The Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball program is entering the 2024-25 campaign with the most excitement surrounding the team than their has been possibly in school history and the high ever preseason ranking at No. 2 in the country.

Nate Oats’ group did not disappoint in game one on Monday night with a 56-point drubbing of UNC Asheville in Coleman Coliseum, scoring over 100 points as they did so many times last season. With some of the holes filled and more talent on this year’s team, the hope is that last season’s elite offense will remain as they tighten things up defensively.

While it wasn’t exactly a quality opponent, Monday’s 110-54 victory provided some hope that this could in fact be the case as the team looks as dominant as advertised.

In terms of scoring, Mark Sears led the way as he so often did last season with 20 points on 6 of 8 shooting and making 3 of his 4 three-point attempts. Also having a huge night was transfer center Clifford Omoruyi with 16 points and 8 rebounds, looking exactly like the potential fix to a lack of a true center that last year’s team had.

Auburn transfer Aiden Holloway converted on 2 of his 3 three-point attempts while putting up 11 points while Latrell Wrightsell Jr. had 13 points, Mouhamed Dioubate had 11, and Jarin Stevenson had 10.

Perhaps the biggest pleasant surprise however was the performance of the true freshmen who played major minutes in Derrion Reid and Labaron Philon – who both started – as well as Aiden Sherrell, with Philon starting and scoring 10 points with 9 assists, Reid scoring 9 points with 6 rebounds, and Sherrell scoring 6 points with 9 rebounds.

On the most talented roster on paper the Tide has ever had, the kids are going to be a major factor. The sky is the limit this season, and Monday night was just the start.