Alabama basketball braces for bigger, stronger Vanderbilt than last season

While rebounding struggles continue to plague Alabama basketball, the Vanderbilt team that the Crimson Tide faces this week has cleaned up where it struggled on the glass in seasons past.

Commodores coach Mark Byington has revamped the roster. One that’s taken the program that was the smallest in the SEC during the 2024-25 season to a long, strong, defensive-minded squad.

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Last year, Vanderbilt’s tallest player measured out to 6-foot-8, the shortest at 5-10, with five over 6-6. Since, Vanderbilt has grown over an inch down the roster, which now features eight players over 6-6.

The transfer portal brought No. 10 Vanderbilt (14-0) guards in Frankie Collins (TCU), Duke Miles (Oklahoma), and Mike James (NC State). But, most importantly, bigs like Jalen (North Carolina) and Mason Nicholson (Jacksonville State), as well as wings Tyler Harris (Washington) and AK Okereke (Cornell).

All of those guys — plus three freshman — return to complement two senior forwards in Tyler Nickel and Devin McGlockton — the guy who was a rebounding nightmare of sorts for No. 12 Alabama (11-3) in last year’s 103-87 win.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR: Alabama basketball’s size mattered in tall test for Vanderbilt

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With so many new faces for Vandy, coach Nate Oats said Alabama isn’t centering all of its attention on the 6-8 McGlockton, but he’s “definitely a focus.”

Against the Crimson Tide last year, McGlockton’s 14 rebounds of 39 total for Vanderbilt weren’t a season or career high. He came five short. Yet, even when Alabama was better on the glass, the team still allowed career-best rebounding efforts to big men like Malik Dia, who grabbed 19 boards for Ole Miss, and Corey Chest, who registered 18 for LSU prior to joining the Rebels.

Although he’s made one start at the five, the addition of a natural center like 6-10 Washington, who is averaging about 19 minutes, frees up…

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Publish date : 2026-01-06 20:21:00

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