Alabama Women’s Basketball: 2022-23 Season Preview

Kristy Curry’s tenth group has an opportunity to be particular.

In early February of final season, although, nobody would have anticipated that to be the case. Following an enormous loss to then-No. 1 South Carolina, the Crimson Tide sat at 11-10 on the season and an abysmal 2-8 within the SEC.

From that time on, a change flipped.

Alabama proceeded to win 4 of its closing six common season video games, then received two video games within the SEC Match — advancing to the quarterfinals — and received three video games on a run to the WNIT quarterfinals. When it was all stated and performed, the Crimson Tide completed the 2021-22 season with 20 wins and plenty of momentum. 

On the heels of this momentum, a number of Alabama gamers determined to return to high school for his or her fifth years of eligibility, together with starters Brittany Davis, Megan Abrams, Hannah Barber, and Jada Rice. All 5 starters from 2021-22 are returning for this upcoming season, which quantities to 95 % of scoring coming again.

On high of the retuning expertise driving a wave of momentum, Curry hit the switch portal as exhausting as any program within the nation. Alabama introduced in 5 new transfers and a top-100 recruit within the 2022 class so as to add to all of the returning expertise. 

There’s a combined response to how good individuals suppose the Crimson Tide will probably be this season. Within the preseason SEC media ballot, Alabama was voted to complete tenth. Within the preseason SEC coaches ballot, nevertheless, the Crimson Tide was picked fourth. A six-slot distinction in preseason projections just isn’t typical, and will signify that Alabama is being underrated by the media.

There are plenty of new faces and doable contributors to speak about, although, so let’s check out the 2022-23 Alabama roster.

Returners

When speaking concerning the returners on the Alabama roster, the primary place you must look is graduate scholar Brittany Davis.

Davis was named All-SEC second group a yr in the past behind her stellar season averaging 17.7 factors and seven.0 rebounds whereas capturing 35 % from past the arc. She made 93 three-pointers a season in the past, ok for the SEC lead. 

Down the stretch Davis was constantly Alabama’s go-to scorer and was capable of do all of it whether or not capturing the lights out or maneuvering her approach into the paint for a troublesome bucket. She’s going to undoubtedly be Alabama’s high possibility once more this season, already being named to the preseason All-SEC first group by the coaches. 

Subsequent to Davis, graduates scholar guard Megan Abrams will probably be of almost equal significance to the Alabama backcourt. Abrams was second behind Davis in scoring averaging 15.2 factors per sport and was one in every of Alabama’s finest presences scoring within the paint, regardless of her 5-foot-9 body. He energy allowed her to impose her will on the drive and end tough pictures on the basket constantly. She’s going to doubtless be one other starter subsequent to Davis barring something unexpected. 

Graduate scholar Hannah Barber and Senior JaMya Mingo-Younger will probably be two of a very powerful members of the Alabama backcourt whether or not they begin or serve in depth roles coming off the bench. Each began a season in the past, with Barber pacing Alabama in three-point proportion at 38 % whereas Mingo-Younger was some of the ferocious defenders in your complete SEC, averaging 2.4 steals per sport. 

Graduate scholar Jada Rice and junior Khyla Wade-Warren rotated beginning at heart for a lot of the season final yr, and each have completely different capabilities that may profit the group in 2022-23. Rice is extra of a bodily large who can go to work down within the put up, whereas Wade-Warren has a really succesful shot from past the arc and might serve extra as a stretch large. 

Junior guard Myra Gordon rounds out the returners. She performed sparingly final season at simply round 10 minutes per sport, however contributed properly with hard-nosed play when she did discover time on the court docket. With the depth of this season’s group, although, she could solely been seen in video games which can be already out of hand until accidents power her into the lineup.

Newcomers

Alabama has six newcomers for the 2022-23 season, 5 of that are switch and 4 of which have been starters at their respective colleges a season in the past. For these counting, that makes 9 gamers on Alabama’s group which have been Division-I starters of their careers.

