Alabama basketball has made its way through eight games of the 2024-25 season.
The Crimson Tide (6-2) entered the season as the No. 2-ranked squad in the nation, but has since fallen to No. 9 with a loss to No. 12 Purdue. UA is likely to see another dip in the polls after an 83-80 upset loss to undefeated and unranked Oregon in the first-ever Players Era Festival championship on Saturday in Las Vegas.
For those just now starting to tune into basketball after being locked into Alabama football all season, the losses early after a historic run to the Final Four last season could be glaring. Just remember that coach Nate Oats has formulated one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country, so this team has been tested more than many.
UA played exhibitions against Wake Forest and Memphis before facing the likes of gritty mid-majors like Arkansas State and McNeese State. Alabama played Purdue, Illinois, Houston and Rutgers before Oregon, and travels to North Carolina next.
Here’s what we’ve learned about the Crimson Tide.
Turnovers trouble Alabama basketball through eight games
Before Oregon, Alabama averaged 12.4 turnovers per game. The Crimson Tide exceeded that average against the Ducks with 15, which was an improvement from the 20 turnovers that almost saw UA fall to Rutgers this past Wednesday. In victory against Houston, Alabama still lost possession seven times in the first half, and eight more turnovers in the second half contributed to the game heading into overtime.
In the 87-78 defeat at Purdue, Alabama had eight turnovers compared to three for the Boilermakers.
Injuries still concern for returning Final Four starter Latrell Wrightsell Jr.
What SEC Preseason Player of the Year Mark Sears has called a “Cinderella” journey to the Final Four saw guard Latrell Wrightsell, Jr. ailing through parts the 2023-24 season. Fans were left heartbroken after the senior left the Oregon game with a leg injury.
Wrightsell finds company on the bench in South Florida transfer Chris Youngblood (ankle) until the sharp-shooting guard is cleared to play, which Oats expects to be mid to late December.
Transfer, freshman depth helps Crimson Tide shine
Oats made sure UA loaded up on more than just Youngblood from the transfer portal. Alabama’s 2024 transfer class was ranked seventh in the country with guards like redshirt senior Houston Mallette (Pepperdine) and sophomore Aden Holloway (Auburn).
When Rutgers transfer and starting center Clifford Omoruyi heads to the bench with foul trouble, forward Grant Nelson has still looked efficient at the No. 5 spot, and in most of the minutes freshman Aiden Sherrell has played, he seems to be learning how to be a threat around the rim.
Sherrell is one of four freshmen who made up Alabama’s No. 2-ranked 2024 recruiting class, highlighted by starting guard Labaron Philon, who averages of 9.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists, shooting 47.3% so far. The class also includes five-star forward Derrion Reid and another redshirt in Naas Cunningham.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
