The Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team defeated the visiting Oakland Golden Grizzlies by a score of 86 to 59 at Coleman Coliseum on Friday night.
Just before tip-off, Alabama honored the late Luke “Fluffapotamus” Ratliff by presenting his mom Pam with a plaque and by dedicating the seat the super fan sat in to his memory.
Ratliff passed away in March due to complications from COVID-19 after attending nearly every game – home and away- that the basketball team played during his years as an Alabama student.
“He was more than just a fan,” Oats said. “He was a part of us. It felt like he was a part of the program.”
Excitement was in the air in Foster Auditorium as the Alabama men's and women's basketball program celebrated Tide Tipoff 2021. Shooting contests, skills competitions and James Spann stimulated the Crimson Tide faithful who are excited for the new season to get started.
Alabama freshman JD Davison point guard has yet to shoot a basketball for the Crimson Tide but he has already made several moves to profit off his Name, Image and Likeness.
While most of the focus is on defending the 2020 football national championship we are now officially 100 days away from tipping off the Alabama basketball season. The Crimson Tide is looking to defend its SEC championship and build on last season's Sweet 16 appearance.
The NCAA changed the landscape of college sports earlier in the month when it ruled that athletes would be able to profit off their Name, Image and Likeness and maintain their college eligibility. Alabama incoming freshman JD Davison took to Instagram to announce a partnership Moneyball Sportswear.
Beginning July 1, 2021 college athletes were allowed to take advantage and market their own name, image and likeness. Previously athletes were unable to monetize their image without compromising their eligibility. Davison is one of many Alabama athletes to announce partnerships in the first few weeks of the NIL-era.
Alabama basketball is coming off a historic season in which the Tide won both the SEC regular season and tournament championships for the first time since 1987. Head coach Nate Oats joined Ryan Fowler on The Game this week to discuss his sudden success, talk about his summer plans and preview year three of the Oats era at the Capstone.
Senior guard and current Alabama signee, JD Davison was recently named Mr. Basketball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Davison is the fifth player to win Mr. Basketball in back-to-back years. The high-flying guard out of Letohachee, Alabama is considered the No. 1 player in the state and the No. 9 player in the nation.