Amari Allen Returning

[Bama Lee]

Amari Allen Returning- great news for next season! Did you expect it?

 

[DzynKingRTR]

Good news, I guess.

 

[Bama Lee]

Good news, I guess.

Another ball handler makes next years team much more likely to make the tournament

 

[DzynKingRTR]

Another ball handler makes next years team much more likely to make the tournament

with 76 team now, it is a lot easier

 

[CrimsonTitles]

Another ball handler makes next years team much more likely to make the tournament

J think we could've made the tournament without him. This is looking like another possible Sweet 16 team. If Holloway comes back (I'd be kinda surprised if he isn't back), then that will jump to Final Four. I know people are skeptical of the ball handing, but the way I see it, Coach Oats has had ample opportunity to go grab another. If it were really that big of a deal, we would've at least grabbed someone, regardless of what was left. I don't even think we made much of an effort, so that tells me all I need to know. He has a far better idea of what can work in his system than any of us do. If anyone has earned blind faith, it's Coach Oats. And in this case, I don't really think it's all that blind. I'm very excited.

 

[Bama Lee]

J think we could've made the tournament without him. This is looking like another possible Sweet 16 team. If Holloway comes back (I'd be kinda surprised if he isn't back), then that will jump to Final Four. I know people are skeptical of the ball handing, but the way I see it, Coach Oats has had ample opportunity to go grab another. If it were really that big of a deal, we would've at least grabbed someone, regardless of what was left. I don't even think we made much of an effort, so that tells me all I need to know. He has a far better idea of what can work in his system than any of us do. If anyone has earned blind faith, it's Coach Oats. And in this case, I don't really think it's all that blind. I'm very excited.

This really depends on how well these elite recruits play as freshmen. We will need some quality time and possible starts from all of them

 

[CrimsonTitles]

This really depends on how well these elite recruits play as freshmen. We will need some quality time and possible starts from all of them

That's fair, but they don't have to be stars. They simply have to be good enough to complement our other pieces. That's a reasonable expectation. If they weren't simply good enough to be that, then it would be the first time it's happened in Oats' tenure. Holloway and Allen should be our primary scorers, just like Holloway and Philon last season. Allen is expected to make a Philon-like jump in year 2. I also think Cole Cloer is gonna end up being a huge get out of the portal. He may potentially fill Wrightsell's role as our #3 scorer, so if all this happens, then we shouldn't have to ask anything else from the freshmen, other than to play their role.

 

[BamaMoon]

There's no way this is NOT great news!

AA:

*Consummate team player
*Best 6' 5" rebounder in a while: He has the "want to." He really plays closer to what he was listed last year at 6'7"
*Closest player we have to "positionless"
*Can/will play some point this year: did it a lot last year
*If he follows the Philon growth chart, he'll probably average 15-20 points a game this year (with slightly improved 3 point shooting, this will be pretty easy to reach!)

 

[BamaMoon]

In this new era, it's hard to project, but I like that we've (seemingly) improved a troubled area that plagued last year's team: being weak inside on the boards.

I think 3 things probably need to develop if we make it to another final four next year:

1. One or two to the "bigs" need to mature into solid contributors defensively, rebounding and provide a little offense.

2. Either AA is a revelation at playing point at a higher level than we expect (which I think is possible) OR Anderson Diaz reclassifies, which is more probable. I think AD has legitimate potential to make a big splash if he plays in '26. If so, it'll keep Holloway (I'm assuming he's back at this point) from playing point as much since he's better in the "off point/#2" shooters role. It'll keep AA from having to play point as much, too. But, I think it's possible next year that if we go real small with 5 on the floor we could see Allen, Holloway and Diaz on the floor at the same time occasionally.

3. A legit star emerges from the true freshmen coming in that will give us a big time scoring threat OR if Drew Fielder goes off as a big 6'7" shooter/all around contributer. If both of these happen along with #1 and #3, this could be Bama's best team since the FF year.

 

[Bama Lee]

That's fair, but they don't have to be stars. They simply have to be good enough to complement our other pieces. That's a reasonable expectation. If they weren't simply good enough to be that, then it would be the first time it's happened in Oats' tenure. Holloway and Allen should be our primary scorers, just like Holloway and Philon last season. Allen is expected to make a Philon-like jump in year 2. I also think Cole Cloer is gonna end up being a huge get out of the portal. He may potentially fill Wrightsell's role as our #3 scorer, so if all this happens, then we shouldn't have to ask anything else from the freshmen, other than to play their role.

I am anxiously excited about our entire team for this coming season. There are just a lot of 'what ifs' that need to happen. I think there is talent galore. But that talent needs to gel . Nate Oats is great about scheduling tough games early to test the mettle of our teams. I think we have a chance to be really good.