BREAKING: Alabama adds another huge NCAA tournament team to non-conference schedule
The Alabama men’s basketball team will host South Dakota State on December 29 as part of their 2024-25 non-conference schedule, according to college basketball analyst Rocco Miller.
The Jackrabbits finished the 2023-24 season with a 22-13 record, won the Summit League Conference tournament, and made it to the NCAA Tournament, where they were defeated by Iowa State in the first round, 82-65.
Alabama’s non-conference schedule features seven teams that participated in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, including five that made it to the Sweet 16: North Carolina (as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge), Illinois (in Birmingham), Houston (at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas), Creighton, and Purdue.
Additionally, McNeese State and South Dakota State also qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
During SEC play, Alabama will face Tennessee, who reached the Elite Eight before losing to Purdue. Tennessee defeated Alabama twice in the 2023-24 season, with scores of 91-71 in Knoxville and 81-74 in Tuscaloosa.
In the 2024 NCAA tournament, Alabama upset North Carolina 89-87 in the West Region semifinals, advancing to the school’s first-ever Final Four. Illinois also made it to the Elite Eight, and Purdue reached the national championship game.
UConn, the two-time defending NCAA champions, defeated Illinois, Alabama, and Purdue on their way to winning the 2024 title.
Alabama also played Purdue and Creighton during the 2023-24 season, losing both games in December—92-86 to Purdue in Toronto and 85-82 at Creighton.
Alabama’s current non-conference schedule is as follows:
– Nov. 11: vs. McNeese
– Nov. 15: at Purdue
– Nov. 20: vs. Illinois (in Birmingham)
– Nov. 26: vs. Houston (at Players Era in Las Vegas)
– Nov. 27: vs. Rutgers or Notre Dame (at Players Era in Las Vegas)
– Nov. 29: TBD (in Las Vegas)
– Dec. 4: at North Carolina (ACC/SEC Challenge)
– Dec. 14: vs. Creighton
– Dec. 18: at North Dakota
– Dec. 22: vs. Kent State
– Dec. 29: vs. South Dakota State