LaPhonso Ellis, Seth Greenberg name Alabama best team in college basketball

If you saw Alabama was ranked in the top five in the AP poll in January, you would assume we’re discussing the final top 25 of the college football season. Nate Oats is changing things in Tuscaloosa though, currently having the Crimson Tide ranked No. 4 in basketball and atop the SEC.

ESPN’s LaPhonso Ellis does not agree with AP voters though, saying Alabama should be looking down at everyone else. The depth and versatility really stand out to him, with Ellis saying Oats’ squad has “a little bit of everything.”

“It’s absolutely Alabama,” Ellis said while appearing on SportsCenter. “The Crimson Tide. And, okay, I know everybody at home is going ‘what about Houston?’ Well, they’ve already beaten Houston. They’re loaded, have a little bit of everything.”

Houston sits as the top-ranked team both by the NET rankings and KenPom, being considered the best team in the country by the computers. Alabama was able to defeat them on the road before the calendar flipped to 2023. It’s arguably the most impressive win of anyone out there.

LaPhonso Ellis praises freshman Brandon Miller

While you could look at the roster and boast about any player, freshman Brandon Miller has really stood out for Alabama. Heading into Tuesday’s game against Vanderbilt, he leads the SEC in scoring at 19.5 points per game.

Oats has used Miller in multiple ways this season but Ellis highlighted the future lottery pick’s ability in the pick and roll. There is not really a good option as a defender against Miller.

“I want my focus of attention to go to their best player, the best freshman in the country — Brandon Miller,” Ellis said. “6-9, can do anything out on the floor. I love his ability to play in pick-and-roll situations because you go under, he shoots the three where he shoots 45% from the three-point line.

“You drop coverage, he gets to the lane. He’s terrific in transition, rebounds the basketball, and he’s an efficient passer. I absolutely love the depth of this Alabama team.”

Seth Greenberg makes case for Alabama

Seth Greenberg agreed with his ESPN colleague, declaring Alabama the best team in the country. While many focus on the offensive end, he is a fan of the defensive effort the Crimson Tide put in.

After all, good defense can lead to easy offense — especially with the likes of Miller and Mark Sears running the show.

“I love what they do defensively,” Greenberg said. “They’re top 10 defensive efficiency. We think of Alabama, we think of transition, we think of Brandon Miller, we think of three-point shots. But you know what you got to do? You got to get stops!

“This team is an elite defensive team. You contest shots. They run people off the three-point line. A lot of people shoot 28% because they can pressure the ball and have great length. And then you try to get to the front of the rim and people shoot 41% at the rim because of their size, length, and athleticism.

“And when they get those stops, you know what happens? People get out in transition… Their ability to get stops and build their defense all of a sudden allows them to get in transition and play that defense.”

Only four teams rank inside the top 15 in both Adjusted Offensive Efficiency and Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. Alabama is one and is joined by Houston, Kansas, and UConn. Funny enough, the Crimson Tide have played the outside two, having a 1-1 record.

That type of nonconference schedule is why Alabama finds itself being a one-seed in the latest Bracketology update from ESPN’s Joe Lunardi. Add in the SEC success and it’s why people such as Ellis and Greenberg consider them the best team in the country.