Alabama got the kind of October workout Nate Oats was looking for in Birmingham, even if the final score still tilted in the Crimson Tide’s favor.
In the Ballin in Boutwell event, Alabama beat Ole Miss 92-84 in its second of three exhibition games, and the matchup gave the Crimson Tide a useful look at exactly where they stand a few weeks before the regular season begins. The Rebels pressed the issue in a way Furman couldn’t, and Alabama had to deal with real resistance while playing without three rotation pieces: Aden Holloway was serving the second game of his five-game suspension, while Jaxon Richardson and Anderson Diaz remained out.
That matters because the game exposed some flaws, but it also showed why this roster can still be dangerous.
The most encouraging development was on the defensive end. Most of Ole Miss’ scoring came after Alabama turned it over 20 times, but when the Tide could set their defense in the halfcourt, they made things ugly for the Rebels. Ole Miss shot just 4-of-20 from three, and Alabama’s switching scheme kept the Rebels working for tough looks all night.
That approach stands out because Alabama is built to do it. Without Holloway, the offense gets a little messier since he’s one of the main ball handlers, but the payoff is obvious on defense.
This group can throw out a rotation that’s 6-foot-6 or taller across the board, and the Tide switched every ball screen against Ole Miss. That’s a pretty clear sign of where things are headed after Alabama got burned too often in drop coverage last season.
Cole Cloer might have been the biggest individual winner of the night. The NC State transfer was expected to help, but he’s already looking like much more than a complementary piece.
Cloer scored 18 points against Ole Miss after going 4-of-8 from deep, following a 4-of-10 three-point outing against Furman. The shot is real, but the rest of the package is what jumps off the page.
He can attack off the dribble, create separation, and he showed real passing feel with four assists.
Cole Cloer has been awesome tonight.
10 points and 4 assists at half. pic.twitter.com/oipS46wDFn
- Blake Byler (@blakebyler45) October 16, 2026
At this point, a spot in the starting five does not feel far-fetched at all.
The frontcourt depth also flashed in a major way. Brandon Garrison and Keitenn Bristow carried the interior against Furman, but both had a rougher night against Ole Miss, and Garrison left early with what appeared to be an injury.
Alabama didn’t blink. Drew Fielder stepped in and delivered 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Jamarion Davis-Fleming looked far more settled in his second outing, finishing with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting.
The Tide controlled the boards, 45-28, and the overall size advantage was hard to miss.
That kind of depth is a big reason Alabama looks better equipped up front than it did a year ago. The Tide may not have a player quite as complete as Aiden Sherrell was last season, but the frontcourt as a whole looks upgraded.
Amari Allen kept proving he can carry more of the load too. With Holloway out, the sophomore handled most of the on-ball responsibility, even as Oats mixed in freshmen Qayden Samuels and Tarris Bouie.
Allen was the one steadying things. He finished with a team-high 19 points, plus six rebounds and five assists, and he did it while committing only two turnovers.
When the game tightened late, Allen had the ball in his hands, and he closed it out at the line.
For Alabama, that was the point of the night. The Tide got a real test, learned some things, and survived a game that asked more of them than a routine exhibition ever could. Oats probably won’t mind that it got a little uncomfortable, especially after his technical foul helped make it closer than it should have been.
That’s why you schedule these games in the first place. A lopsided exhibition doesn’t teach much. This one did.
And the next test is coming soon, with Auburn waiting next week.
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