Alabama’s takes its first bad loss on the season at home 92-88 as this loss hurt its chances to get a top four seed in the NCAA tournament and makes Bama just 1-2 in the SEC and 11-5 on the season. Bama is on the struggle bus in SEC play. What the heck?? After a big loss to TN, Texas came in hungry and motivated and put it to Alabama. They were aggressive all night on both ends of the court. Coach of Texas Sean Miller gave it to his players before the game challenging them to step up and play hard and play well or they could find another school. His team responded as he hoped and took it to Alabama. • Final Score: Texas defeated Alabama 92-88 [1]. Stars of the Game LaBaron Philon with 21 and Aden Holloway with 18 Other notables: Amari Allen with 11 pts, 5 rebs, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks Aiden Sherrell with 13 pts, 5 rebs, 1 steal, and 1 block TBB with 11 pts, 10 rebs, and 2 blocks Jemison with 9 pts, 5 rebs, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block MIA’s Keitenn Bristow – what has happened to him, no impact Noah Williamson - little impact with 2 pts, 3 rebs, and 1 block Houston Mallette – no impact with 2 rebs and no pts Jalil Bethea – 3 pts and no other stats in 4 mins Emphasis on guarding Philon hard and not leaving him to help. Also doubling him on drives to the basket to force contested shots, force turnovers, or force the ball out of his hands. Kept a defender at the rim to challenge Holloway and others at the rim. Key Team Stats Bama missed key free throws down the stretch and was 19-27 from the free throw line Although Tx missed 10 FT’s, Tx scored 22 FT’s to Bama’s 19. Tx outrebounded Bama by 10 48-38 Tx scored 36 pts in paint to Bama’s 32 pts. Small things led to the Bama loss. When it mattered most in the last four minutes of the game, Tx got the defensive stops, made enough free throws, and scored in the post. Also, Alabama didn’t run its offense effectively to get good shots from 2 or from 3 when needed. Too many highly contested shots from two and from three that Alabama could not make This loss stings badly and puts Bama in a bad position if they want to be a top four seed in the NCAA tournament. Issue – Costly turnovers by Philon. And Philon has to be better on defense. He seems to be OK, but nothing special on defense at times this year. Not being a shutdown defender. Holloway also was getting beat too much by the man he was guarding. Bama fell behind by 13 pts in the first half before cutting the margin to 1 at half and then by 11 pts in the 2nd half before getting it back to just 1 late in the game. But Bama didn’t have enough to grab the lead and when. Bama cannot keep falling behind in the games and then try to dig themselves out of these holes. Ball movement on offense is not always good. Need to move the ball better and find better shots from both 3 and from 2. Lack of low-post offense threat – None of the Bama post players can easily or efficiently in the low post. It is a problem and probably cannot be fixed this season. And Bama cannot win a natty without low post scoring threat and having an effective low post scorer. Got no production from Mallette, Bethea, or Bristow and little from Williamson although no one expects much from him game to game. Alabama is now 11-5 on the season and 1-2 in the SEC. Bama needs to figure some things out and get back to winning or their seeding in the NCAA will keep sliding. And let’s hope it doesn’t get so bad that they risk not making the tournament. Bama is not playing like a final four or even sweet 16 team if you judge them by the way Bama played against Texas. Up next: Alabama goes on the road to Mississippi State on Tuesday, Jan 13 at 8 pm. Look for Bama to rebound and play better. But this loss is worrisome. Bama must play better if they want to be a sweet 16 team again this year.

