Alabama basketball season preview 2024-25: Biggest games, key players to watch and predictions 

Alabama steps into the new college basketball season with a chip on its shoulder after making the Final Four in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats assembled a competitive lineup that seeks to rule this year's campaign.

Here's a peek at what's in store for Alabama in the coming season—from the most important games to the players who will step up this year and the team's regular season and tournament predictions.

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Alabama men's basketball 2024-25 season preview

Alabama's biggest games in the 2024-25 season

Alabama is set to have a tough non-conference schedule with Purdue and Braden Smith leading the list of opponents in the 2024-25 season (Image Source: IMAGN)

Alabama is in for a challenging 2024-25 season with the expanded SEC and a treacherous non-conference schedule looming. The Crimson Tide's biggest games will be against three of the four regional top seeds in the 2024 NCAA Tournament— North Carolina (West), Houston (South) and Purdue (Midwest).

Alabama will take on the Boilermakers on November 15 in a battle of last season's Final Four qualifiers. Eleven days later, the Crimson Tide and the Cougars face each other at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas.

After this, they'll open the month of December against North Carolina in the annual SEC/ACC Challenge. This is a rematch of last season's Sweet 16, where Alabama edged the Tar Heels to secure an Elite Eight ticket.

As for the SEC regular season schedule, its home and away series against Auburn and its clash against Florida at home are Alabama's top three biggest games in the conference. The Crimson Tide and the Tigers fought 165 times, with Alabama leading the series 97-68.

Alabama will host Florida at home in the 132nd game between the two teams. The Gators hold the upperhand in the rivalry, 68-63.

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Key Alabama players to watch out for in the 2024–25 season

Mark Sears returns for another season with Alabama and he's expected to lead the Crimson Tide in its quest to capture their first-ever national basketball title. (Image Source: IMAGN)

Alabama parades a formidable roster, with Mark Sears leading the Crimson Tide's attack in the coming season.

After having a breakout season where he averaged 21.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game, Sears contemplated enlisting himself in the NBA draft before ultimately deciding to return for another year with Alabama.

Sears will not be alone in the Crimson Tide's quest. Last year's key contributors, Grant Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell Jr., are back on the roster. Nelson and Wrightsell averaged 11.2 ppg and 8.9 ppg, respectively and provided key baskets this past season.

Alabama also acquired important pieces from the transfer portal in Clifford Omoruyi, Chris Youngblood and Aden Holloway. Omoruyi played for Rutgers in his first four seasons, tallying 10.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 1.8 bpg in 121 games with the Scarlet Knights.

Youngblood has had big numbers in four seasons with Kennesaw State and South Florida, averaging 14.2 ppg in 122 games. Holloway had a one-season stint with Auburn, producing 7.3 ppg, 2.7 apg and 1.5 rpg.

Alabama also picked up three high-caliber freshmen—five-star forward Derrion Reid and four-star recruits Labaron Philon and Naas Cunningham—and is expected to gain valuable exposure as the season progresses.

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Alabama predictions for the 2024-25 season

Nate Oats assembled its strongest team, with sights pointing to the NCAA final and winning the program's first-ever national basketball title. Just like previous seasons, Alabama would encounter bumpy roads in its path but would recover in time to become the hottest team going into the NCAA Tournament.

The Crimson Tide would finish the regular season with a 29-4 record, securing the No. 1 seed in the regionals. Alabama would continue its surge to the national final, where they would beat Duke and halt their title drought. It will also put the state on the basketball map and prove that it is more than just football.