How to Watch: Alabama Basketball at the Players Era Festival

Everything you need to know, including TV and radio information, about the Crimson Tide's multiple matchups in this inaugural NIL event.
Dec 10, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears (1) controls the ball as Houston Cougars guard Jamal Shead (1) defends during the first half at Fertitta Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Dec 10, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears (1) controls the ball as Houston Cougars guard Jamal Shead (1) defends during the first half at Fertitta Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
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On June 12, it was announced that the Alabama men's basketball team would be competing in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas during Thanksgiving week this coming basketball season. The Players Era Festival is the first-ever NIL-based multi-team event for college basketball.

No. 8 Alabama joins No. 7 Houston, No. 24 Rutgers, Notre Dame, San Diego State, No. 14 Creighton, Oregon and No. 23 Texas A&M as the schools participating in the inaugural event. Each team will play two games and the head-to-head record, point differential, points scored and points allowed will all be factored in creating the seeding for a seventh place, fifth place, third place and of course championship game.

Total NIL Activities and Compensation:

  • Champion: $1.5M
  • Second Place: $1.25M
  • Third Place: $1.15M
  • Fourth Place: $1.1M

The Crimson Tide's two initial games will be against Houston on Nov. 26 and then Rutgers on Nov. 27.

How to Watch: Alabama vs. Houston and Rutgers at the Players Era Festival

Who: No. 8 Alabama (4-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. No. 7 Houston (2-1, 0-0 Big 12)

Who: No. 8 Alabama (3-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. No. 24 Rutgers (4-0, 0-0 Big Ten)

When vs. Houston: Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. CT.

When vs. Rutgers: Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 10 p.m. CT

Where (Both Games): MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nev.

Radio (Both Games): Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Color: Bryan Passink). The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.

TV (Both Games): TBS

Series vs. Houston: Tied 3-3 with the first matchup occurring on Dec. 28, 1956

Series vs. Rutgers: 0-0

Last meeting with Houston: The Crimson Tide outlasted Houston with a 71-65 victory. Future No. 2 overall NBA Draft pick Brandon Miller went 0-of-8 from the field, but future No. 21 overall pick Brandon Clowney saved the day with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting while also recording team-highs in rebounds (11) and blocks (2).

Last meeting with Rutgers: Never

Last time out, Alabama: Following its first loss of the season on the road against then-No. 13 Purdue, the Crimson Tide brushed it off against No. 25 Illinois on Wednesday night by defeating the Fighting Illini 100-87. Preseason All-American point guard Mark Sears didn't score a single point but the renowned Alabama depth more than made up for it as forward Grant Nelson tallied 23 points and guards Labaron Philon, Aden Holloway and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. each put up 16-plus points.

Last time out, Houston: Like Alabama, the Cougars also stormed back from its first loss of the season with a dominant 91-45 win over Louisiana. Terrance Arceneaux (14 points), Milos Uzan (13), Mercy Miller (12), Emanuel Sharp (11) and J'Wan Roberts (11) each putting up double figures. Sharp and Miller each logged four steals boosting the team total to 17.

Last time out, Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights extended their undefeated start to the season with a 74-63 win over Merrimack. Rutgers' top-tier freshmen duo of Ace Bailey (23 points) and Dylan Harper (14) combined for nearly half of the team's points. They also led in the rebounding category as Bailey grabbed 10 while Harper had eight and Harper's six assists were also a Rutgers-best.


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Hunter De Siver
HUNTER DE SIVER

Hunter De Siver is a graduate from the University of Alabama, earning a degree in sports media. During his time in Tuscaloosa, Hunter distributed articles covering Alabama football, basketball, and baseball for WVUA 23 TV and discussed these topics on Tide 100.9 FM. Hunter also generated articles highlighting Crimson Tide products in the NFL and NBA for BamaCentral. Since graduation, he's been contributing a plethora of NFL and NBA stories for FanNation and is a staff writer at MizzouCentral, Cowbell Corner and is back at BamaCentral.