up front.

That group will be the core of Alabama’s talented rotation, but Oats should be able to routinely go at least 10 deep in his rotation and feel confident in his lineups. The Crimson Tide will need this group to mesh quickly and need Quinerly to back up the hype, yet they have the talent to compete with anyone.

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