College basketball officially begins on Nov. 1, and Alabama men's basketball will host Sam Houston for its season opener on Nov. 3. As the season gets underway, the annual SEC Basketball Tipoff took place in Birmingham, Alabama, on October 13-14.
Alabama men's basketball was among the SEC teams on site, with head coach Nate Oats and players Amari Allen, Brandon Garrison, and Drew Fielder speaking with media members to preview the upcoming season and provide an outlook on the 2026 roster.
Alabama comes in at No. 5 in the SEC Preseason Media Poll, a spot the program has frequently occupied over the last five years. While successful in recent years, a focal point for this year's team is improving defense and rebounding. Paired with the nation's top offense, the Crimson Tide can be a national championship contender.
Following the departures of smaller guards Labaron Philon Jr. and Latrell Wrightsell Jr., the team's height distribution became much taller and more unified this season. Oats' decision to bring forwards Garrison and Fielder to the event highlights the team's increased size. Only three players are under 6-foot-6, giving Alabama a dominant interior presence heading into a tough non-conference and SEC schedule.
After falling to the eventual national champion Michigan in the Sweet 16, Oats and his staff went to the portal to add physical frontcourt depth, targeting players who can raise the team's level of physicality.
"Drew is really good... Tough, physical. I think the combination of Drew, Brandon, Jamarion — we've got the size inside to kind of help with the rebounding issues that we had last year." - Nate Oats
Furthermore, Oats and his staff did a pretty good job signing an elite 2026 freshman class; the addition of Qayden Samuels, Jaxon Richardson, Tarris Bouie, Anderson Diaz, and TJ St. Louis gives the Crimson Tide new weapons, and some have already made an immediate impact.
Samuels and Bouie both scored more than 15 points and led the team in rebounds during the Furman game on Oct. 8 and Ole Miss on Oct. 15. Bouie earned the Hard Hat Award against Furman, awarded to the player with the highest total "blue-collar points."
With primary ball handlers Aden Holloway and Diaz sidelined, Allen has stepped in to manage the offense smoothly and run a larger lineup effectively.
"We don't necessarily play with a point guard the way we play. We just play with basketball players on the floor. You know, creators, if you will. Having bigs who can handle and pass lets us flow into our offense much faster." - Nate Oats
Alabama has been able to dominate the glass, out-rebounding both exhibition opponents while scoring more than 90 points in both games. Still, the Tide must sharpen its defensive execution if it wants to succeed in non-conference play.
Alabama looks to continue its momentum against its in-state rival Auburn on Thursday, Oct. 22, in its final exhibition game at Legacy Arena in Birmingham before opening the regular season against the Sam Houston Bearkats.