Alabama bludgeoned UNC-Asheville Monday night to the tune of a 110-54 victory to open the 2024-25 season. It was just the type of victory that Crimson Tide fans wanted to see from the No. 2 ranked team in the country, as seven different players scored in the double digits while the defense was relentlessly suffocating.
Bulldogs coach Mike Morrell took notice of the team on the other side of the court after his team was held to just 27.4% from the field while allowing the Tide to shoot 63.3% from the field.
"I've been in this building three times, and this is by far the best Alabama team I've ever seen," Morrell said.
The Bulldogs are no pushover either, with Morrell leading UNC-Asheville to the NCAA Tournament in the 2022-23 season before falling in the Big South Championship game last season. The program's two-year run of 49 wins is the best two-year stretch in the history of the program.
It wasn't just Alabama's best players showing out, although Mark Sears accounted for 20 points, the Tide's depth and versatility showed with maintained success throughout Monday night's game.
Alabama head coach Nate Oats used last season's Final Four run as an exceptional pitch to recruits and transfers as the Tide's newcomers made an immediate impact. Center Cliff Omoruyi, who transferred from Rutgers, scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and blocked a pair of shots, while freshman Labaron Philon added 10 points.
Whether it was Oats's bashful comments before the season or Morrell's post-game praises, the college basketball world is beginning to understand the type of team Oats assembled.
Related: Mark Sears Reveals Which Team Inspired Alabama to Have a Intense Mindset