Alabama opened its 2026-27 regular season Tuesday night with a 96-74 win over Sam Houston, and the final margin told the story of a team that settled in after a rough start and still came close to the century mark.
Nate Oats’ group shook off some early offensive clunkiness and a cold shooting stretch to finish with a strong all-around performance. The depth showed up, too, with both Cole Cloer and Anderson Diaz back on the floor. Alabama went 11 deep, and that rotation is set to get even deeper next week when Aden Holloway returns.
The opener produced plenty of positives, but a few names stood out more than the rest.
London Jemison was the first real jolt for Alabama on offense. The sophomore helped steady things after the Tide opened slowly, hitting his first four shots and going 3-of-3 from deep on the way to 15 points in just 20 minutes.
He looked comfortable and confident, and his offseason work was obvious. Jemison had also been productive during the exhibition schedule, and he’s carried that momentum into his second season in Tuscaloosa.
Tarris Bouie made a loud first impression in regular-season play. The freshman keeps flashing the kind of two-way energy that makes him hard to ignore, and his role looks harder to squeeze away by the day.
Bouie finished with 13 points and a team-high 7 rebounds in 19 minutes, while adding two assists, two steals and a block. He also went 2-of-5 from three, which only adds to the intrigue around his game.
His athleticism jumps off the screen, especially in transition.
Alabama’s frontcourt also gave the Tide a lot to like. Drew Fielder, Brandon Garrison, Jamarion Davis-Fleming and Keitenn Bristow all played well, and together they combined for 37 points, 16 rebounds and 13 stocks.
Garrison led the way in one of the game’s quieter but most important categories, piling up a team-high 10 deflections as Alabama forced 23 turnovers. Fielder added 15 points and 6 rebounds in his regular-season debut.
The group could have done a little more on the glass, but the overall effort was a promising sign for a frontcourt that will matter a lot for this team.
The defensive picture was encouraging, too, and it ties directly to the changes Alabama made this offseason. Brian Adams, who serves as Alabama’s “defensive coordinator,” and Oats overhauled the scheme, shifting away from a mostly drop system and into one that switches nearly everything.
That approach helped shape the roster, with Alabama prioritizing athletic, long bigs like Garrison and Davis-Fleming. Sam Houston did make some shots from outside, finishing 15-of-33 from three, but Alabama still limited the Bearkats to 10-of-32 from two, forced 23 turnovers and blocked 10 shots.
There was one rough outing in the mix. Cole Cloer, who had been one of Alabama’s best performers in the two exhibition games he played, struggled badly in his return after a calf injury kept him out of the final preseason game against Auburn.
He logged 14 minutes and finished 1-of-9 from the field and 0-of-6 from three. Cloer showed real potential against Furman and Ole Miss in exhibition play, but Tuesday night was a reminder that he’ll need time to get back into rhythm.
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Alabamas CFP Spot Just Ignited A Debate Fans Saw Coming
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Still, the reaction was swift and loud across social media, where plenty of fans and analysts pushed back on the Crimson Tides position. For Alabama, the number next to its name is only the starting point, but the debate it triggered is exactly the kind of scrutiny that follows a team with playoff expectations and a rsum strong enough to keep it in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Playoff Case Just Got Backing Fans Will Want To Hear
Alabamas playoff position got a little more context this week, and it came straight from the chair of the College Football Playoff Committee. Hunter Yurachek said the Crimson Tides No. 5 ranking is being driven by quality wins over Kentucky, South Carolina and Mississippi State, even with the loss to Tennessee still part of the discussion.
Yurachek also pointed to the committees reasoning in the broader rankings, noting Alabama was placed ahead of Kentucky because of the head-to-head result, while Indiana and Ohio State were handled differently since they were not compared that way. For Alabama, the timing matters too, with a trip to LSU in Baton Rouge coming Saturday and another chance to strengthen a rsum the committee clearly respects. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Heads To LSU With One Road Problem Still Looming
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For Alabama, though, the bigger question may be how the offense looks away from home. DeBoer is still unbeaten against LSU, and the Tides defense will be trying to keep LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt from settling in after some turnover issues against Alabamas strong front. If Alabama can solve its road issues, this becomes a very different kind of test than the one that has lingered over the Tide away from Tuscaloosa. [Read more 🡒]