The Crimson Tide are coming off a 28-9 season that gave them a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, they
entered 2025-2026 after losing stars Mark Sears, Chris Youngblood, Grant Nelson, Clifford Omoruyi and Mouhamed Dioubate.
Oats entered the 2025-2026 season having lost seven of the 10 players who received double-digit minutes the year before. He retained star guards Aden Holloway and Latrell Wrightsell Jr., but did not add any singular player who could ease the loss of Sears, a first-team All-American.
Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats believes his the Crimson Tide's victory over St. John's should put the country on notice
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