Alabama Basketball’s Frontcourt Depth Is the One Thing That Could Derail a Dangerous Team
Alabama basketball is rolling right now. Winners of four straight and sitting near the top of the SEC standings, the Crimson Tide have the look of a team nobody wants to see in March.
They’ve got the shooters. They’ve got the tempo.
They’ve got the kind of guard depth that wears teams down over 40 minutes. But for all the firepower on the perimeter, there’s one glaring issue that could undo it all: frontcourt depth.
That vulnerability was on full display-if only for a moment-during Alabama’s 89-75 win over South Carolina on Saturday. Just before halftime, starting center Aiden Sherrell headed to the locker room with trainer Clarke Holter.
The crowd at Coleman Coliseum had just erupted for a late run, but the energy shifted when Sherrell exited. With backup Noah Williamson struggling, as he has for most of the season, and Charles Bediako ineligible and watching from the bench, the Crimson Tide suddenly looked very thin in the paint.
Thankfully for Alabama, Sherrell returned to start the second half and appeared no worse for wear. But that brief scare was a stark reminder of how much this team relies on him-and how little room for error it has in the frontcourt.
The issue has been lurking all season, but it was fully exposed in a 100-77 loss at Florida earlier this month. The Gators, with their deep and physical front line, dominated the boards and controlled the paint.
Alabama had no answer. That game was a wake-up call, and to their credit, the Tide have responded with four straight wins since.
But the concern hasn’t gone away. It’s just been masked by good shooting and favorable matchups.
Sherrell has been steady, even if not spectacular. He anchors the middle and gives Alabama just enough interior presence to keep things balanced.
But behind him, the options are limited. Williamson hasn’t developed into a reliable contributor, and with each passing game, it becomes harder to believe he’ll turn the corner this season.
Keitenn Bristow, a transfer from Tarleton State, has been sidelined with injury and doesn’t appear to be returning. Coach Nate Oats was candid earlier this week, saying that the players available in the win over Ole Miss are likely the ones he’ll have the rest of the way.
Another potential contributor, Collins Onyejiaka, is redshirting due to a heart condition. And Bediako-who was temporarily reinstated via a court order-only managed five games before being ruled ineligible again.
His brief return was supposed to be the answer to Alabama’s frontcourt woes. Instead, it ended up being a glimpse of what could’ve been.
The numbers don’t lie: Alabama’s non-conference losses were heavily influenced by rebounding issues. That’s where freshman forward Amari Allen has stepped up in a big way.
He leads the team with 7.5 rebounds per game and has been a crucial piece in keeping Alabama competitive on the glass. But Allen and Sherrell can’t shoulder the load alone-not over the course of a deep tournament run.
Meanwhile, the backcourt is loaded. Oats has a seemingly endless rotation of guards who can shoot, defend, and push the pace.
On Saturday, even Jalil Bethea got in on the action. The Miami transfer, who’s battled injuries and rarely seen the floor, logged six minutes and showed flashes of the scoring talent that made him a coveted addition.
He’s another weapon in a backcourt that already features plenty.
But come March, when the game slows down and matchups get tougher, Alabama will run into teams that can win at the rim. And that’s where the lack of size and depth inside could become a real problem. Guard play can carry you far, but it’s hard to win in March without some muscle in the middle.
This Alabama team has the tools to make a run. The shooting is legit, the tempo is relentless, and the guards are as deep as any group in the country. But if Sherrell isn’t on the floor-or if the Tide run into a team that can punish them inside-their tournament dreams could be in trouble.
For now, they’re riding momentum and playing some of their best basketball of the season. But the margin for error in the frontcourt is razor-thin. And in March, that’s the kind of thing that can make all the difference.