Alabama
DeBoer 'not really alarmed' with Tide transfers, fan concern; explains confidence
Alabama football has undergone a culture shock in the last week as the torch passed from Nick Saban to Kalen DeBoer. Multiple coaches and players have flocked to rivals, championship odds have plummeted and fans, no longer at the mountaintop of the sport for the first time in nearly two decades, haven’t had the easiest adjustment.
Speaking on “The Paul Finebaum Show” for the first time since his hire on Jan. 12, DeBoer was asked to ease public concerns about the upheaval going on at the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility.
“I think it’s just the world we live in right now. When you have change and transition, there’s gonna be change with everything that’s around the program. A lot of these programs are going through changes without transition of head coaches. I just look at it, naturally, you expect that this is going to happen to some extent,” DeBoer said. “We’ll get the right people in the program, whether it’s staff, whether it’s players. And this is a place that has got the best facilities, the best resources in the entire country, and we are able to support the great players that come in here with all of that.
“I think that our guys, and I would tell this to fans as well, to be excited about the staff we’re bringing in and what we’re gonna be capable of doing. I’m really not alarmed at all.”
Nine scholarship players have entered the portal since Saban retired on Jan. 10, most notably Caleb Downs and Kadyn Proctor. Two midyear enrollees are reportedly leaving as well, with five-star quarterback Julian Sayin leaving on Thursday. Thirty names overall have signaled an intent to transfer dating back to December. Ryan Williams, a five-star 2024 prospect who decommited last week, is visiting campus this weekend, per social media.
But to DeBoer, the “whirlwind” start in Tuscaloosa hasn’t even been his worst start at a program. That would’ve been when he took over Washington two years ago. Twenty players left the program that offseason, per 247Sports while DeBoer brought in nine fresh faces, including Michael Penix Jr.
“This is a much better situation than even that one was with the number of players leaving. You just stay the course. You roll up your sleeves like I said earlier. There’s such a great group of leaders here in this program that want to uphold the standard of Alabama football and they are sticking together. We want those guys that want to be here. They’re working through all the noise that’s out there. Just couldn’t be more proud of them sticking together, them being intentional in communicating with themselves and trying to keep it tight, keep it together.
DeBoer said he’s “getting close” to compiling his coaching staff. Reports have trickled in through the week as DeBoer searched. Some Alabama coaches have teased they won’t be retained, as Freddie Roach and Robert Gillespie were. The lone hire to confirm his appointment has been South Alabama’s Kane Wommack, who is a friend of DeBoer’s and will be the defensive coordinator.
Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at NAlvarez@al.com.
COOLER: After a weekend with highs well into the 80s, we expect a high in the 68-76 degree range across Alabama today with a good supply of sunshine. Tonight will be clear and cool with lows in the 40s and 50s.
The weather stays unusually quiet for the rest of the week (for late March). We might consider mentioning a small risk of a shower Wednesday, but the weather will be generally rain-free with afternoon highs rising back into the low to mid 80s by Thursday and Friday.
THE WEEKEND: At this point the weekend looks dry and cooler. Highs both days between 66 and 74 degrees; mostly sunny days and fair nights.
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And, the latest global model output suggests the dry pattern continues into the first half of next week. It will be sometime in early April before we experience our next widespread rain/storm event
On Sunday night, one of the NCAA Tournament’s top second round matchups is set to take place from Tampa when the Alabama Crimson Tide and Texas Tech Red Raiders meet with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
The Crimson Tide and Red Raiders both cruised to victories during the first round, with each winning their game by 20 points. Alabama defeated Hofstra on Friday afternoon, while Texas Tech toppled Akron.
Two programs who are familiar with the big stage in March Madness, Alabama and Texas Tech are led by two of the premier coaches in the SEC and Big 12, Nate Oats and Grant McCasland. Alabama and Texas Tech also have some premier talent at the guard position in particular with Labaron Philon and Christian Anderson, making this a must-see matchup in the second round.
Following are live updates from the second round NCAA Tournament showdown between Alabama and Texas Tech.
- Alabama: Labaron Philon, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Amari Allen, London Jemison
What channel is Alabama vs. Texas Tech game on today? Time, TV schedule
- TV Channel: TBS
- Start Time: 9:45 p.m. ET
The Crimson Tide and Red Raiders are set to tipoff at 9:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 22, from inside of Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. A second round NCAA Tournament matchup, the game will be televised live on TBS.
Alabama vs. Texas Tech NCAA Tournament Availability Report
According to NCAA Tournament Availability Report as of Saturday, March 21:
Alabama:
- Aden Holloway, Guard – Out
- Davion Hannah, Guard – Out
- Keitenn Bristow, Forward – Out
- Collins Onyejiaka, Center – Out
Texas Tech:
- JT Toppin, Forward – Out
- LaTrell Hoover, Forward – Out
Alabama vs. Texas Tech predictions, picks, odds
Odds are according to BetMGM as of Saturday, March 21:
- Point Spread: Texas Tech by 1 1/2
- Money Line: Alabama (minus-105), Texas Tech (minus-115)
- Over/Under: 164 1/2
Prediction: Alabama 83, Texas Tech 80 – Expect a complete team effort to win this game for either team, but for the Crimson Tide to eventually come away victorious with a close victory.
