Happy Thursday, everyone. Alabama basketball lost at Vanderbilt last night, but have to be somewhat encouraged that they pushed an undefeated team to the limit on the road despite missing two key pieces
in Aidan Sherrell, who sat out the game, and Labaron Philon who missed the final 16 minutes of action. Fortunately it’s nothing serious for Philon, just cramps, but let’s hope that doesn’t become a major issue going forward.
Fact is that Alabama could have still won that game with a bit better shooting. Nate Oats noted that part of that was not always getting the right shot.
“(Vanderbilt) played really hard,” Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats said. “They contest. They fly around. So yeah there’s a reason they’re as good as they are defensively. And I thought we got a little selfish and didn’t move the ball.”
Alabama finished with nine assists to Vanderbilt’s 11. That also was a season-low for the Crimson Tide, who had 12 assists in the loss to Arizona.
“We had guys that had teammates open on a one more and decided not to move it,” Oats said. “That’s why our assist total was so low tonight. A lot of credit to Vandy, and we’ve got to do a better job of finding the right shots.”
Alabama has pulled one major portal commit on each line, and both will be heavily counted on.
Alabama could be looking to fill both of its defensive line positions ahead of 2026 with Tim Keenan III off to pursue the NFL and James Smith’s entrance into the NCAA transfer portal.
With expected returners like Edric Hill, Isaia Faga and former three-star freshman London Simmons, who played the fourth-most snaps of any interior defensive lineman on the Alabama roster in 2025, Thompkins should slide right into a starting position as the most experienced interior option on the roster.
Strayhorn had visited Alabama on Monday. His announcement came after a day in which Kadyn Proctor announced he will be entering the NFL Draft, furthering UA’s need for reinforcements up front.
Proctor and Brailsford are both off to the next level, while Wilkin Formby entered the transfer portal and Jaeden Roberts, Geno VanDeMark and Kam Dewberry all ran out of eligibility. Reserves Olaus Alinen and Joseph Ionata also decided to enter the portal.
Strayhorn played 14 snaps during the regular season for Michigan, preserving his redshirt. He then played center for the Wolverines in their Citrus Bowl loss to Texas.
The Alabama QB battle will be something to watch now that Ty Simpson has left for the NFL.
Russell finished the year with 143 yards passing and two touchdowns. He played in two games, seeing action against Louisiana-Monroe and Eastern Illinois.
He told reporters in California that he wasn’t going to enter the portal after the conclusion of the year. Instead, he’ll be back with the Crimson Tide, looking to build on what he learned in Year 1.
“I know that I’m 100% locked in,” Russell said. “I’m keyed into every detail that Austin, Ty has given me, Grubb and (Nick) Sheridan has given me. Like I said, there’s nothing but family in the room. They give me all the aspects of quarterbacks. Any type of sequence that I gotta go in, they just give me the opportunity to be better.”
I think everyone is hoping that Keelon looks like the generational talent that he was rated to be out of high school, but Austin Mack flashed when he had his opportunities as well.
The semifinals have a very Saban flavor.
“He was a great mentor,” Cignetti told reporters before the Peach Bowl alongside Lanning. “Very organized, detailed. Had a plan for everything. Managed, led, how to stop complacency, gameday, recruiting. … I mean, he had it all. If you were serious about your career and wanted to be a head coach one day, you took great notes (and) great mental notes.
“I felt like after one year with Coach Saban, I had learned more about how to run a program than I maybe did the previous 27 years as an assistant coach.”
Had it all, just like Bogey and Bacall!
Alabama is hoping that Hollywood Smothers has it all in terms of what is needed to inject some life into a nonexistent run game.
“He could go to the NFL right now,” Greiner said. “So I was kind of blown away that he went to Alabama. Not that Alabama’s not a great fit, but I was blown away. … I think he’d be a top, at least a third-round, fourth-round draft pick because of his skillset.
“He says, ‘I’m just not done yet.’”
It’s the kind of back Alabama needs. The Crimson Tide finished with one of the worst run games in the SEC, averaging 104.13 yards per game and 3.35 yards per touch.
Smothers averaged 5.9 yards per carry and over 102 yards from scrimmage per game for NC State in 2025.
Daniel Hill will hopefully stick as the power back in the room, while Smothers brings the lightning. AK Dear and EJ Crowell should get their chances. Kevin Riley feels like the odd man out of a crowded group.
Last, Nick Saban was asked why Alabama didn’t hire someone from his coaching tree instead of Kalen DeBoer, given the fact that the semis are chock full of them.
“Well, I think if somebody was available, I’m not sure anybody was available (at the time) that they could’ve maybe gotten to come here. And I do think that Kalen DeBoer is a really good coach and doing a good job here,” Saban said. “This is a tough transition, especially in this environment that we live in in college football in terms of players coming and going. I think there were 26 players that got in the portal when I retired, so that’s a lot to overcome for anybody. And it would’ve been a lot to overcome for anybody, even one of the guys that formally coached for me.
“So, I fully support (Alabama AD) Greg Byrne, what he decided to do, and how he’s done it. And I’m hoping they get the ship going in the right direction here,” Saban added. “It’s not bad to get into the Playoffs and finish in the final eight. But it’s not the expectation around here, which is tough to live up to sometimes.”
Pretty simple concept, honestly. Of the four, only Dan Lanning would have been seen as an acceptable hire by most of the fanbase. Kirby Smart wasn’t leaving Georgia, and there are still concerns about Steve Sarkisian’s ability to sustain a top program. Lane Kiffin seemingly wanted the job but Alabama wasn’t interested for whatever reason, but the way he exited Alabama in 2016 probably had something to do with it.
And can you imagine the fan reaction if Pete Golding, or James Madison coach Curt Cignetti, had been the hire?
There are reasons to be concerned about where the program is currently, but let’s see what Kalen DeBoer has in year three. This portal season is going to be critical.
That’s about it for now. Have a great day.
Roll Tide.
