Alabama basketball fans are primed to expect the Crimson Tide to make another Final Four run. Nate Oats recruited a strong signing class and added quality pieces through the Transfer Portal. There are good reasons for optimism.
Juxtaposed against such optimism is the SEC will again be a gauntlet. Last season, with a Strength of Schedule ranked No. 1 by Ken Pomeroy, KPom ranked Alabama No. 4 offensively, No. 28 defensively, and overall, college basketball's No. 6 team. With a better defensive performance, the Crimson Tide might have gained an NCAA Tournament 1-seed and made it to the Final Four.