It's hoops season in Alabama

Good morning! It’s another week where we’ll round up all the media day coverage, starting today with the Atlantic 10. Catch all the coach interviews starting at 9 am ET.

Let's get to the weekend’s news.

1. Could Tide roll to another Final Four?

Is Alabama now a basketball school? Does it feel that way in Tuscaloosa?

Because I’m here to say, it’s OK to wrap your arms around Nate Oats’ squad this season.

The Tide already opened the door for fans to pay attention during their impressive 2022-23 campaign (No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament), and to embrace the Tide in their run to the 2024 Final Four. And after the offseason Oats and his squad put together, it’s easy to expect similar results this season.

I’ll let Rob Dauster and Terence Oglesby break down the transfers (and essential returners).

Those two rightfully gushed over the new pieces, such as rim protector Cliff Omoruyi (third in Blk% and tops in the Big Ten last season, perimeter scorer Chris Youngblood (who’s out until conference play) and point guard help in Aden Holloway.

Add the incoming freshmen — wing Derrion Reid, guards Labaron Philon and Naas Cunningham — and it’s a deep, talented crew to support the four key returners in big man Jarin Stevenson, forward Grant Nelson and wing defender Latrell Wrightsell Jr.

And, of course, potential POY candidate Mark Sears.

His stat line last season beggars belief: 21.5 ppg, 43.4% beyond the arc and an ORtg of 129.3. That’s production and efficiency in an offense that prizes players who can score in bunches. When Sears announced he’d return to Alabama for one more season, that was the final piece that cemented the Tide as the SEC favorites and a legit Final Four contender.

"When I was in the draft process, I was keeping up (with the team)," Sears said on Thursday. "I saw the roster that the coaching staff put together and I was like man, this roster can contend for a national championship and I wanted to be a part of it."

Maybe that’s enough for any disgruntled Alabama football fan on a day like today. Or the rest of the season.

2. Highlights from events at Duke, Arizona Michigan St. & more

Among the handful of preseason team events over the weekend, it’s hard to avoid the big topic in college hoops: How did Cooper Flagg fare?

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