🏀 Alabama hoops ranked No. 25 in coaches poll to open 2017-18 season

[By Alex Byington Sports]

TUSCALOOSA — Avery Johnson's third Alabama men's basketball team will open things up this season counted among the nation's Top 25 programs, according to his fellow college coaches.

Decatur Daily—Continue reading...

 

[TerryP]

It was a long night at work so I may be wrong about this... But, am I right in thinking the last time the basketball team was ranked was the same year Tennessee beat Alabama in football?

It was the elite eight year right

 

[alabama mike]

Glad to see CAJ"s hard work paying off. To be ranked in the Top 25 is a nice tribute to where people think the Tide will be this year. The ship has been turned and heading in the right direction.

 

[#80]

I'm so ready to see this team play.

 

[rick4bama]

It was a long night at work so I may be wrong about this... But, am I right in thinking the last time the basketball team was ranked was the same year Tennessee beat Alabama in football?

It was the elite eight year right

Bit your tongue!

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Lawdy..bball...yuck...worse part f winner..but these seats were good

 

[bamachine]

Bit your tongue!

Explain to the class, exactly how did you bite his tongue?

 

[rick4bama]

Explain to the class, exactly how did you bite his tongue?

:doh2:

 

[Alabama17Tide]

Jordan Harper - BamaInsider.com Basketball Correspondent

1. Final thoughts on Alabama landing Butler, how big is it?

HARPER:
Alabama received a huge commitment to kick off the 2018 recruiting cycle by picking up Jared Butler. It's a big one because Alabama expects Collin Sexton to depart for the NBA draft after this season, and they need a replacement. Butler is not a one and done player, so it will be big for the team to have a PG for the next 3-4 years. Now, he is a combo guard so he can play SG as well. His primary position is PG and that's where I project him to play the majority of his career.

2. We are watching Javian Fleming. Talk about him and what is your take, announcement date set?


HARPER:
Javian Fleming is another big-time prospect for Alabama. You may look at his current ranking and think he's not a highly touted prospect, and you're right. However, he plays a premium position at center and is very skilled. At 6'9 230, he has a frame to become a monster down low and still have skills to step outside the paint and score. I've long compared him to a young Jamychal Green in terms of size and raw ability. He has not set an announcement date yet, but it will be before the early signing period I believe. He is down to Alabama and Georgetown. I have long thought he would pick the Tide.

3. Alabama’s first basketball game is less than a month away against Memphis on the 10th of November. Talk about Alabama’s schedule in November.


HARPER:
Hard to believe it's already less than a month until basketball starts, right? November 6th is the exhibition against UAH, but the Nov 10 game against Memphis in Annapolis, Maryland is a huge game. Memphis is a team struggling with turmoil over the offseason and a team Alabama should beat handily. This game will set the tone for the rest of the month where they should really go 7-0. The Barclay's Classic will be a nice test facing 3 teams who all made postseason tournaments, including Minnesota who made the NCAA tournament.

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