Alabama Last season: 19-15, lost in first round of NIT Nickname: Crimson Tide Coach: Avery Johnson Conference: Southeastern Who’s gone: F Bola Olaniyan (6.4 rpg), G Corban Collins (7.0 ppg), F Jimmie Taylor (5.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg) Who’s back: G
Alabama
Last season: 19-15, lost in first round of NIT
Nickname: Crimson Tide
Coach: Avery Johnson
Conference: Southeastern
Who’s gone: F Bola Olaniyan (6.4 rpg), G Corban Collins (7.0 ppg), F Jimmie Taylor (5.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg)
Who’s back: G Braxton Key. Led Alabama in scoring as a freshman, averaging 12.0 ppg and 5.7 rpg. G Dazon Ingram averaged 10.5 ppg and led team in assists and 3-point percentage; only Tide player to start all 34 games. F Donta Hall provided size and rebounding inside, leading team in blocks and field goal percentage.
Who’s new: G Collin Sexton is a consensus Top 10 recruit, and the freshman is a second-team preseason All-SEC pick. G John Petty is a two-time Alabama Mr. Basketball out of Huntsville. They were the centerpieces of the program’s highest rated recruiting class, rated No. 5 by three major recruiting services. F/C Daniel Giddens sat out last season after transferring from Ohio State.
The Skinny: Appears to have a good shot at making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012 and second since 2006. A big reason for that is the arrival of Sexton and Petty, but there’s a strong returning nucleus, too, led by Key and Ingram. Picked to finish fourth in the SEC, the highest projection under Johnson.
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