# 2020–21 Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team

The 2020–21 Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team represented the University of Alabama in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by second-year head coach Nate Oats. They played their home games at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama as a member of the Southeastern Conference. The Crimson Tide won the regular season Southeastern Conference Championship, marking the team's first championship since 2002. They also won the SEC tournament, their first win in that competition since 1991 and the first time since 1987 that the program won both the regular season and tournament.
The Tide were placed as a No. 2 seed in the East Region for the 2021 NCAA tournament, their highest placement since 2002. They would defeat Iona and Maryland before falling to a surging 11-seed UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen in overtime, 88–78 (that UCLA team made the Final Four). Alabama was ranked No. 5 in the final Coaches' Poll following the season, and Oats was named SEC Coach of the Year as well as being a finalist for National Coach of the Year honors.

## Previous season

The Crimson Tide finished the 2019–20 season 16–15, 8–10 in SEC play to finish in ninth place. They were set to take on Tennessee in the second round of the SEC tournament. However, the remainder of the SEC Tournament was cancelled amid the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
| Javian Davis | 0 | F | 6'9" | 242 | RS Freshman | Canton, MS | Transferred to Mississippi State |
| Kira Lewis Jr. | 2 | G | 6'3" | 165 | Sophomore | Meridianville, AL | Declared for the 2020 NBA draft; selected 13th overall by the New Orleans Pelicans |
| James Bolden | 11 | G | 6'0" | 160 | RS Senior | Covington, KY | Graduated |
| Jaylen Forbes | 12 | G | 6'4" | 186 | Freshman | Florence, MS | Transferred to Tulane |
| Sam Okauru | 34 | G | 6'5" | 200 | Freshman | Raleigh, NC | Walk On; Transferred |
| Raymond Hawkins | 35 | F/C | 6'9" | 240 | Freshman | Oakland, CA | Transferred to Long Beach State |

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| Jordan Bruner | 2 | F | 6'10" | 225 | Senior | Columbia, SC | Graduate transfer from Yale |
| Keon Ellis | 14 | G | 6'6" | 170 | Junior | Eustis, FL | Junior College Transfer from Florida Southwestern State College. |
| Kendall Wall | 30 | F | 6'5" | 192 | Senior | Columbia, SC | Walk On; Graduate transfer from Francis Marion University. |

### 2021 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| JD Davison PG | Letohatchee, Alabama | Calhoun School | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | Oct 3, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 94 ||||||
| Charles Bediako C | Brampton, Ontario | IMG Academy | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | Jun 1, 2021 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 88 ||||||
| Jusaun Holt SG | Tacoma, Washington | St Francis Day School | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Sep 27, 2020 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 82 ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: ||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2021 Alabama Commits". Rivals.com. "ESPN- Alabama Crimson Tide Men's Basketball Recruiting". ESPN.com. "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. ||||||

## Preseason
### SEC media poll

The SEC media poll was released on November 12, 2020.
Media poll :
| Predicted finish | Team |
| 1 | Tennessee |
| 2 | Kentucky |
| 3 | LSU |
| 4 | Florida |
| 5 | Alabama |
| 6 | Arkansas |
| 7 | Auburn |
| 8 | South Carolina |
| 9 | Ole Miss |
| 10 | Missouri |
| 11 | Texas A&M |
| 12 | Mississippi State |
| 13 | Georgia |
| 14 | Vanderbilt |