Probably the greatest by way of final season’s manufacturing was Aaliyah Nye, a 6-foot guard from Illinois who averaged 12.4 factors per sport and shot almost 37 % from three-point vary.

Becoming a member of Nye is one other 6-foot guard in Sarah Ashlee Barker, daughter of former Alabama quarterback Jay Barker. Barker went to Spain Park highschool in Hoover, Ala. however selected to go to Georgia to start her school profession earlier than transferring to Alabama this offseason. 

Barker began each sport for the Bulldogs final season, averaging 7.7 factors and 4 rebounds whereas being one in every of Georgia’s finest defenders all season. 

“We’re so joyful she’s again dwelling,” Curry stated of Barker. “She’s a competitor, she’s powerful, brings a hard-nosed, old-school mentality to the defensive facet of the ball.”

Loyal McQueen is a speedy guard from Georgia Tech who joined the Alabama program in the course of final season however needed to sit out till this yr to be eligible to play. She averaged eight factors a sport and began in 21 video games for the Yellow Jackets as a freshman in 2020-21, however solely performed in three video games final season earlier than transferring to Alabama. 

“[McQueen] brings plenty of vitality, Curry stated. “She offers us a presence on the rim which I really feel like we lacked loads final yr by way of ending.”

Ryan Cobbins of North Dakota State provides yet one more 6-foot guard to the fold for the Crimson Tide. She began each sport for the Bison final season, averaging double figures and almost 5 rebounds. Curry described her as “large and bodily,” that are two qualities any group desires to see out of its guards.

West Virginia switch JeAnna Cunningham offers much-needed depth on the ahead/heart spot for Alabama. She stands at 6-foot-4, tied for the tallest member of the group, and will probably be extra of a developmental prospect relatively than an immediate contributor.

“[JeAnna has] a ton of potential,” Curry stated. “She has solely scratched the floor of what she may very well be.”

The ultimate newcomer is freshman Karly Weathers. Weathers is a 5-foot-11 guard who was names Ms. Basketball within the state of Tennessee as a senior in 2022. She has reportedly had nice practices since coming to Tuscaloosa and is among the finest shooters on the group. 

“Karly has an IQ like no freshman I’ve coached in a very long time,” Curry stated.

Conclusion

This group is deep.

There’s a risk that the rotation may go 9, 10, even 11 gamers deep if obligatory. Davis is an apparent starter, and it could be truthful to imagine Abrams will probably be as nicely, however Curry wouldn’t reveal her plans relating to who will probably be within the mainstay beginning 5. 

“Should you requested me as we speak who my beginning lineup is, it’s attention-grabbing as a result of we have now plenty of completely different lineups primarily based on who our opponent is likely to be,” Curry stated. “We actually like our depth and practices are aggressive.”

In relation to the schedule, there are an entire lot of winnable video games, particularly within the non-conference. Alabama solely performs two high-major groups within the non-conference — Utah and Wake Forest — each within the Pink Flamingo Championships within the Bahamas over Thanksgiving week.

Whereas the opponents aren’t all high-profile, there are nonetheless a number of street video games that might show to be powerful. Earlier than SEC play even begins, Alabama travels to Tulane, South Florida, Mercer and Southern Miss all for true street video games. These video games will present crucial street expertise earlier than taking part in a rigorous 16-game SEC schedule.

The Preseason AP Prime-25 options three ranked groups from the SEC — No. 1 South Carolina, No. 5 Tennessee and No. 16 LSU. Alabama obtained votes within the ballot, however was not ranked.

Alabama has to journey to Tennessee, however will get LSU and South Carolina at dwelling in Coleman Coliseum, which may each be large video games if Alabama performs to its capabilities.

It is already been stated earlier than, however the depth and expertise of this yr’s Alabama group has the potential to be one in every of Curry’s finest. The coaches of the SEC agree by rating the Crimson Tide fourth, and all the potential is there for Curry to make her second NCAA Match look in Tuscaloosa if all the things goes nicely.

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