Alabama basketball 2025-26 schedule
- Nov. 3: vs. North Dakota (W, 91-62)
- Nov. 8: at St. John’s (W, 103-96)
- Nov. 13: vs. Purdue (L, 87-80)
- Nov. 19: vs. Illinois (W, 90-86)
- Nov. 24: vs. Gonzaga (L, 95-85)
- Nov. 25: vs. UNLV (W, 115-76)
- Nov. 26: vs. Maryland (W, 105-72)
- Dec. 3: vs. Clemson (W, 90-84)
- Dec. 7: vs. UTSA (W, 97-55)
- Dec. 13: vs. Arizona (L, 96-75)
- Dec. 17: vs. South Florida (W, 104-93)
- Dec. 21: vs. Kennesaw State (W, 92-81)
- Dec. 29: vs. Yale (W, 102-78)
- Jan. 3: vs. Kentucky (W, 89-74)
- Jan. 7: at Vanderbilt (L, 96-90)
- Jan. 10: vs. Texas (L, 92-88)
- Jan. 13: at Mississippi State (W, 97-82)
- Jan. 17: at Oklahoma (W, 83-81)
- Jan. 24: vs. Tennessee (L, 79-73)
- Jan. 27: vs. Missouri (W, 90-64)
- Feb. 1: at Florida (L, 100-77)
- Feb. 4: vs. Texas A&M (W, 100-97)
- Feb. 7: at Auburn (W, 96-92)
- Feb. 11: at Ole Miss (W, 93-74)
- Feb. 14: vs. South Carolina (W, 89-75)
- Feb. 18: vs. Arkansas (W, 117-115)
- Feb. 21: at LSU (W, 90-83)
- Feb. 25: vs. Mississippi State (W, 100-75)
- Feb. 28: at Tennessee (W, 71-69)
- March 3: at Georgia (L, 98-88)
- March 7: vs. Auburn (W, 96-84)
- March 13: vs. Ole Miss in SEC Tournament (L, 80-79)
- March: 20: vs. Hofstra in NCAA Tournament first round (W, 90-70)
- March 22: vs. Texas Tech in NCAA Tournament second round
Record: 24-9 overall (13-5 SEC)
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Jessica Timmons scored 21 points and Essence Cody added 19 as Alabama beat Rhode Island 68-55 Saturday in the first round of the women’s NCAA Tournament.
The Crimson Tide (24-10) won a first-round tournament game for the third straight year by shooting 53.2% (25 of 47) and dominating inside, outscoring the Rams (28-5) 42-12 in the paint.
Other than Brooklyn Gray’s 3-pointer on the Rams’ first possession, sixth-seeded Alabama led throughout. The Tide outscored Rhode Island 14-1 over the first 7:26 of the second quarter to build a 30-14 lead.
Defense played a big role in Alabama’s run as 11th-seeded Rhode Island went just 1 for 19 over an 11-minute stretch in the first half. That included missing eight 3-point attempts and committing a pair of shot-clock violations.
“We were just wanting to keep them in front and contest every shot,” Alabama coach Kristy Curry said. “So I thought our kids did a really nice job of staying consistent with the game plan. I thought that gave us a lot of energy when we started to see success with the tendencies and how we wanted to play.”
The Rams closed out the first half on a 9-1 run and cut Alabama’s lead to eight points at the break.
Cody drew her third foul just 72 seconds into the second half, sending the 6-foot-4 junior to the bench for nearly the remainder of the quarter. Rhode Island closed within four points three times in the third before the Crimson Tide used a 12-0 run to pull away.
Rams coach Tammi Reiss said point guard Sophia Vital picking up her third foul midway through the quarter hurt her team’s chances.
“What you’re hoping for is it’s a game in the fourth quarter,” she said. “You’re not playing catch-up.”
Timmons scored eight of her 11 third-quarter points during the run.
Diana Collins pitched in with 16 points, going 7 for 9 from the field, for Alabama
Palmire Mbu and Ines Debroise each scored 11 points for the Rams, who shot 32.8% (19 of 58).
Atypical Tide attack
Alabama entered Saturday averaging 22.7 3-point attempts per game. The Tide put up a season-low 10 on Saturday, but what that created was an opportunity to dominate inside.
“A lot of teams’ game plan is going to be to run us off the line, and if they do, we’re going to score in the paint,” Timmons said.
Alabama converted four of its 3-point attempts, including three by Cody, who made 10 of 30 heading into March Madness.
The three makes were a career high for the junior post player, who said they helped create chances for her teammates to attack the rim.
Rams set new standard
Rhode Island played in its second NCAA Tournament and first in 30 years Saturday, and Reiss hopes the Rams won’t have to wait that long for a third trip.
The seventh-year coach has led the program to four 20-win seasons out of the last five. She said she took inspiration from Danny Hurley, who had re-established the Rams men’s team before guiding UConn to back-to-back national titles.
“I was like, this is going to happen,” she said. “We promised Rhode Island this, and now we achieved it. Now can you sustain it? That’s the question, and that’s the next phase of Rhode Island basketball. … It’s been a process. A lot of ups, a lot of downs, but well worth the journey.”
Up next
Alabama will host Louisville in a second-round game on Monday, with the winner advancing to Fort Worth, Texas.
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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