The Extra Point: Reactions to Alabama Basketball's Exhibition Results

With one week until the regular season, is there anything for Alabama basketball fans to worry about?

There are now just seven days to go until the start of a new regular season for the Alabama men's basketball team. On Oct. 29, the team played in a charity exhibition against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C., dropping the game 88-80. A strong second half fueled the home team to a triumph over the defending champions of the SEC.

On Oct. 22, the No. 24 Crimson Tide lost 85-81 in a secret scrimmage against Jamie Dixon and TCU. These results don't show up on the official record for the season, but that's two defeats in two exhibitions. Against the Demon Deacons, Alabama squandered a 19-point lead before eventually falling in the game. Head coach Nate Oats was disappointed in his team's complacency after leading big.

Is there anything for fans of the Crimson Tide to worry about?

For starters, the regular season has yet to officially begin, making these results relatively paltry in scope. One thing that means is that the roster is still working on gelling together. After all, it's still October, not a stretch run at the end of conference play. Even so, the finer points in the games have been promising. Freshman Sam Walters followed his 29 points against the Horned Frogs with another strong showing against Wake Forest. Hofstra transfer Aaron Estrada, another new addition, scored 24 against the Demon Deacons. Alabama was without the services of one of its returners, Mark Sears, who was kept out of the exhibitions owing to injury. 

The Crimson Tide will play Morehead State on Nov. 6 to open the 2023-24 regular season.

Takeaways from Alabama Basketball's Pair of Preseason Scrimmages