10 things to know before the college basketball season tips off
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Exhibitions are wrapping up for college basketball teams this week and Monday, Nov. 4 officially marks the beginning of the regular season for many teams across the state.
Football may still be king around here but the hype on the hardwood is real. Four men’s teams and two women’s teams made it to the big dance last season and some of that same success, if not more, is expected this year.
So, before things get started, here are 10 things to watch with in-state teams for the upcoming college basketball season.
1. Can Alabama live up to the hype?
The hype around Alabama men’s basketball may be higher than its ever been. The team is coming off its first ever Final Four appearance and a majority of the roster that got them to that point is back for another season.
Here’s just a small list of preseason accolades for the Tide already:
- No. 2 preseason AP and Coaches Poll (highest preseason ranking ever)
- Picked to win SEC
- Mark Sears as preseason All-American + SEC Player of the Year
But the hype goes beyond Sears. The returning core also includes Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Mo Dioubate and Jarin Stevenson. Crimson Tide fans are even more excited thanks for the additions coach Nate Oats has made through recruiting and the transfer portal including:
- Labaron Philon, former Alabama Mr. Basketball
- Derrion Reid, McDonald’s All-American
- Aden Holloway, former Auburn player
- Clifford Omoruyi, former Rutgers player
- Chris Youngblood, former South Florida player
2. Don’t forget about Johni Broome + the Tigers
Mark Sears isn’t the only preseason All-American from our state. Auburn’s Johni Broome joins him on that list of just six players from across the country.
And let’s not forget that it’s the Auburn Tigers who are the reigning SEC Tournament champions. They have been picked to finish second in the conference this season and were ranked #11 in the preseason AP poll.
There will be a lot of familiar faces on the floor at Neville Arena this year. Broome leads a very experienced group that has spent a lot of time together under coach Bruce Pearl including:
- Dylan Cardwell
- Chad Baker-Mazara
- Chris Moore
- Denver Jones
3. Remember the name Jacari Lane
We certainly saw flashes of what Jacari Lane could do when he was playing for Lee High School in Huntsville but after two years at North Alabama, he seems even more poised for a breakout year on an even bigger stage.
After averaging 14.7 points last season, Lane will be leading the Lions who are searching for their first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. UNA was picked to finish third in the preseason Atlantic Sun coaches poll with Lane taking up a spot on the all-conference team alongside teammate Daniel Ortiz.
ESPN’s Myron Medcalf picked Lane to win the conference’s Player of the Year award. Don’t be surprised if Jacari Lane is a name you hear late into March.
4. Bucky Ball redemption
Samford made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over two decades last season but what stuck in the minds of a lot of Bulldogs fan was one play at the end of the season against Kansas.
Now, while some other goals have to be accomplished first, Samford is hoping to get another shot at getting its first ever tournament win.
The Bulldogs have been picked to win the Southern Conference again this season, in large part to the return of Rylan Jones and Collin Holloway—and of course, coach Bucky McMillan.
5. Alabama women ranked for first time since 1999
After making the NCAA tournament in consecutive seasons for the first time in 25 years, the Alabama women’s basketball program is getting some national recognition. Kristy Curry’s team is ranked just inside the top 25, receiving 67 total points in the poll.
Success from the last two seasons has certainly fueled some of the excitement around the Crimson Tide but it’s also about who the team has returning for the upcoming season. Sarah Ashlee Barker was named to the preseason All-SEC team and she’ll once again be joined by Aliyah Nye and Essence Cody.
6. Can Troy pull off the double in the Sun Belt?
There’s only one school in the state that received at least one first-place vote in their respective conference preseason polls for both the men’s and women’s teams.
The Troy women’s basketball team is certainly somewhat of a powerhouse in the Sun Belt conference, winning three conference tournaments and two regular season championships since 2016. The Trojans nearly pulled off an upset in the big dance as a 15 seed in 2021.
Last year, the Trojans made it to the Fab 4 of the Women’s NIT and now they’ve been selected to finish second in the conference.
Meanwhile on the men’s side, Troy got one first-place vote and was ranked third in the Sun Belt preseason poll. Sophomore Myles Rigsby was selected to the preseason first-team all-Sun Belt.
The Trojans have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2017 and have not won a tournament game since making the jump to Division I in 1995.
7. Andy Kennedy chases first tourney win with UAB
In just four seasons with UAB, Andy Kennedy has racked up 101 wins, two NCAA Tournament appearances, an AAC Tournament championship and a run to the NIT final. But one thing continues to evade the Blazers: a win in the big dance.
Yaxel Lendeborg is back and has been tabbed as the preseason American Athletic Conference (AAC) Player of the Year. He’s also a big reason why the Blazers are the favorites to win the conference again this season.
But with the move to a bigger conference, UAB is hoping it will not have to rely too heavily on the conference tournament. A dominant run in conference play during the regular season along with good showings against some quality non-conference opponents could do the trick for the Blazers this season.
8. SWAC men’s title up for grabs
You might not find a more split preseason poll than the SWAC men’s basketball standings, voted on by coaches and other school officials. Grambling State received 10 first-place votes to take the top spot in the poll but seven (7!) others received at least one first-place vote.
Alabama State was among that group of teams. The Hornets were also represented on the all-conference teams with T.J. Madlock named to the first team while CJ Hines and Ubong Okon were named to the second team.
Alabama A&M was picked to finish ninth overall in the conference. Bulldogs players Chad Moodie and Lorenzo Downey were named to the all-conference teams.
9. Alisha Wilson set for breakout year with Alabama A&M
Alabama A&M has never made an appearance in the Division I NCAA Women’s Tournament but the Bulldogs certainly enter the 2024-25 season with plenty of hope. They have been picked to finish third in the conference, receiving four total first-place votes.
A lot of that hype comes from the return of Alisha Wilson. The forward recorded eight double-doubles last season including a 24-rebound performance against Mississippi Valley State.
Wilson, who averaged 9 points and 9.9 rebounds per game last season, has been named the SWAC preseason defensive player of the year.
10. Games to circle on your calendar
With so much good basketball happening around the state this year, you should definitely try to make it to a few games before the postseason arrives. But if you can only attend one, make sure its one off this list.
- Men: Samford at North Alabama | Nov. 15
- Women: UAB at Auburn | Dec. 8
- Men: Creighton at Alabama | Dec. 14 | Tickets
- Women: Marshall at Troy | Jan. 4
- Women: South Carolina at Alabama | Jan. 16
- Men + women doubleheader: Alabama State at Alabama A&M | Jan. 18
- Men: Memphis at UAB | March 2
- Men: Alabama at Auburn | March 8 | 1PM
What are you most looking forward to this college basketball season? Let us know by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn.
