AUDIO: Avery Johnson Discusses Team’s Focus in Offseason, 2017-18 Team

Alabama basketball's second season under Avery Johnson, marked by inconsistency at times, ultimately finished ahead of expectations with 19 wins, a 6th-place finish in the SEC, and a run to the SEC Tournament semifinals. Now the program its attention to year three, which has the potential to be the best in years in Tuscaloosa.

Johnson joined Wimp and Barry Sanderson on Inside the Locker Room this week to discuss the offseason and the state of his program entering the 2017-18 season. Of course the topic everyone wants to talk about is the top-5 recruiting class coming in, but the head coach was quick to point out that the returning players will be key for the team's success.

"Those guys are going to be the guys to help carry the load for next year," Johnson said. "We're not just going to put everything on the freshmen that are coming in. So our guys that are here that are working out, we get two hours a week with them on the court during this time of the year, they have to continue to get better."

One area of the program that Johnson wants to continue improving is home games. It's a two-part focus of developing more consistent play at home while enhancing the atmosphere and fan experience. The latter is something he's been working with new athletic director Bill Battle

"Greg's done a great job in terms of coming in with some great ideas on how we can continue to grow the team and improve the program. I'm curious to see what's going to be next in terms of Coleman Coliseum."

You can hear the entire conversation with the Alabama head coach in the video above.