Alabama rolls the dice and is fully embracing using the aim to upgrade its roster with proven, productive players and to let 19 or more players walk. And being taken apart by Indiana built through smart portal acquisitions and watching Miami, Oregon, and Ole Miss also use the portal to build teams that are in the final four, Bama has embraced the need to upgrade the roster in key spots through the portal. Will it work? Will Bama make smart additions to the roster? And then can DeBoer and his staff coach up into a cohesive unit on both sides of the ball and on special teams to allow the 2026 team to get back into the playoffs and make a run for a natty? 19 players from Bama have entered the portal and are all likely to leave, and Bama has signed 5 players so far from the portal. The 2025 roster was not good enough and the clear intent is to upgrade the roster with proven, productive and experience college players at key positions such as running back, offensive line, defensive line, and Linebacker. Bama would also take a proven WR such as say Cam Coleman or a high-level defensive back or two. Bama has signed 5 players to date and at least four of them are likely to be starters for 2026. Bama wants to add proven, productive players, not just talented, but unproven players. Incoming Transfers (5) Player Name Position Height / Weight Status From To Caleb Woodson LB 6-3 / 230 Enrolled Virginia Tech Alabama Kaden Strayhorn IOL 6-2 / 308 Enrolled Michigan Alabama Hollywood Smothers RB 5-11 / 195 Enrolled NC State Alabama Devan Thompkins DL 6-5 / 290 Enrolled USC Alabama Josh Ford TE 6-6 / 265 Enrolled Oklahoma State Alabama Outgoing Transfers (19) Player Name Position Height / Weight Status From To Isaiah Horton Arkel Anugwom OT 6-6 / 328 — Alabama — Kelby Collins DL 6-4 / 275 — Alabama — James Smith DL 6-3 / 297 — Alabama — Qua Russaw Edge 6-2 / 243 — Alabama — Cam Calhoun CB 6-0 / 180 — Alabama — Keon Keeley Edge 6-5 / 282 — Alabama — Wilkin Formby OT 6-7 / 324 Committed Alabama Texas A&M Cole Adams WR 5-10 / 183 — Alabama — Micah DeBose OT 6-5 / 319 — Alabama — Peter Notaro K 5-11 / 188 — Alabama — Noah Carter Edge 6-4 / 243 — Alabama — Olaus Alinen OT 6-6 / 322 Committed Alabama Kentucky Jalen Hale WR 6-1 / 197 — Alabama — Joseph Ionata IOL 6-5 / 306 Committed Alabama Georgia Tech Jaylen Mbakwe WR 5-11 / 190 Committed Alabama Georgia Tech Richard Young RB 5-11 / 212 — Alabama — Roq Montgomery IOL 6-3 / 330 — Alabama — Kameron Howard S 5-11 / 195 Committed Alabama Boston College Aeryn Hampton WR 5-10 / 195 — Alabama — Targets – O-line, D-line, and Linebackers • Wide Receiver: Cam Coleman (Auburn) is a primary target to bolster the wide receiver room after losing several players to the portal and NFL draft. • Offensive Line: Alabama is overhauling its offensive line and is targeting multiple players, including Brock Riker (Texas State), Jimothy Lewis (Mississippi State), Jacarrius Peak (NC State), and DJ Chester (LSU). They have already landed Kaden Strayhorn from Michigan. • Defensive Line/EDGE: To compensate for significant losses on the defensive front, the Tide is pursuing Malik Blockton (Auburn), Jordan Ross (Tennessee), and Cody Sigler (Arkansas State). They recently secured a commitment from Devan Thompkins (USC). • Punter: The team has also contacted punter Adam Watford (North Alabama). Alabama has been actively recruiting players and has had several on-campus visits since the transfer portal opened on January 2, 2026. •

Alabama goes on the road in the SEC and loses to Vandy 96 to 90 as Labaron Philon sat out the last 15 mins of the game with some undisclosed injury and Center Aiden Sherrell did not play at all, and Bama could not find a way to win without Philon in the 2nd half and without Sherrell for the whole of the game. What happened? Star of the Game – Amari Allen 25 pts, 11 rebs, and 4 assists to lead the Tide in the loss. Other key performers Holloway - 22 pts, but had 4 TO’s. Philon – 18 pts, but 4 TO’s and sat out the last 15 mins of the game Wrightsell – 13 pts, 4 rebs, 1 assist, and 1 steal Jemison had 11 rebs and 5 pts in a spirited effort MIA’s TBB – had 3 pts and 7 rebs Jalil Bethea – 2 pts, 3 rebs, and 1 assist in 11 mins Houston Mallette – normal solid, but quiet night with 2 rebs Keitenn Bristow – 2 pts and 2 rebs Noah Williamson – reverted back to a no impact performance as his stellar Kentucky performance was a one-off Injuries Philon – out last 15 mins with undisclosed injury Sherrell – did not play Davion Hannah – did not play Bama was led by Amari Allen with 25 pts, 11 rebs, and 4 assists. Aden Holloway had a strong 2nd half and scored 22 pts, but had 4 TO’s. Philon who sat out most of the 2nd half had 18 pts. And Latrell Wrightsell added 13 pts in the losing cause. Alabama hosts Kentucky in its SEC opener on Saturday, January 3rd in Tuscaloosa. Team Stats Bama shot poorly hitting just 37% from the field vs 36% for Vandy 22% from 3 vs 35% for Vandy Bama shot 76% from the FT line vs 70% for Vandy Bama made 29 FT while Vandy made 35 Bama did outrebound Vandy – 49 to 38 which allowed Bama to stay in the game despite poor shooting Bama 13 To’s to 8 for Vandy Issues Injury to Philon Injury to Sherrell – knee - how bad? Davion Hannah still out with injury Could not pull out a win without Philon Holloway unable to make key plays down the stretch to get Bama in the lead No one on Bama could stop Tyler Tanner. He did what ever he wanted to do. And Duke Miles was impressive as well playing 2nd fiddle to Tanner. Alabama is now 11-4 and 1-1 in the SEC on the season. Next up for Bama is Texas at home on Saturday Night, Jan 10. Bama needs to get a bounce back win to stay in the SEC race and avoid a 2-game losing streak