Alabama basketball 2023-24 season recap after Final Four loss to UConn

After a fantastic season in 2023, where the Alabama Crimson Tide reached the Sweet 16 behind star performances from Brandon Miller, Noah Clowney and Charles Bediako, many thought the Crimson Tide would take a step back.

With those stars and six others from the 2022-2023 roster gone, as well as three assistant coaches and other members of the staff, Nate Oats had to rebuild. Here’s how he did it:

The Rebuild:

Returners:

Before building an almost brand-new roster, Oats brought in Austin Claunch, Ryan Pannone, and Preston Murphy to fill the assistant coaching gaps left by now-head coaches Bryan Hodgson (Arkansas State), Antoine Pettway (Kennesaw State), and Charlie Henry (Georgia Southern).

With new assistants by his side, Oats had to continue recruiting and evaluating talent from both the high school and Transfer Portal ranks. Oats brought in four high school recruits and four transfers while retaining four players from the previous season.

Nick Pringle, Davin Cosby Jr (redshirted in 2022-2023), Rylan Griffin, and Mark Sears returned to Oats’s Crimson Tide team helping him build back his Blue Collar Basketball mentality. These four players knew what Oats wanted, expected, and demanded out of a team to be as successful as possible on the floor. Just as important, these players knew Oats’s pro-style system of offense and what it took to be as efficient from any place on the court. They were tasked in helping Oats and company bring along the new faces joining the Crimson Tide.

Sears staying, perhaps was the biggest win of the offseason for Oats. In 2023, Sears was second on the team, behind Miller, in scoring averaging 12.5 points per game. The former Ohio transfer also added 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game to his ledger in 2023. It was evident early that without Miller, Sears would be the vocal point of the offense and primary ball handler. Sears showed up everyday ready to take on that task.

Coming off a good freshman season, Griffin was poised for a breakout year in 2024. In 2023, Griffin averaged 5.9 points per game. His ability as a defender and three-point scorer would prove invaluable to Alabama in 2024.

Pringle returned looking for a bigger role in 2024. He played well as a role-player off the bench in 2023 averaging 3.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Now, out of the shadow of Bediako, Pringle got his chance as the main five man for the Crimson Tide either as a starter or off the bench.

Oats had a good core with these three players and Cosby, but he needed more experience than just talent. Oats must have asked himself, why not get both? He did just that with the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Transfer Portal additions:

Out of the new NCAA Transfer Portal, Oats’ biggest addition to his team was the third ranked overall player in the portal, Grant Nelson from North Dakota State University. The North Dakota native played three seasons for his home-state school and in his third season at NDSU, Nelson averaged 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Nelson was an efficient shooter hitting 52.1% of his shots from the field. His addition to the Crimson Tide aided the Alabama front-court in that he could play both the fourth and fifth position on the court thanks to his height and length. Nelson could also make three-point shots, unlike many 6’11 forwards or centers. His versatility, paired with his experience, and shooting ability made it a no-brainer for Oats and staff.

Oats grabbed Hofstra graduate-transfer, guard Aaron Estrada from the portal too. Alabama became Estrada’s fourth different uniform he put on in his five-year college journey. Estrada started his career at Saint Peters before transferring to Oregon. After playing in only nine games and very limited minutes at Oregon, Estrada transferred to Hofstra. At Hofstra, Estrada exploded averaging 19.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game over a two year span. Estrada was a very effective shooter from every spot on the floor shooting an average of 47.8% from the field and 34.9% from three in two seasons. Estrada’s shooting ability, experience, and skillset fit perfectly into Oats’s system.

Oats picked up another guard commitment from Cal State Fullerton transfer Latrell Wrightsell. The three-point shooting assassin averaged 16.3 points per game, shooting 38.3% from behind the arc in his third season with the Titans. Wrightsell’s three-point ability was attractive to Oats and his staff who values those shots more than anything.

The last player Oats picked up out of the portal was reserve West Virginia center, Mohamed Wague. At West Virginia, Wague averaged just 10.7 minutes and 4.1 points per game.

The last four roster spots Oats reserved for high-ceiling talented high schoolers. Young talent is a must for every College Basketball team, and Oats certainly picked high quality players from the high school ranks.

Incoming freshman:

Alabama’s 2023 recruiting class was ranked 17th overall in the country with three four-star players and one three-star. Four-star forward from Pittsboro, North Carolina, Jarin Stevenson was the highest rated recruit of the cycle who committed to the Crimson Tide. Stevenson, who could’ve stayed another year in high school, reclassified and graduated early so he could join the Crimson Tide in 2023-2024. The 6’10, 200-pound forward can score in the paint and behind the arc, a perfect combo for a forward playing in Oats’s system. Stevenson chose Alabama over North Carolina.

Another lethal shooting forward Oats and Alabama picked up a commitment from was Sam Walters. Walters hailed from The Villages, Florida, where the 6’8, 180-pound small forward played at Villages Charter School. Walters was a four-star who chose the Crimson Tide over his home-state Florida Gators.

The final freshman forward acquisition for Oats and company was four-star Mohamed Dioubate. Dioubate, 6’7 and 215 pounds, is from Putnam, Connecticut where he played at Putnam Science Academy. Dioubate is an excellent defender and hard worker that Oats had to have on his roster. Dioubate embodies the Blue Collar Basketball mantra that Oats preaches.

Three-star guard Kris Parker from Quincy, Florida was the final commitment for the Crimson Tide 2023 freshman class. Parker was redshirted in 2023-2024 by Alabama.

Alabama lost a lot of talent and coaching from the 2022-2023 team but replaced it with quality players that fit Oats’s scheme. Alabama was picked to finish 5th in the SEC by the media at the SEC Media days before the season started. Oats was happy the media picked them fifth because the year before, they were also picked fifth in the preseason, but went on to win both the SEC Regular Season and Tournament Championships.

The Process:

Non-Conference play (November-December):

In the first two months of the season, Alabama played a mix of quality and non-quality opponents. Headlined by their three road/neutral site ranked matchups against AP Top-10 opponents, The Crimson Tide faced Purdue in Toronto, Canada, Creighton on the road in Omaha, Nebraska, and Arizona in Phoenix. Even tougher, Alabama played these games right behind one another.

Winning just one of these games was a tough ask of a team who just started playing together, much less winning two or even all three. Unfortunately, Alabama went 0-3 in these matchups, but Oats believed this early gauntlet prepared his team for March.

Oats certainly wanted his Crimson Tide team tested before entering SEC play in January. On top of these three opponents, Alabama played in the Emerald Coast Classic going 1-1, beating Oregon but losing to Ohio State. The Crimson Tide also lost to Clemson at home in the SEC/ACC Challenge right after the tournament.

Alabama hosted six more games in Tuscaloosa while taking a trip down the road to Birmingham for a neutral site matchup against Liberty before beginning SEC play. In Tuscaloosa, Alabama beat Morehead State, Indiana State, South Alabama, Mercer, Arkansas State, and Eastern Kentucky. In Birmingham, Alabama emerged victorious over Liberty in the C.M. Newton Classic.

In total, Alabama went 8-5 to start the season winning 6-7 home games, 2-5 neutral site games, and 0-1 true road games. It was an underwhelming start for the Crimson Tide, as they were bounced from the AP Top-25 rankings and left for dead by many. By February, many who had left Alabama to the rats, had jumped back on the hype train as Oats had his Crimson Tide began rolling SEC opponents.

SEC/Conference play (January-March):

Alabama opened up SEC play on fire, winning four games in a row including a home victory over South Carolina, 74-47. The Crimson Tide took care of business on the road against Vanderbilt and Mississippi State as well as beating Missouri at home during this four game stretch.

Although these were SEC matchups, the Crimson Tide’s first test in SEC play came against the fourth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville. Two of the SEC’s best players in Sears and Tennessee star Dalton Knecht went head-to-head for the first time. The Volunteers dominated both halves beating Alabama 91-71. Knecht scored 25 points while Sears scored 22, but Sears didn’t have much help. Every other Crimson Tide player was held to single-digit point totals by Tennessee. Their defense, frontcourt size, and Knecht’s ability lifted Tennessee to a huge win. It was a big loss for the Crimson Tide but they had to regroup quickly for their next showdown.

Eighth-ranked Auburn came into Tuscaloosa next. Alabama rallied off the Tennessee loss outscoring the Tigers by 14 points in the first half. Johni Broome and his Auburn Tigers battled back outscoring the Crimson Tide by 10 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough. Alabama got the 79-75 victory behind another 22 point game from Sears despite Broome scoring 25. Nelson, Wrightsell, and Griffin all aided Sears against the Tigers unlike the game against the Volunteers scoring double-digit points. The Crimson Tide had its first ranked victory of the season thrusting the team back into the spotlight and another winning streak.

