Alabama Hoops Announces Non Conference Slate For 2021-22 Season

The Alabama Crimson Tide basketball program faces high expectations as the Tide enters year three under head coach Nate Oats. With a few months until the start of the season, the Alabama athletic department announced the Tide's non-conference basketball schedule.

The 13 non-conference opponents on the Alabama schedule won a combined seven conference regular season and tournament championships last season. Oats designed a schedule that will both challenge and prepare his team for the rigors of conference play, last season the 13 opponents combined for a record of 226-82.

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Alabama opens with four straight home games in a two week span in November. The Tide will host Louisiana Tech, South Dakota State, South Alabama and Oakland before heading for Orlando for an ESPN Invitational. South Dakota State has won the Summit League regular season title the last four seasons in a row so the Jackrabbits may present a test for the Tide.

In Orlando the Tide will take on some big programs. Its first round game will be against Iona but Belmont, Dayton, Drake, Kansas, Miami and North Texas are also going to be participating in the late-November event.

Alabama's non-conference schedule does not let up as the Tide will take on back-to-back 2021 Final 4 opponents in Gonzaga in Seattle on Dec. 4 and Houston in Tuscaloosa on Dec. 11. Bama then heads up Beale Street to take on Penny Hardaway's Memphis Tigers on Dec. 14.

The Tide then closes out the traditional portion of non-conference play by hosting Jacksonville State on Dec. 18 and meeting Colorado State in Birmingham on Dec. 21.

Alabama's cherry-on-top of its non-conference schedule comes in the form of the defending national champions. The Crimson Tide will host the Baylor Bears in the BIG 12/SEC Challenge on Jan. 29.