Alabama men’s basketball doesn’t need or want Mark Sears to fill the role he did in 2023-24.

Sears doesn’t need to be the player averaging 21.5 points and 33.6 minutes per game for this version of the Crimson Tide to succeed at a high level. And frankly, it’s going to be a challenge for him to do that again, as it already has been. Teams are too aware of him.

“First thing is, he’s got to understand it’s going to be a lot different than any other college year for him because he’s preseason player of the year, people are going to design their defense to stop him,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said. “He may play a game where he has an unbelievably great game and only scores five points but he moves the ball around and attracts so much attention that it makes it easier for his teammates.”

Sears’ role on this new roster has moved to center stage after he scored no points and didn’t play as much in a win over Illinois last week. He played 13 minutes in the first half then eight minutes in the second. Sears finished 0-for-5 and 0-for-4 from deep. Yet No. 8 Alabama won 100-87 at Legacy Arena in the CM Newton Classic.

Alabama got strong play from its other guards: Labaron Philon, Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Aden Holloway. Philon scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds and tallied nine assists. Wrightsell Jr. also scored 16 but had two rebounds and four assists. Then Holloway scored 18 and made 3 of 4 from deep.

Alabama didn’t have that much talent or depth in its backcourt a season ago. Especially when Wrightsell missed time with injuries. So Sears had to be the guy almost all the time and play a bunch of minutes for the Crimson Tide to play at a high level.

Now he doesn’t have to do as much, even though he’s capable.

“I think one, he’s got to quit pressing,” Oats said. “He’s not going to average as many points this year as he did last year. We knew that coming in. People are going to focus on him. We’ve got more talent around him. It just is what it is. He’s got to do it takes to help us win games.”

Sometimes, Oats said, that will be moving the ball and getting assists. Other games, he will be a decoy, attracting attention away so others can get open looks. And then there will be nights where teams let Sears score a bunch and prevent others from having an impact.

“He’s just got to get comfortable with the new role and get comfortable with doing whatever it takes to win and understanding that there’s going to be games he’s just not going to score that many,” Oats said. “We’ve got to do a decent job screening for him to get him open. Give him enough space to get downhill. Keep him playing aggressive without being overly aggressive to where he’s trying to score on multiple opponents. He’s got to stay aggressive and make the right reads when they bring multiple defenders to him.”

Next up, No. 9 Alabama (4-1) will play in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, starting with a game against No. 6 Houston on Tuesday (7 p.m. CT, TBS). Then the Crimson Tide will face Rutgers on Wednesday (9 p.m. CT, TBS).

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

60 minutes remain for Auburn football to continue their season. With a win, the Tigers become bowl eligible. Despite losing too many times late in games, the 2024 Tigers would qualify for a bowl with a win over the Alabama Crimson Tide. 

When the team looked dead in the water after blowing a 21-0 lead, they managed to pull a rabbit out of a hat with a stunning quadruple-overtime thriller of a victory versus Texas A&M on Saturday. 

After losing four-consecutive games that appeared to sink this season, the team has won three of their last four. Now, they stand toe-to-toe with Alabama with more than actual pride on the line and a shot to keep playing.

The Right Time

Auburn heads into the Iron Bowl on a hot streak, while their opponent limps in. Alabama, watching their playoff hopes fade away, will struggle to summon up the required passion to play in a game. Even one as big a the Iron Bowl. Some feel like this game is just one in a disappointing season. 

No SEC championship, no playoff game. Moreover, a quarterback that struggled versus Oklahoma. The Tide looks tired and unmotivated. Yet, without hyperbole, with everything that went sideways for the Crimson Tide, this actually benefits Auburn greatly.

Truthfully, the Tigers need to win this game far more than the team from Tuscaloosa. A win for Auburn would in a sense, save a lost season. A win for Alabama would be a consolation prize after a series of missed goals. 

Temporary Absolution

For Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze, a victory would serve several purposes outside of the obvious gaining of bowl eligibility. Freeze has not distinguished himself during his two seasons on The Plains.

From throwing his team under a fleet of buses, to questionable dedication to one quarterback, people mostly wanted Freeze out of Auburn, or at the very least to stop seeing the same mistakes game after game. 

However, the late-season surge quieted the complaints, at least for the moment. Combined with a stellar recruiting class, Freeze bought himself time and grace. Now, with an Iron Bowl win, he could actually endear himself to the fanbase.

If sunshine is the greatest antiseptic, an Iron Bowl win curries favor with a fanbase and administration that desperately wants to see a return to greatness. 

Most importantly, a win on Saturday could lead Freeze back down the road to respectability. You still hear the jokes about his career and issues in Oxford. While they still exist, success, right or wrong, clouds memories.

Overview

The 2024 Iron Bowl stands alone as a potential watershed moment in the rebuilding of Auburn football. Besides being the rivalry game in the South, this year’s version resonates deeper for Auburn. After the Harsin era of futility and defeat, hope existed for Hugh Freeze. 

After a disappointing year to this point, the team can exorcise the demons of recent failures. Fans, alums, and pundits want to believe the turning of the proverbial corner will lead to further success. Enduring heartbreaking losses hardens players and coaches as a whole. 

In contrast, winning brings confidence. Heading into this game, an upbeat Auburn team could emerge victorious in the biggest game of the last year. 

The next 60 minutes will decide how people will remember the 2024 Auburn football team.

CNN
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Following upset losses to unranked opponents, Alabama and Mississippi both fell out of the top 10 in the AP Top 25 poll when the latest rankings were released on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Miami and SMU moved into the top 10 with Oregon remaining at No. 1 in the rankings for the sixth consecutive week.

In a dramatic week of college football, Arizona State moved up seven places to No. 14 following an upset win over Brigham Young on Saturday, making the Sun Devils the top-ranked Big 12 team in the poll.

Ohio State, Texas and Penn State, all of whom won on Saturday, occupy the next three spots behind the Ducks, who are now the only undefeated team in the AP Top 25 poll.

Indiana’s 38-15 defeat against Ohio State – its first loss of the season – sees the Hoosiers drop five places but still cling on to a top-10 position, while Alabama and Mississippi were the two biggest fallers with both dropping six spots.

The Crimson Tide is now ranked No. 13 following a shock 24-3 loss to Oklahoma. According to ESPN, it was Alabama’s lowest point tally in a game since 2004 and the first time that the team has been held to under 10 points since 2011.

Ole Miss also dropped out of the Top 10 with a stunning defeat to an unranked opponent, going down 24-17 against Florida to leave the team with slim chances of making the playoffs.

1. Oregon Ducks (11-0)

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1)

3. Texas Longhorns (10-1)

4. Penn State Nittany Lions (10-1)

5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-1)

6. Georgia Bulldogs (9-2)

7. Tennessee Volunteers (9-2)

8. Miami Hurricanes (10-1)

9. SMU Mustangs (10-1)

10. Indiana Hoosiers (10-1)

11. Boise State Broncos (10-1)

12. Clemson Tigers (9-2)

13. Alabama Crimson Tide (8-3)

14. Arizona State Sun Devils (9-2)

15. Ole Miss Rebels (8-3)

16. South Carolina Gamecocks (8-3)

17. Iowa State Cyclones (9-2)

18. Tulane Green Wave (9-2)

19. BYU Cougars (9-2)

20. Texas A&M Aggies (8-3)

21. UNLV Rebels (9-2)

22. Illinois Fighting Illini (8-3)

23. Colorado Buffaloes (8-3)

24. Missouri Tigers (8-3)

25. Army Black Knights (9-1)