Alabama would go on to win their next three matchups despite a scare on the road against Georgia. After Auburn, Alabama beat LSU at home by 21, but then took a midweek road trip to Athens. Against the Bulldogs, The Crimson Tide’s gauntlet of an offense was stifled in the first half scoring only 27 points. At halftime, Georgia led Alabama by 14 points. The Crimson Tide rallied in the locker room and into the second half outscoring the Bulldogs by 23 in the second half giving way to a 85-76 win. Alabama remained on the road taking on another set of Bulldogs in Mississippi State for the second time. The Crimson Tide replicated their gameplan from the first go-around against Mississippi State again the second time winning 99-67. It was crucial that Alabama win these three games, especially before their second date with Auburn, this time, in Neville Arena.

Auburn sought and got revenge beating up on Alabama, 99-81. To no one’s shock, Sears went off again scoring 25 points, but as a team, the Crimson Tide couldn’t get anything going. Auburn not only outplayed Alabama, but they were also much more physical, dominated the Crimson Tide on the glass and in the turnover column. Alabama turned the ball over 15 times to the Tigers five, and was out-rebounded by seven. Turnovers had been an issue all season for the Crimson Tide, but the problem hit new heights after this game. Alabama had to turn it around and go on another win streak to make up the lost ground in the conference standings.

The Crimson Tide answered that call winning their next three matchups. Alabama beat LSU for the second time, this time on the road, 109-92. Then, the Crimson Tide got two huge wins, one over Texas A&M, 100-75, and Florida, 98-93. Before and in these games, Wrightsell got hot playing fabulously for Alabama especially from behind the arc. Against Texas A&M, Wrightsell sustained a concussion that would knock him out of the lineup and off the floor for four games. Over the next four games without Wrightsell, Alabama went 2-2. His play sidelined and on the bench definitely slowed down the Alabama offense.

After the Florida win, Alabama was handled on the road by Kentucky, 117-95. Despite scoring almost 100 points, Alabama’s defense was nowhere to be found. With the loss, Alabama began losing their grip on the SEC Regular Season Title as the Wildcats and Volunteers closed in.

The Crimson Tide would rebound beating Ole Miss on the road, before receiving the attention of the entire nation ahead of round two against Tennessee. This time, Alabama hosted the Volunteers prompting a visit from College Gameday to Coleman Coliseum for the first time ever. Tennessee halted the Alabama parade taking full control over the SEC Regular Season race by winning 81-74. Tennessee would go on to beat South Carolina and Kentucky and win the SEC Regular Season Title.

Meanwhile Alabama had another tough road game, this time at Florida. The first time, Florida faced off against the Crimson Tide, Alabama came from behind to beat Florida in overtime at home. This time, Florida gained control early and didn’t relinquish it beating Alabama 105-87. This was the first losing streak the Crimson Tide had been on since losing to Arizona in mid-December.

Although the Crimson Tide didn’t finish the regular season as the SEC Regular Season Champions, they did win their last regular season game in a thrilling overtime win against Arkansas. After trailing a majority of the game, Alabama came back and tied the game on a Wrightsell three less than 30 seconds before the end of regulation. Alabama would go on to win 92-88 in overtime.

Alabama finished the regular season with a 21-10 overall record and a 13-5 SEC record. The Crimson Tide became the third overall seed in the SEC Tournament hosted at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. There they would take on the 6th seed, Florida Gators for the third time of the season.

SEC Tournament (March)

In the rubber match between Alabama and Florida in the SEC Tournament, Alabama started hot scoring eight points in a row and holding the Gators scoreless. Florida head coach Todd Golden called timeout igniting his team and leading to a eventual comeback. Alabama led the first 15 minutes of the game but Florida took the lead and never let go. Florida advanced sending Alabama packing in their first game of the tournament, 102-88.

It wasn’t the result many expected but Florida went on to the SEC Tournament Championship Game losing to Auburn. Even the SEC Regular Season Champions, Tennessee were knocked out in their first game of the tournament. Alabama regrouped earning a four seed in the West Bracket of the NCAA Tournament despite the disappointment in Nashville.

Round of 64 (Spokane, Washington):

After a lackluster performance in the SEC Tournament, many doubted the Crimson Tide’s ability to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. In a bracket housing North Carolina, Arizona, Baylor, St. Mary’s and more, many didn’t give the Crimson Tide a chance to emerge victorious in their bracket.

Alabama’s first matchup was against the champions of the Coastal Athletic Association, the College of Charleston. Alabama just needed a spark to catch on fire, and they lit up early.

The Crimson Tide dominated in all facets of the game beating the Cougars 109-96. Despite winning by 13, the Crimson Tide were leading by 30 with less than seven minutes left in the game. It was a dominating win in which Sears continued his consistent scoring ending the game with a whopping 30 points. In his third game back from injury, Wrightsell was lights out scoring 17 points while shooting 5-6 (83%) from three. Estrada also played well scoring 13 points in the win. Alabama shot 60% from the field and 56.5% from three on there way to a first-round victory.

Even though they didn’t play the strongest opponent, everyone in the path of Alabama’s eyes were wide open at that shooting performance. If Alabama shot that efficiently every game, they could beat anyone. It was the best game of the season offensively for the Crimson Tide, but they also defended well for the first time maybe all season. Even more so than the offense, this had potential opposing teams coaches worried.

Alabama’s next time out the offense wasn’t near as sharp, but the defense was sharper.

Round of 32 (Spokane, Washington):

In a surprise to many, 12-seed Grand Canyon upset five-seed St. Mary’s in the Round of 64 to set up a matchup against the Crimson Tide. With a roster full of talented former high-major transfers, the Antelopes looked like a team who could pull off back-to-back upsets in March Madness.

When looking at the post-game stat sheet and disregarding the score, you may think Grand Canyon pulled off the upset. Especially when Antelope guard Tyon Grant-Foster scored 29 points and the Crimson Tide’s shooting efforts were held to 36.9% from the field and 25.8% from three.

If Alabama played offense like they did against Grand Canyon in the regular season, they would’ve probably been blown out. However, Alabama’s defense that fans and Oats had pleaded for all year showed up in style.

Although the Crimson Tide struggled offensively, the Antelopes were worse shooting 32.1% from the field and 10% from behind the arc. Only one player, Foster-Grant, scored double-digits while every other Antelope was held to low numbers.

Alabama beat Grand Canyon, 72-61 behind that great defense, another impressive performance from Mark Sears, and Dioubate’s late heroics off the bench.

Sears showcased his outstanding offensive abilities and toughness on another national stage putting together a double-double performance. Sears scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Dioubate was subbed in the game late because of his defensive abilities, but it was his offense that the Crimson Tide needed to edge out the Antelopes. Dioubate scored eight straight points leading to an Alabama victory and their second straight Sweet 16 appearance.

It was the third time in five seasons Oats led his team to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide, under Oats, hadn’t gotten passed the Sweet 16 in their two earlier trips, and the road to the Elite 8 this year looked even tougher as the Crimson Tide had to face the one-seed in the West Bracket, North Carolina. Again, the Crimson Tide were doubted, and again, the doubters were proved wrong.

Sweet 16 (Los Angeles, California):

Many Crimson Tide Hoops fans will remember the 2024 Sweet 16 matchup as Alabama beating North Carolina, 89-87, but they’ll also associate the game with the legendary performance of Nelson.

Nelson struggled in the first two games of the NCAA Tournament scoring only six points, grabbing two rebounds, and blocking two shots.

He exploded against the Tar Heels putting up a double-double on 24 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks. Nelson was 6-9 (66.7%) from the field, 2-2 (100%) from three, and 10-13 (76.9%) from the free throw line. Nelson blocked the potential full-court game winning shot to send the Crimson Tide to the Elite Eight.

Without the game of Nelson’s life, Alabama wouldn’t have advanced to the second Elite 8 in program history, nor had an opportunity to do something the program had never done before, reach the Final Four.

Alabama’s bench players didn’t provide much scoring help in the game as the entire unit scored only seven points, but the Alabama starters were impressive. The Crimson Tide were also missing Wrightsell due to a re-aggravated concussion, so Pringle started in his place. Nelson, Sears, Griffin and Estrada all scored double-digit points in the biggest game of the year. Without any one of these performances, the Crimson Tide would’ve been bounced by the Tar Heels, but everything came together at the perfect time.

Now, Alabama advanced to their first Elite Eight in 20 years, with a Final Four berth on the line.

Elite Eight (Los Angeles, California):

The Crimson Tide would take on the six-seed Clemson Tigers after they upset both the three-seed Baylor, and the two-seed Arizona. Clemson beat Alabama earlier in the season, but it’s hard to beat the same team twice, especially one that’s playing their best basketball in the second matchup. Clemson was hot, but so was Alabama; someone had to be sent home, but who would it be?

Oats had never coached in an Elite Eight game and Alabama hadn’t been to one in two decades, but the Crimson Tide were ready. Playing yet another game without Wrightsell presented several offensive challenges, but the Crimson Tide had already played five games without him. Without Wrightsell’s three-point ability on the floor, other players had to step up and make big time shots in big moments for Alabama.

In the two previous games, Alabama had someone step up leading to a win; Dioubate against Grand Canyon and Nelson against North Carolina. This time, the Crimson Tide had not one, but two epic performances from two unlikely players leading to program history.

Against North Carolina, Alabama’s bench was horrendous, but Stevenson stepped up off the bench delivering the best performance of his young career against the Tigers. The freshman scored 19 points, grabbed three rebounds, and blocked two shots against Clemson.

Nick Pringle who had scored 13 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in the first three tournament games, also went off with a double-double performance. Pringle scored 16 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and assisted three scorers.

The play of Stevenson and Pringle exceeded the star filled frontcourt of Clemson’s leading to an 89-82 Crimson Tide victory, as they won the West Bracket of the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the final four. Oh and Sears led the Crimson Tide in scoring again with 23 points.

This was the first Final Four appearance in Alabama Men’s Basketball history. Even after losing a ton of talent from the previous season, maybe more than what was on this year’s Crimson Tide squad, Oats’s team defied the odds and reset the Alabama record books.

Alabama was set to take on the champions of the East Bracket, the defending National Champion UConn Huskies. Alabama were heavy underdogs but could they pull another upset and beat two one-seed opponents in the NCAA Tournament?

Final Four (Phoenix, Arizona):

Before playing Alabama, UConn had dominated their competition. In the regular season, the Huskies lost only three games to Kansas, Seton Hall, and Creighton by an average of 12.6 points.

In the first four rounds of the NCAA Tournament, UConn, who won the Big East Conference Championship, beat Stetson, Northwestern, San Diego State, and Illinois all by an average of 30.3 points. The Huskies trounced everyone they played right out of the gate.

It was a tall task for the Crimson Tide, but one they weren’t backing down of. Many celebrated their Final Four appearance, as they should, but Oats and his team wanted more. They wanted a shot at the mountaintop and to get there, they had to knock off the Huskies.

In the first half, The Crimson Tide traded punches with the Huskies and were very efficient from the floor. Alabama was 7-10 (70%) from three, but they weren’t putting up enough deep shots thanks to UConn’s excellent perimeter defense. UConn was 4-14 from three yet led by four at halftime.

UConn’s second half shooting was a different story. They ended the game shooting 50% from the field and 40% from three overall. The Crimson Tide struggled in the second half ending the game shooting 44.8% from the field and 47.8% from three. The Crimson Tide didn’t have enough gas in the tank to upset the defending National Champions.

UConn beat Alabama 86-72 as the Crimson Tide’s magical March run came to a close. Sears was fantastic again in what could be his final College Basketball game ever, scoring 24 points. Nelson could also opt to play professional ball next season scoring 19 points against the Huskies. Estrada went out with his head held high scoring 13 points in his last collegiate game.

The Huskies would go on to beat Purdue in the National Championship game, 75-60 to win back-to-back National Championships. They’re the first team since 2007 Florida to win a National Championship two years in a row in Men’s College Basketball.

The Final Buzzer

After John Calipari moved on from Kentucky, many believed Oats would be in the mix for his old gig. Oats shot down those rumors Tuesday with a statement.

“Bama nation, I’m fully committed to this team and this University,” Oats said. “We have already accomplished some great things here, and there is nothing I want more than for The University of Alabama to win its first national championship in men’s basketball. Despite any rumors to the contrary, rest assured that I will continue that pursuit as your head coach. Roll Tide!”

Although the Crimson Tide lost, they re-wrote the history books at Alabama this season, but Oats plans on breaking his own records very soon.

As the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months, Alabama’s 2024-2025 team will become clearer. Players from this years team can opt to return to the Crimson Tide, turn professional, or even enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. Alabama already has three recruits signed and ready to join next year’s team as well as a commitment from the transfer portal so roster movement is expected.

Alabama freshman guard, who was redshirted in 2023-2024, Kris Parker has already entered the transfer portal. Expect more departures in the coming weeks.

Rest assured, Oats and his squad will be back, primed and ready to make another run next season.