Alabama fans waited for months to find out what Nate Oats’ basketball roster was going to look like coming off the Crimson Tide’s first-ever Final Four appearance in school history.

When the transfer portal carousel stopped spinning and NBA Draft decisions all came out, it was pretty much nothing but great news for Alabama.

Bringing back two of their best players in Mark Sears and Grant Nelson along with Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Alabama also brings in a phenomenal recruiting class along, landing one of the top rim protectors in the portal in Cliff Omoruyi after it was an area the team struggled in last season.

The offseason really went as well as Tide fans could possibly hope for, and major media outlets are beginning to take notice of the team Oats is putting together for the 2024-25 season.

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Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sweeney released an article detailing his way-too-early top-25 in college basketball and ranked Alabama as the No. 1 team in the nation as we sit just about six months away from the season.

“Nate Oats has built a burgeoning powerhouse in Tuscaloosa, with a pair of SEC championships and a Final Four to the program’s name in its last four seasons. This season might be the Tide’s best chance yet to cut down the nets,” Sweeney wrote.

Expectations can tend to get out of hand, especially with so much time remaining before the season officially begins.

It seems likely that Oats is about to have the best roster he has ever coached. And Sweeney just might be right — it could be Alabama’s best chance to win a national championship.