### Preseason All-SEC teams

The Crimson Tide had one player selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Non-conference regular season |||||||||
| November 25, 2020* 7:00 pm, SECN | | Jacksonville State | W 81–57 | 1–0 | 18 – Tied | 12 – Jones | 3 – Quinerly | Coleman Coliseum (2,025) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| November 30, 2020* 8:30 pm, ESPN2 | | vs. Stanford Maui Invitational Quarterfinals | L 64–82 | 1–1 | 14 – Quinerly | 6 – Petty | 3 – Primo | Harrah's Cherokee Center (0) Asheville, NC |
| December 1, 2020* 8:30 pm, ESPN2 | | vs. UNLV Maui Invitational consolation 2nd round | W 86–74 | 2–1 | 22 – Petty Jr. | 7 – Bruner | 6 – Petty Jr | Harrah's Cherokee Center (0) Asheville, NC |
| December 2, 2020* 6:00 pm, ESPN2 | | vs. Providence Maui Invitational 5th Place Game | W 88–71 | 3–1 | 16 – Petty Jr. | 8 – Jones | 5 – Jones | Harrah's Cherokee Center (0) Asheville, NC |
| December 12, 2020* 7:00 pm, ACCNX | | vs. Clemson Holiday Hoopsgiving | L 56–64 | 3–2 | 17 – Jones | 5 – Reese | 5 – Reese | State Farm Arena (0) Atlanta, GA |
| December 15, 2020* 8:00 pm, SECN | | Furman | W 83–80 | 4–2 | 18 – Jones | 12 – Jones | 5 – Petty Jr. | Coleman Coliseum (2,055) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| December 19, 2020* 1:00 pm, ESPNU | | Western Kentucky | L 71–73 | 4–3 | 16 – Jones | 7 – Petty, Jr. | 3 – Tied | Coleman Coliseum (2,055) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| December 22, 2020* 6:30 pm, SECN+ | | ETSU | W 85–69 | 5–3 | 26 – Shackelford | 8 – Bruner | 9 – Quinerly | Coleman Coliseum (2,055) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| SEC regular season |||||||||
| December 29, 2020 8:00 pm, SECN | | Ole Miss | W 82–64 | 6–3 (1–0) | 24 – Quinerly | 7 – Shackelford | 4 – Shackelford | Coleman Coliseum (2,055) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| January 2, 2021 5:00 pm, ESPN2 | | at No. 7 Tennessee | W 71–63 | 7–3 (2–0) | 19 – Petty Jr. | 8 – Jones | 6 – Quinerly | Thompson–Boling Arena (4,191) Knoxville, TN |
| January 5, 2021 6:00 pm, ESPNU | | Florida | W 86–71 | 8–3 (3–0) | 16 – Tied | 8 – Ellis | 4 – Bruner | Coleman Coliseum (2,055) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| January 9, 2021 11:00 am, ESPN2 | | at Auburn Iron Bowl of Basketball | W 94–90 | 9–3 (4–0) | 22 – Primo | 8 – Tied | 4 – Bruner | Auburn Arena (1,824) Auburn, AL |
| January 12, 2021 8:00 pm, ESPN | | at Kentucky | W 85–65 | 10–3 (5–0) | 23 – Petty Jr. | 6 – Rojas | 6 – Shackelford | Rupp Arena (3,075) Lexington, KY |
| January 16, 2021 2:30 pm, SECN | | Arkansas | W 90–59 | 11–3 (6–0) | 17 – Petty Jr. | 5 – Primo | 4 – Quinerly | Coleman Coliseum (2,055) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| January 19, 2021 8:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 18 | at LSU | W 105–75 | 12–3 (7–0) | 24 – Petty Jr. | 7 – Rojas | 8 – Shackelford | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (2,295) Baton Rouge, LA |
| January 23, 2021 5:00 pm, SECN | No. 18 | Mississippi State | W 81–73 | 13–3 (8–0) | 17 – Jones | 5 – Jones | 7 – Jones | Coleman Coliseum (2,055) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| January 26, 2021 6:00 pm, ESPN | No. 9 | Kentucky | W 70–59 | 14–3 (9–0) | 21 – Shackelford | 9 – Jones | 8 – Jones | Coleman Coliseum (2,055) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| January 30, 2021* 11:00 a.m., ESPN | No. 9 | at No. 24 Oklahoma Big 12/SEC Challenge | L 61–66 | 14–4 | 15 – Reese | 7 – Jones | 5 – Jones | Lloyd Noble Center (2,680) Norman, OK |
