SEC basketball Previews: Alabama, Auburn reload for 2025-26
Despite being considered football schools, Alabama and Auburn have become two-sport programs over the last few years with their investments in basketball, something to which Texas aspires with the hiring of Sean Miller this offseason.
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As the Longhorns prepare for their second season in the SEC, the Tide and Tigers stand as worthy measuring sticks for their season’s outcome. If Texas wants to be a high-level competitor in the country’s best basketball conference, they will have to take down opponents like Alabama and Auburn.
Auburn’s Outlook
Arguably the biggest news of the 2025 offseason was the retirement of Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, a man that won 246 games with the Tigers and helped turn them into one of the top contenders not only in the SEC, but in the country. His leadership, emphasis on defensive intensity, and ability to accumulate talent helped transform their program into one of the nation’s best – now his son, Steven Pearl, will carry the mantle.
The Tigers were a Final Four team last year, and despite the loss of first-team All-American Johni Broome (35th pick, Philadelphia 76ers), have managed to reload, retaining talent despite the departure of their head coach.
They brought back lead guard Tahaad Pettiford (11.6 points), a potential first-rounder in the 2025 NBA Draft, as well as added Central Florida wing Keyshawn Hall (18.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists), Mississippi State big KeShawn Murphy (11.7 points, 7.4 rebounds), Texas Tech guard Kevin Overton, and Serbian forward Filip Jovic.
They also added talent in high school players with forward Sebastian Williams-Adams, guards Kaden Magwood and Simon Walker, as well as JUCO wing Abdul Bashir.
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Auburn’s season will depend on the way their transfers mesh with each other. Though they lost the majority of last year’s starters and production, as well as the leader that tied it all together, there is no “transition” year for Auburn basketball. They are expected to contend, and the pressure is immediately on Steven Pearl to lead the Tigers to the promised land.
Alabama’s Outlook
Another team bringing back a potential first rounder from the 2025 NBA Draft, the Alabama Crimson Tide return elite point guard Labaron Philon (10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists), a teammate of former Longhorn Tre Johnson at Link Academy, as well as wing Latrell Wrightsell (11.5 points), guard Aden Holloway (11.4 points), and center Aiden Sherrell. They continued to stack talent with additions in former five-star recruit Jalil Bethea (Miami, 7.1 points) and Florida State forward Taylor Bol Bowen (8.0 points, 5.2 rebounds).
Four prep additions include forward London Jemison, combo guard Davion Hannah, wing Amari Allen, and center Collins Onyejiaka, all four-star recruits.
Nate Oats, one of the best minds in all of college basketball, has a talented enough roster to compete in the SEC, and by extension, the entire NCAA. Bringing back Philon was enough of a boost to give them the benefit of the doubt, but who will be their alpha scorer? They have the guard group to compete, but success will require excellent play from the front court pieces in Bowen and Sherrell. If they can match their offensive output with defensive intensity, Nate Oats and company may find themselves in another Final Four.
