2000-01 record: 25-11; 8-8 in SEC (3rd in West) Final Ranking: NR Postseason: Lost to Tulsa 79-60 in NIT championship game. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Grizzard 17.0 ppg | Rebounds: Dudley 10.0 rpg | Assists: Grizzard 2.1 apg | FG %: Dudley 52.9% | 3pt %: Stinnett 44.2% | FT %: Stinnett 82.0% 00-01 Stats: Arkansas | SEC

		Tuesday, Nov. 6 With its three big guys -- Erwin Dudley, Rod Grizzard and Terrance Meade back -- expect the Crimson Tide to have a real good season. In their third year of playing together, each one of these guys brings something different to the table. Dudley is a warrior inside on both ends. Grizzard, while I sometimes question his shot selection, is a scorer who can do it from a lot of different areas. Meade is the guy who handles the perimeter. Alabama has a chance to be really good. While last year they may have been disappointed by not getting into the tournament with 25 wins, I think they can come back. One key is newcomer Maurice Williams. If he can run the club at the point position, Alabama will make the NCAA Tournament.

Outlook
Mark Gottfried has been bloodied by early entry, but remains unbowed. First Schea Cotton took off after a single season at 'Bama (anyone heard from him lately?), then Gerald Wallace did the same. But it hasn't stopped Gottfried from signing big-time recruits, the most recent two being point guard Maurice Williams and shooting guard Earnest Shelton of Memphis.

Combine those two with Alabama's five returning starters (that's right, Wallace went from the 'Bama bench to the NBA in a single bound) and you have the potential for excitement. But interior depth will be a major concern, which makes keeping everyone 6-6 or taller healthy and happy is paramount.

Rod Grizzard will again call the tune for Alabama from his wing spot. Grizzard presents a huge matchup problem for almost everyone, given his 6-foot-8 height and package of skills. Call him Tayshaun Prince Lite. Citing Grizzard's sub-40 percent shooting last year, Gottfried will beg him for better shot selection.

Look for Alabama to rip and run when possible -- which was often against an abysmal non-conference schedule but less frequent in SEC play. This team was at its best in an athletic, open-court game as opposed to a stop-and-think contest.

What we like: In Grizzard and Erwin Dudley (14.4 ppg, 10.0 rpg, a thick 250 pounds), Alabama has the kind of inside-outside scoring tandem that stretches defenses. And everyone is raving on Williams as the guy to make the Tide roll.

What we don't like: Alabama committed a horrific 106 more turnovers than it had assists last year -- and now it gives the ball to a freshman point guard. No matter how good he's supposed to be, he will throw the ball around plenty.

The bottom line: Stung by the NCAA Tournament snub, Alabama has taken pains to make sure it doesn't happen again -- at least not on account of weak scheduling. There are games against Utah, UCLA, Temple, Notre Dame and more during the preseason. Given the players coming back, the Tide shouldn't spend Selection Sunday waiting to exhale this year. They should already be in.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Rod Grizzard	Jr.	G	6-8/205	PTS: 17.0 | REB: 6.4 | AST: 2.1
Erwin Dudley	Jr.	F	6-8/240	PTS: 14.4 | REB: 10.0 | AST: 0.7
Terrance Meade	Jr.	G	6-2/190	PTS: 10.8 | REB: 6.0 | AST: 1.3

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Gerald Wallace	F	6-7/210	PTS: 9.8 | REB: 6.0 | AST: 1.5

Alabama Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Ernest Shelton	G	6-3	Memphis, Tenn./White Station H.S.
Maurice Williams	G	6-1	Jackson, Miss./Murrah H.S.
Rodney Bias	F	6-9	Livingston, Ala./Shelton State CC