I mean this is going to be the most talented roster in ALABAMABASKETBALL history I can’t help but laugh. This is amazing
With Sears back it is probably the best assembled roster in the country. Perfect balance of experience in the system, young talent and transfer fits.
Alabama basketball secured its frontcourt for the 2024-25 season when it received a commitment from Rutgers star center Clifford Omoruyi on Sunday. He picked the Crimson Tide over North Carolina, Kansas State and Georgetown. Omoruyi is a massive pickup who answers the rim protection questions Alabama faced last season. He averaged 10.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game and led the Big Ten in blocks with 93, earning Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors. Now Omoruyi will pair his rim-protection and post skillset with Alabama coach Nate Oats’ high-level scheme. That idea became the selling point for why Omoruyi ultimately committed to the Crimson Tide. “It was the best choice basketball-wise,” Omoruyi said. “I want to play fast-paced basketball in an NBA-style offense and Alabama [has that] for me so that was where I wanted to play. I watched them this past season and saw how they played and I liked it.” Omoruyi’s fit as a plug-and-play big is obvious. But he would have had that role no matter what school he chose. At Alabama, Omoruyi feels Oats can put him on the best to reach his ultimate goal, the NBA. Given Oats’ track record since he took over as head coach, that likely wasn’t a hard sell. Omoruyi witnessed a product of Oats’ center development firsthand, having worked out with Charles Bediako when both players went through the NBA Draft process after the 2022-23 season. Now it’s Omoruyi’s turn to fill the Bediako role, and Oats painted a clear picture of what that will look like for the former Rutgers man next season. “Coach Oats just gives me confidence,” Omoruyi said… “He showed me some stuff [with] my stats, things I need to improve on. How I’m going to get better [was] what he’s saying. He just showed me something similar to that of the NBA. The way they play, their playstyle and stuff like that.” The theme of Alabama feeling like an NBA setup also rang true for Omoruyi during his visit to Tuscaloosa last week. He was impressed by both the Crimson Tide’s next-level facilities and support staff. Alabama assistant coach Preston Murphy was also a major factor in Omoruyi’s recruitment. Aside from his numerous Bat Signals and hints that Alabama would land the Nigeria native, he also made it clear to Omoruyi that he would fit in well in Tuscaloosa. Omoruyi was particularly impressed with Murphy’s competitive nature. He said he researched the coaching staff before his visit and once he met Murphy, he could tell Murphy coaches with the same energy he had during his playing days. On the court, Omoruyi credited the coaching staff at Rutgers for improving footwork and lateral movement on both ends over the last four seasons. As a result, he won’t need a long acclimation period to get used to SEC bigs and sees himself jelling well in an Alabama lineup that can space the floor. That spacing should give Omoruyi better opportunities as a lob threat from the dunker spot and allow him to become an elite pick-and-roll option for the Crimson Tide’s guards. Chasing a championship Alabama’s first Final Four appearance in school history was instrumental in landing one of the best players in the transfer portal. In addition to his NBA goals, Omoruyi wanted to play for a winner. Oats proved he could do just that, taking the Tide to never-before-seen heights last campaign and now has a player with the skill and will to help Alabama make another run. “I just want to play and be in the national spotlight,” Omoruyi said. “[At] Alabama I can showcase that because last year they [went] on a run and this year I want to be on that run too. I want to be able to win the championship. That’s my goal.” With Omoruyi officially in the fold, there’s no reason why Alabama shouldn’t have championship aspirations. Even with the potential of Mark Sears departing for the NBA Draft, Alabama’s other pieces make the Crimson Tide one of the best units in the country heading into next season. Oats loaded up with guard additions in the portal, added the nation’s No. 3 ranked recruiting class and retained Omoruyi’s future partner in the frontcourt, Grant Nelson . Omoruyi said he’s watched Nelson’s game and can see the pair being effective as a frontcourt duo with Nelson able to occupy his more familiar stretch-forward roll, rather than having to play center. Omoruyi should also serve as a leader for Alabama's younger frontcourt members. He was friends with some of Alabama’s Class of 2024 recruits before they committed, while his four years of experience make him a role model for fellow Tide forwards Jarin Stevenson and Aiden Sherrell . With all of the hype surrounding Omoruyi’s recruitment, he felt the love from Crimson Tide fans. Alabama isn’t just getting a natural fit at center but also a hard-working player with a ton of experience to translate to the SEC level. “I can’t wait to get to Tuscaloosa,” Omoruyi said. “I see the love they show me on Twitter, on Instagram. I’ve seen the love that they showed me through all this time so I appreciate them. I can’t wait.”
The UNC thread on Omoruyi that was started TODAY is over 48 pages https://247sports.com/college/north...Contents/omoruyi-to-alabama-231429453/?page=1
Auburn fans on twitter freaking out about Bruce saying that they play fast and shoot a lot of 3s. “WE DO PLAY FAST AND SHOOT ALOT. LOOK AT OUR 2019 OFFENSE!” because yes, your offense from 5 years ago is relevant for recruiting this year. They were 8th in 3PA last year in the SEC.
Excellent. If we could the PSU safety that'd be a solid haul just to get some veteran P5 depth to compete with the kids.
From reading about him he's a slightly above average corner in a below average league. Nothing to get super thrilled about, but good to have around in our current situation (talented babies and nothing else).
Alabama is on the verge of securing its second DB commitment of the week via the transfer portal with former Wake Forest CB DaShawn Jones - Wake Forest Demon Deacons - Cornerback (on3.com) predicted to the Tide. Earlier tonight we dropped a nugget (5) ***BOL portal nugget (plus prediction)... | On3 on Jones who was pursued by LSU and MSU among others. He's not expected to take those visits now. Jones would join former Charlotte S Kameron Howard - Charlotte 49ers - Safety (on3.com) who committed to the Crimson Tide on Tuesday. Jones has two years of eligibility left and Howard has three. -Former Indiana CB Kobee Minor - Indiana Hoosiers - Safety (on3.com)was previously scheduled to begin an official visit to Alabama on Monday but with the expected addition of (DaShawn) Jones those plans ave changed. Alabama is no longer expected bring host Minor for a visit. -King Mack - Penn State Nittany Lions - Safety (on3.com) a top portal target was in Tuscaloosa this weekend for a visit and sources tell BOL it went very well. Per a source near his recruitment Alabama is in good shape here but there are several other schools who are trying to get him to visit. We are monitoring this situation closely but feel Alabama is in a great position after the visit. But there are still some schools trying to get involved. -Another player we are watching closely is former Michigan State interior OL Geno VanDeMark - Michigan State Spartans - Interior Offensive Line (on3.com). VanDeMark entered the transfer portal last week. He has kept things very quiet, but sources have confirmed high interest from both sides. He also was coached by first year Alabama OL coach Chris Kapoilovic. There are others who have been in contact including Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Arkansas, South Carolina, Duke and Arizona State. BOL believes Alabama is also trending in the right direction. We are awaiting news on any future visit details.
Damn and my favorite Canadian liberal Neil is in HUNTSVULL tonight? Everything is turning up for Jules at the moment
51 pages later they’re convinced we paid more and can’t understand why he wouldn’t want to play for UNC. There are some logical fans who point out that Nate has more guys in the NBA than Hubert does by a lot and that Bacot was there for 4+ years and wasn’t developed nor did it appear UNC had any kind of replacement plan for him. He also won’t be drafted. Fun read tbh.
Pearl has been at Auburn (1st year was 2014, 10 seasons) 5 years longer than Oats has been at Bama (1st year was 2019-2020 season, 5 seasons). Outside of the final 4 run, Auburn has never made it out of the 2nd round under Pearl. He has 7 wins in the NCAAT in 9 years (2020 tourney canceled). So he averages 1.28 wins in the tournament per year or not getting to the 2nd round. Auburn has 2 SEC regular season titles and 2 SEC tournament titles. Auburn has had 5 players drafted during Pearl's tenure. Oats first year, 2019-2020 there was no NCAAT. Oats has 8 wins in the NCAAT. He averages 2 wins in the tournament , so averages a sweet 16 per tournament. Oats won the SEC regular season and tourney twice as well. So they have the same number of SEC regular season titles, and same number of SEC tournament titles. Oats has 3 Sweet 16s appearances and Pearl has 1. Oats has had 6 players drafted. I guess the rosters they inhereted are relevant. Maybe Alabama basketball was in better shape when handed to Oats than Auburn was when handed to Pearl? Regardless, from a results standpoint Oats>Pearl
while starting rosters are probably relevant for the first few years theres no explanation for bruce's downfall after the final four
I need to go find the post I made years ago where I said any objective analyst would say Oats>Pearl and they quoted it like 8 million times and mocked me for it. At this point there can be no debate. Oats' results are objectively >Pearl. Thus I was right all along if not arguably premature.