Let the arms race begin for Alabama basketball. Coming so close to a return trip to the Final Four might sting for a while, but if the Crimson Tide wants to make it a step further next year, the rebuilding process starts now.
College basketball’s transfer window is already in full swing and will remain open until April 22. And boy does the Tide have some work to do.
Alabama is set to lose four of its starters, as Mark Sears, Chris Youngblood, Grant Nelson and Cliff Omoruyi are all out of eligibility. Labaron Philon might make it 5-for-5 if the talented freshman elects to pursue a professional career in the next few months.
With Nate Oats at the helm, the Tide should be able to rebuild a talented roster through the portal. However, the head coach and his staff have little time to waste when it comes to retooling their arsenal.
Here’s a look at a to-do list for the Tide as it looks to make another deep tournament run next year.
Retain Dioubate and Sherrell
Alabama has already been linked to several high-profile players in the transfer portal. Before the Tide can get excited about possible additions, it has to focus on keeping some of its budding stars.
Alabama will probably look to bring in another big, but Oats will be hard-pressed to find a center better suited for his system than Aiden Sherrell. The 6-foot-10 rising sophomore showed off his emerging 3-point stroke during Saturday’s loss to Duke and should continue to improve down low in his second season.
Meanwhile, there isn’t a player who better embodies Alabama’s blue-collar approach than Mo Dioubate. Not only would the rising junior be a key contributor to next year’s team, but he would also be one of the biggest leaders in the locker room. The latter will be especially important with the departures of Sears, Nelson, Youngblood and Omoruyi.
Bring Adrian Wooley home
One of the biggest names in the portal played his high school ball 15 minutes away from Coleman Coliseum. Paul Bryant High School alumn Adrian Wooley would be a fan favorite if the Tide could bring him home. The Kennesaw State transfer would also be a plug-in starter and a perfect fit for Alabama’s 3-heavy approach.
Wooley earned ...
