2011-12 Men's Basketball Opponent Capsules
8/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Aug. 18, 2011
2011-12 Opponent Capsules
Nov. 11 - North Florida - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 152
Postseason: N/A
2010-2011 Record: 15-19
Head coach: Matthew Driscoll
North Florida is coming off of a 15-19 season, making it to the championship of the Atlantic Sun Tournament before falling to Belmont. The Ospreys faced Alabama once in 2009 and lost, 73-51.North Florida is slated to return eight players including the two top scorers from 2010-11 in Parker Smith and Jerron Granberry. The Ospreys are led by third-year head coach Matt Driscoll.
Nov. 14 - Oakland - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 57
Postseason: NCAA Tournament - Second Round
2010-2011 Record: 25-10
Head coach: Greg Kampe
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies will face the Tide for the first time 2011-12. Last season the team put together a 25-10 record and made it to the NCAA Tournament only to fall to Texas. The Grizzlies have won back-to-back Summit League titles and are expected to return eight contributing players. Greg Kampe has been the head coach at Oakland for 27 seasons and has led the Grizzlies to three straight 20-win seasons along with back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances.
Nov. 17-20 - Puerto Rico Tip-Off - San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Tide will play three games in Puerto Rico the first coming against Maryland on Nov. 17 followed by a matchup with either Colorado or Wichita State in the second game. The other half of the bracket features Temple, Western Michigan, Iona and Purdue. The eight teams in the field posted a combined record of 176-75 last season and seven of the eight teams in the field finished with an RPI under 100.
Nov. 23 - Alabama A&M - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 308
Postseason: N/A
2010-2011 Record: 13-15
Head coach: Willie Hays
Alabama has faced thethat Bulldogs four times, all since 1999. The Tide has yet to lose to the in-state program. A&M had a 13-15 overall record last season are expected to return their top scorer Casey Canty. Head coach Willie Hays begins his first season after replacing Vann Pettaway who led the Bulldogs for a quarter century.
Nov. 27 - VCU - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Final Ranking: 6
Final RPI: 31
Postseason: NCAA Tournament - Final Four
2010-2011 Record: 28-12
Head coach: Shaka Smart
VCU faces the Tide for the fourth time with UA winning the last three. Last season VCU advanced to the Final Four en route to a 28-12 overall record while going 11-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Rams finished the season ranked sixth in the USA Today Coaches poll. UA head coach Anthony Grant previously coached at VCU, guiding the Rams to three league titles and two NCAA appearances in three years.
Dec. 1 - Georgetown - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Final Ranking: RV
Final RPI: 15
Postseason: NCAA Tournament - Second Round
2010-2011 Record: 21-11
Head coach: John Thompson III
The Tide and Hoyas meet for the fifth time and the second time as part of the SEC/Big East Challenge. Georgetown went 21-11 last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to VCU. The vaunted Big East program has appeared in 27 NCAA Tournaments and advanced to the Final Four five times.
Dec. 7 - Dayton - Dayton, Ohio
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 79
Postseason: NIT - First Round
2010-2011 Record: 22-14
Head coach: Archie Miller
The Dayton Flyers finished last season with a record of 22-14. The Flyers reached the postseason for the fourth consecutive season, playing in the NIT. The 2011-12 season will be head coach Archie Miller's first on the bench. The Tide's first true road test will be a tough one as Dayton has finished in the top 35 in attendance every season since 1969. The game will also be a homecoming for current UA head coach Anthony Grant who played at Dayton from 1984-87.
Dec. 11 - Detroit - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 145
Postseason: N/A
2010-2011 Record: 17-16
Head coach: Ray McCallum
The Detroit Titans come into the season after a 17-16 performance last year. They were 10-8 in the Horizon League and made it to the second round of the league tournament. Ray McCallum is entering his fourth year as head coach of the Titans. McCallum's son, Ray, is the team's top returning player, however UA's JaMychal Green may have the scouting report on the guard as the two are teammates on the USA Basketball World University Games team.
Dec. 17 - Kansas State - Kansas City, Mo.
Final Ranking: 24
Final RPI: 22
Postseason: NCAA Tournament - Third Round
2010-2011 Record: 23-11
Head coach: Frank Martin
Kansas State went 23-11 last season and advanced to the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament and finished the season ranked The Wildcats are tied with Alabama in the series 1-1. Frank Martin will be returning as head coach for his fifth season after taking the team to the postseason every year and making it to the NCAA Tournament three of the four.
Dec. 21 - Oklahoma State - Birmingham, Ala.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 58
Postseason: NIT - Second Round
2010-2011 Record: 20-14
Head coach: Travis Ford
The Crimson Tide returns to the Magic City for the first time since 2007 when it faces Oklahoma State at the BJCC. The Cowboys had an overall record of 20-14 in 2010-11 season and advanced to the second round of the NIT before ending their run against Washington State University. Last season the Tide faced the Cowboys in Oklahoma City and suffered a 68-60 loss. However, that loss sparked the Tide as the team, which had a 5-6 record after the loss went on to win five straight games and 20 of its next 26. In his three years as the Cowboys' head coach, Travis Ford has taken the team to two NCAA appearances and an NIT appearance.
Dec. 29 - Jacksonville - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 136
Postseason: CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament - Second Round
2010-2011 Record: 20-12
Head coach: Cliff Warren
In its first game back after the holiday break, UA hosts the Jacksonville Dolphins. JU finished the 2010-11 season with a 20-12 overall record and a . third-place finish in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The team gained postseason experience in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. The Dolphins have faced the Tide just once in the school's history in 1966 with Alabama winning the contest. Cliff Warren is entering his seventh season as head coach of Jacksonville.
Jan. 3 - Georgia Tech - Atlanta, Ga.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 166
Postseason: N/A
2010-2011 Record: 13-18
Head coach: Brian Gregory
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are coming off of a 13-18 season last year but are under the direction of first-year head coach Brian Gregory who previously coached for eight seasons at Dayton. Former SEC rivals, Georgia Tech and Alabama have faced each other 67 times and Alabama leads the series 39-28 and has won nine of the last 12 games against the Jackets. Additionally, due to renovations at Tech's home arena, the contest will be played at Phillips Arena, the home of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks.
Jan. 7 - Georgia - Athens, Ga.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 52
Postseason: NCAA Tournament - Second Round
2010-2011 Record: 21-12
Head coach: Mark Fox
Georgia posted a 21-12 overall and 9-7 SEC record during the 2010-11 season making and advanced to the NCAA Tournament after being knocked out of the SEC Tournament by the Tide. UGA and Alabama have me 137 times with the Tide leading 90-47 after winning both meetings last season.
Jan. 11 - LSU - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 224
Postseason: N/A
2010-2011 Record: 11-21
Head coach: Trent Johnson
LSU continues its rebuilding efforts after going 11-21 overall last season and 3-13 in the SEC. The Tigers return their top scorer Ralston Turner who averaged 12.3 points a game last season. He will be joined by six other returning Tigers plus three freshmen and two transfers on their roster.
Jan. 14 - Mississippi State - Starkville, Miss.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 121
Postseason: N/A
2010-2011 Record: 17-14
Head coach: Rick Stansbury
Mississippi State went 17-14 overall and 9-7 in the SEC a season ago. They made it through to the second round of the SEC tournament before falling to the Vanderbilt. MSU looks to have a very young team this year with seven newcomers on their roster. The Tide will be charged with playing at always difficult Humphrey Coliseum where the Bulldogs were 13-5 last season.
Jan. 19 - Vanderbilt - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Final Ranking: RV
Final RPI: 26
Postseason: NCAA Tournament - Second Round
2010-2011 Record: 23-11
Head coach: Kevin Stallings
The Commodores finished 23-10 overall and 9-7 in the SEC last season en route to the SEC Tournament semifinals and the SEC Tournament.The Commodores will return their top scorer John Jenkins who averaged 19.5 points per game and is currently teammates with JaMychal Green on the USA Basketball World University Games team. Kevin Stallings is in his 13th year as head coach of the Commodores with eight postseason appearances, two NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance, and six 20-win seasons at Vanderbilt.
Jan. 21 - Kentucky - Lexington, Ky.
Final Ranking: 3
Final RPI: 5
Postseason: NCAA Tournament - Final Four
2010-2011 Record: 29-9
Head coach: John Calipari
The Wildcats are coming off a 29-9 season with a 10-6 record in the SEC. The squad defeated Florida for the SEC Tournament title and as part of a 10-game win streak the team advanced to the Final Four. Eventual national champion Connecticut ended the Wildcats' run. Alabama and Kentucky have played 137 times with the Wildcats leading 101-36. The teams played twice last season, each coming away with one victory as the Tide defeated UK in Tuscaloosa and fell in the SEC Tournament semifinals.
Jan. 25 - South Carolina - Columbia, S.C.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 140
Postseason: N/A
2010-2011 Record: 14-16
Head coach: Darrin Horn
The Gamecocks came away with an overall record of 14-16 and a SEC record of 5-11 a season ago in a rebuilding efforts after a strong 2009-10 campagin. The Gamecocks return seven players, including leading scorer Bruce Ellington, and are slated to add four newcomers to their roster. The Gamecocks played Alabama once last season in Tuscaloosa. Alabama won that contest to take a 22-12 lead in the series. Darrin Horn enters his fourth season as head coach of the Gamecocks with a 50-42 record in his three years at South Carolina.
Jan. 28 - Arkansas - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 131
Postseason: N/A
2010-2011 Record: 18-13
Head coach: Mike Anderson
The Arkansas Razorbacks went 18-13 overall and 7-9 in the SEC for the 2010-11 season. Arkansas, under new coach Mike Anderson, is scheduled to return eight players after seeing its season end to Tennessee in the SEC Tournament.
Feb. 4 - Mississippi - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 85
Postseason: NIT - First Round
2010-2011 Record: 20-14
Head coach: Andy Kennedy
The Rebels came out of the 2010-11 season with a 20-14 overall record and 7-9 in the SEC. The Rebels went to the second round of the SEC Tournament before falling to Kentucky. Mississippi averaged 73.9 points per game and are scheduled to return seven players from that squad.
Feb. 7 - Auburn - Auburn, Ala.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 253
Postseason: N/A
2010-2011 Record: 11-20
Head coach: Tony Barbee
The twice-annual cross state rivalry is renewed on the Plains at Auburn Arena. Tigers finished the 2010-11 season at 11-20 overall and 4-12 in the SEC in their first season under head coach Tony Barbee.
Feb. 11 - LSU - Baton Rouge, La.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 224
Postseason: N/A
2010-2011 Record: 11-21
Head coach: Trent Johnson
LSU and Alabama have played each other 164 times starting back in 1915. UA controls the series by 99-65 and has won four straight over the last two seasons. Trent Johnson returns as the head coach of the Tigers for his fourth year.
Feb. 14 - Florida - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Final Ranking: 10
Final RPI: 9
Postseason: NCAA Tournament - Elite Eight
2010-2011 Record: 29-8
Head coach: Billy Donovan
Anthony Grant hosts his former boss Billy Donovan and the Florida Gators on a national stage as part of ESPN's Super Tuesday. The Gators went 29-8 overall and 13-3 in the SEC last season, making it to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament finishing 10th in the final AP Poll. Florida has been to the NCAA Tournament 11 times in the last 13 years and reached the 20-win mark for the 13th consecutive year, the longest streak in the SEC and the fifth-longest in the nation.
Feb. 18 - Tennessee - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 41
Postseason: NCAA Tournament - Second Round
2010-2011 Record: 19-15
Head coach: Cuonzo Martin
The Volunteers finished19-15 overall and 8-8 in the SEC last season while advancing to the NCAA Tournament. Over the past decade Tennessee and Alabama have played 13 times. They played once in the 2011 season in Knoxville where Alabama won making the series of the past decade 8-5, with the overall record being 73-65 for Alabama. Cuonzo Martin steps up as the Volunteers head coach for his first year at Tennessee after coaching at Missouri State for three seasons.
Feb. 23 - Arkansas - Fayetteville, Ark.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 131
Postseason: N/A
2010-2011 Record: 18-13
Head coach: Mike Anderson
The Razorbacks have faced Alabama 50 times, including twice last season where the teams split the series to maintain Arkansas' lead at 27-23. Mike Anderson begins his first year as head coach at Arkansas after spending nine years as head coach of at nearby UAB and Missouri.
Feb. 25 - Mississippi State - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 121
Postseason: N/A
2010-2011 Record: 17-14
Head coach: Rick Stansbury
MSU is slated to return two of its top three scorers from the 2011 season including senior guard Dee Bost. The two programs have met 182 times since 1912 with Alabama leading 114-72 after winning both meetins last season. Rick Stansbury is entering his 14th year as MSU's head coach with six NCAA appearances and a SEC title.
Feb. 29 - Auburn - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 253
Postseason: N/A
2010-2011 Record: 11-20
Head coach: Tony Barbee
Auburn and Alabama have played 143 times in their history and Alabama leads the series, 87-56. The Tide welcomes the Tigers to Coleman Coliseum where it has hosted the rivalry game in front of a sellout crowd in each of the last two seasons.
March 3 - Mississippi - Oxford, Miss.
Final Ranking: N/A
Final RPI: 85
Postseason: NIT - First Round
2010-2011 Record: 20-14
Head coach: Andy Kennedy
Mississippi has faced Alabama 167 times including twice last season, where each team won at home. The Tide will be looking to forget about its last two trips to Oxford and add to its 115-52 lead in the series. Andy Kennedy returns for his sixth year as the Rebels head coach.
