Alabama basketball is set to begin conference play this Saturday, and the SEC is no joke this year. The conference just had one of the best non-conference showings for any league in recent memory, meaning every game will be a challenge.

The Crimson Tide’s first opponent is Oklahoma, who holds a No. 12 ranking in the AP Poll as one of three remaining undefeated teams in the sport. Coincidentally the other two are also SEC teams in Tennessee and Florida.

The Sooners are an interesting case, having outperformed expectations by starting 13-0, but not receiving any love from the metrics. Oklahoma started the season rated No. 40 by KenPom, and has dropped one spot to No. 41 despite 13 straight wins to start the year. The schedule has been underwhelming, with one solid win over Michigan but playing seven teams outside the top-250 in KenPom.

Oklahoma’s non-conference strength of schedule ranks outside the top-300, and the Sooners have yet to play a road game this season. Every game they’ve played has either been in Norman or at a neutral site, which adds an notable wrinkle to this game.

Another interesting note is that head coach Nate Oats is 0-2 in his Alabama career against Oklahoma. Both losses came in Norman in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, once in 2021 and once in 2023.

How to watch, listen and other key information

Opponent: No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners (13-0)

Date: Saturday, Jan. 4
Tipoff time: 5 p.m. CT

Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Venue: Coleman Coliseum
Capacity: 13,474

Television: SEC Network
– Play-by-play: Jon Schriffin
– Analyst: Richard Hendrix

Streaming link: WATCH

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network
– Play-by-play: Chris Stewart
– Analyst: Bryan Passink

Satellite radio: CTSN on Sirius / XM 134 or 201

Varsity Network link: LISTEN

Series record: Oklahoma leads 7-3
Last Meeting: Jan. 28, 2023
– Oklahoma 93, Alabama 69

Point spread: Alabama -10.5

Alabama Statistical Leaders:

– Scoring: Mark Sears (18.0 PPG)
– Rebounding: Grant Nelson (8.6 RPG)
– Assists: Mark Sears (4.0 APG)

Oklahoma Statistical Leaders:

– Scoring: Jeremiah Fears (18.1 PPG)
– Rebounding: Sam Godwin (6.7 RPG)
– Assists: Jeremiah Fears (4.5 APG)

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He was killed in a terrorist attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve. Another former classmate, Parker Vidrine, was also injured in the attack and remains in the ICU.

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Who was Kareem Badawi?

Kareem graduated from Episcopal High School in Baton Rouge, where he was a beloved member of the football team. He formed a close bond with his best friend and teammate, Ethan Ott. The two carried their friendship to college, becoming roommates and pledging Sigma Chi together. Both students excelled academically, earning 4.0 GPAs in their first semester.

Kareem’s former football coach, Travis Bourgeois, fondly remembered him: “Why innocent people have to suffer, especially a guy like Kareem, was well liked, not a hurtful bone in his body. He’s a very kind, gentle guy, well liked you know, people went to Kareem because he’s a positive guy.”

On New Year’s Eve, Kareem joined several 2024 Episcopal graduates in New Orleans to reunite and share stories of their first semester in college. At some point during the night, the group became separated. Around 3:16 a.m., Ethan informed Kareem he was heading to Bourbon Street. Shortly after, Kareem’s life was tragically cut short.

“He thought it’s a big city and New Orleans would have parties … He thought it would be a good idea, and there would be a bigger party than Baton Rouge,” Kareem’s father, Belal Badawi, told the New York Post.

“The next day was the Sugar Bowl and he loves sports so he thought New Orleans was the place to be for New Year’s Eve. The New Year’s Eve is not what he expected or planned for and unfortunately he got killed.”

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Ethan and other friends honoured Kareem by getting tattoos that read “KB 1-1-2025.” Ethan explained, “Now I’ve got Kareem with me forever.”

The Episcopal School community held a closed memorial for Kareem, with the chapel overflowing to twice its capacity.

Alabama safety King Mack is entering the transfer portal, per 247 Sports’ Matt Zenitz.

The sophomore, who transferred to the Crimson in the offseason after one year at Penn State, totaled 14 tackles in 13 games at Alabama this season.

Mack becomes the 19th player to enter the transfer portal, following quarterback Dylan Lonergan, running back Justice Haynes, defensive linemen Jeheim Oatis, Hunter Osborne and Damon Payne Jr., edge rushers Keanu Koht and Jayshawn Ross, linebacker Jeremiah Alexander, cornerbacks Jahlil Hurley and DeVonta Smith, wide receivers Kobe Prentice, Caleb Odom, Kendrick Law, Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Jaren Hamilton and Amari Jefferson and offensive linemen Miles McVay and Naquil Betrand.

Mack is the first Alabama safety to enter the portal and the third defensive back, joining cornerbacks Jahlil Hurley and DeVonta Smith. He is also the third Alabama player to enter the transfer portal on Friday, joining Jayshawn Ross and Jeremiah Alexander.

The former four-star recruit and current 5-foot-10, 206-pounder out of St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was ranked as the No. 93 prospect in the class of 2023, the No. 8 safety and the No. 23 player in the state of Florida at the time of his commitment to Penn State on June 30, 2022.

It’s worth mentioning that Alabama made a couple of coaching staff moves on Friday, including the firing of safeties coach Colin Hitschler––this season’s mentor to Mack. However, it is uncertain at this time why Hitschler was relieved.

Read More: 2025 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Offseason Tracker: Coming and Going