Three weeks into the college basketball season, Alabama men's basketball is already showing flashes of the high-octane, fast-paced identity we've come to expect under head coach Nate Oats. The Crimson Tide entered the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas ranked No. 8 in the AP Top 25 and No. 9 in the Coaches Poll, and while the weekend didn’t start the way they’d hoped, it certainly ended with a statement.
Alabama opened the festival with a tough 95-85 loss to then-No. 12 Gonzaga on Nov.
- That game was a reminder of how thin the margin for error can be when you're facing elite competition.
Gonzaga’s experience and shot-making proved to be the difference, exposing some defensive lapses that Alabama will need to tighten up as the season progresses.
But if there were any doubts about Alabama’s ability to bounce back, they were erased in emphatic fashion just days later.
First came a 115-76 rout of UNLV - a game where Alabama tied its highest point total in the Nate Oats era. The offense was firing on all cylinders, with the Tide pushing the pace, spreading the floor, and knocking down shots from everywhere.
Then, just one day later, Alabama dismantled Maryland 105-72, tying the program’s high under Oats for assists in a game with 29. That kind of ball movement speaks volumes about the team’s chemistry and unselfishness - hallmarks of Oats’ system when it's running at full throttle.
Still, the early loss to Gonzaga was enough to cause a slight dip in the rankings. Alabama slid to No. 12 in both the AP and Coaches Polls released Monday. It’s a reminder that in the early part of the season, every game counts - especially when you’re playing in showcase events against top-tier programs.
Now sitting at 5-2, Alabama turns its attention to the SEC/ACC Challenge, where Clemson (7-1) awaits in Coleman Coliseum on Dec. 3.
This matchup carries a little extra weight. Alabama is 1-1 all-time in the Challenge, including a home loss to Clemson in 2023.
But they bounced back with a strong road win over North Carolina in 2024 - a 94-78 performance that might have been their most complete game of the season. Offensively and defensively, the Tide were locked in from tip to buzzer, sending a clear message that they could compete with anyone, anywhere.
That win was part of a bigger story for the SEC last season. The conference didn’t just show up in the SEC/ACC Challenge - it dominated.
The SEC posted a 14-2 record in the 2024 edition of the event, a massive leap from the 7-7 split the year before. It wasn’t just a good week; it was a defining moment.
The SEC made it clear that it wasn’t just a football powerhouse anymore - it was a basketball force to be reckoned with.
And the numbers back it up. The SEC finished its non-conference schedule last season with a staggering 185-23 record, including a 21-8 mark against AP Top 25 opponents - the best in league history.
That kind of dominance translated into a record-setting postseason, with 14 SEC teams earning NCAA Tournament bids. Florida ultimately cut down the nets, but the depth and quality of the conference were on full display from start to finish.
As Alabama gears up for this year’s SEC/ACC Challenge, the stakes are clear. It's not just about one game - it's about continuing to represent a conference that has raised the bar across the board.
The Crimson Tide have the firepower, the system, and the experience to make another deep run this season. But it starts with taking care of business in matchups like the one coming up against Clemson.
The road back to the top of the rankings - and perhaps beyond - runs through games like these. Alabama knows it. Now it’s time to show it.