| February 3, 2021 6:00 pm, ESPNU | No. 10 | LSU | W 78–60 | 15–4 (10–0) | 19 – Shackelford | 8 – Jones | 5 – Petty Jr. | Coleman Coliseum (2,055) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| February 6, 2021 11:00 am, ESPN | No. 10 | at No. 18 Missouri | L 65–68 | 15–5 (10–1) | 15 – Shackleford | 6 – Tied | 1 – Tied | Mizzou Arena (3,113) Columbia, MO |
| February 9, 2021 5:30 pm, SECN | No. 11 | at South Carolina | W 81–78 | 16–5 (11–1) | 20 – Petty Jr. | 8 – Petty Jr. | 7 – Jones | Colonial Life Arena (3,089) Columbia, SC |
| February 13, 2021 2:30 pm, SECN | No. 11 | Georgia | W 115–82 | 17–5 (12–1) | 21 – Jones | 5 – Tied | 4 – Tied | Coleman Coliseum (2,055) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| February 18, 2021 2:00 pm, SECN | No. 8 | at Texas A&M | Postponed due to inclement weather | Postponed due to inclement weather | Postponed due to inclement weather | Postponed due to inclement weather | Postponed due to inclement weather | Reed Arena College Station, TX |
| February 20, 2021 12:00 pm, SECN | No. 8 | Vanderbilt | W 82–78 | 18–5 (13–1) | 27 – Shackelford | 9 – Ellis | 4 – Jones | Coleman Coliseum (2,055) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| February 24, 2021 8:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 6 | at No. 20 Arkansas | L 66–81 | 18–6 (13–2) | 14 – Bruner | 9 – Gary | 4 – Tied | Bud Walton Arena (4,400) Fayetteville, AR |
| February 27, 2021 5:00 pm, SECN | No. 6 | at Mississippi State | W 64–59 | 19–6 (14–2) | 19 – Quinerly | 14 – Jones | 2 – Tied | Humphrey Coliseum (1,000) Starkville, MS |
| March 2, 2021 6:00 pm, ESPN2 | No. 8 | Auburn Iron Bowl of Basketball | W 70–58 | 20–6 (15–2) | 23 – Shackelford | 9 – Jones | 6 – Jones | Coleman Coliseum (2,055) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| March 6, 2021 1:00 pm, CBS | No. 8 | at Georgia | W 89–79 | 21–6 (16–2) | 18 – Quinerly | 7 – Petty Jr. | 4 – Tied | Stegeman Coliseum (1,638) Athens, GA |
| SEC Tournament |||||||||
| March 12, 2021 11:00 am, ESPN | (1) No. 6 | vs. (9) Mississippi State Quarterfinals | W 85–48 | 22–6 | 14 – Quinerly | 7 – Tied | 7 – Jones | Bridgestone Arena (2,186) Nashville, TN |
| March 13, 2021 12:00 pm, ESPN | (1) No. 6 | vs. (4) Tennessee Semifinals | W 73–68 | 23–6 | 21 – Jones | 13 – Jones | 4 – Jones | Bridgestone Arena (3,164) Nashville, TN |
| March 14, 2021 12:00 pm, ESPN | (1) No. 6 | vs. (3) LSU Championship | W 80–79 | 24–6 | 21 – Shackelford | 11 – Jones | 6 – Jones | Bridgestone Arena (2,586) Nashville, TN |
| NCAA tournament |||||||||
| March 20, 2021 3:00 pm, TBS | (2 E) No. 5 | vs. (15 E) Iona First Round | W 68–55 | 25–6 | 20 – Jones | 7 – Petty Jr. | 3 – Ellis | Hinkle Fieldhouse (1,037) Indianapolis, IN |
| March 22, 2021 7:45 pm, TNT | (2 E) No. 5 | vs. (10 E) Maryland Second Round | W 96–77 | 26–6 | 21 – Shackelford | 7 – Gary | 11 – Quinerly | Bankers Life Fieldhouse (2,226) Indianapolis, IN |
| March 28, 2021 6:15 pm, TBS | (2 E) No. 5 | vs. (11 E) UCLA Sweet Sixteen | L 78–88 $^{OT}$ | 26–7 | 20 – Quinerly | 9 – Tied | 3 – Tied | Hinkle Fieldhouse (1,055) Indianapolis, IN |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time. |||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Final |
| AP | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | RV | RV | 18 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 5 | Not released |
| Coaches | 25 | 25^ | RV | — | — | — | RV | 24т | 16 | 8т | 7 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5т | 5 | 5 | 5 |
*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings ^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll.