Alabama Picked Fourth by Media, Collin Sexton Tabbed Preseason All-SEC
10/18/2017 10:54:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Crimson Tide returns seven of top eight scorers, welcomes top-10 recruiting class
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama was picked to finish fourth in the Southeastern Conference, while freshman guard Collin Sexton was tabbed second team All-SEC by a vote from both SEC media and national media members, it was announced Wednesday morning.
Alabama returns four starters and seven of the team's top eight scorers from last season's 19-15 team that reached the National Invitation Tournament. The Crimson Tide will return approximately 73 percent of its total scoring output, 58 percent of its rebounding and 77 percent of its assist totals from a year ago.
In addition to the returnees, head coach Avery Johnson brought it the nation's seventh-ranked recruiting class according to Rivals.com. Sexton (No. 8) and John Petty (No. 28) were both rated by the site as two of the top-30 players in the country.
Alabama will open the season with an exhibition game vs. UAH on Nov. 6. The regular season will begin on Nov. 10 against the Memphis Tigers in the Veterans Classic in Annapolis, Md. That contest, which will be the first game of a doubleheader at the U.S. Naval Academy, will tip at 5:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on CBSSports.com. Navy will host Pittsburgh in the second game.
The third annual UA SupeStore Tide Tipoff event will be held Tuesday, Oct. 24. Doors open at 6 p.m. CT for autographs, and the event begins at 7 p.m. CT.
Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased online at RollTide.com/Tickets or by calling 1-877-TIDETIX (843-3849). Fans can also purchase tickets in advance at the Alabama Ticket Office, located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum.
First Team All-SEC
KeVaughn Allen – Florida, G, 6-2, 193, Jr., Little Rock, Ark.
Yante Maten – Georgia, F, 6-8, 243, Sr., Pontiac, Mich.
Hamidou Diallo – Kentucky, G, 6-5, 198, R-Fr., Queens, N.Y.
Michael Porter, Jr. – Missouri, F, 6-10, 215, Fr., Columbia, Mo.
Robert Williams – Texas A&M, F, 6-10, 241, So., Oil City, La.
Second Team All-SEC
Collin Sexton – Alabama, G, 6-3, 190, Fr., Mableton, Ga.
Kevin Knox – Kentucky, F, 6-9, 215, Fr., Tampa, Fla.
Terence Davis – Ole Miss, G, 6-4, 201, Jr., Southaven, Miss.
Deandre Burnett – Ole Miss, G, 6-2, 192, Sr., Miami Gardens, Fla.
Quinndary Weatherspoon – Mississippi State, G, 6-4, 205, Jr., Canton, Miss.
Tyler Davis – Texas A&M, C, 6-10, 266, Jr., Plano, Texas
Matthew Fisher-Davis – Vanderbilt, G/F, 6-5, 186, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.
Preseason Media Poll
1. Kentucky
2. Florida
3. Texas A&M
4. Alabama
5. Missouri
6. Arkansas
7. Vanderbilt
8. Georgia
9. Auburn
10. Ole Miss
11. South Carolina
12. Mississippi State
13. Tennessee
14. LSU
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