Alabama beats Furman 111-93 in exhibition opener at Coleman Coliseum

Alabama opened its exhibition schedule with a 111-93 win over Furman on Thursday night at Coleman Coliseum, treating the game like a chance to run, evaluate, and build continuity while measuring lineups against live competition. The final score suggested a comfortable margin for the Crimson Tide, but the matchup itself was shaped by what Alabama did not have available in its usual size and depth.

According to Yahoo Sports, Alabama head coach Nate Oats had three potential big pieces sidelined for the Furman game: Aden Holloway, Anderson Diaz, and Jaxon Richardson. Holloway was reported as unavailable due to a suspension connected to his arrest and drug charges last spring. Diaz was also out, with Oats describing that absence as lasting “a month or so,” while Richardson’s absence was attributed to an illness. Preston Murphy Jr. was noted as not available as well.

With those players missing, the Tide turned to other options up front and through the guard and wing groups, keeping the tempo high enough to force Furman into extended possessions even when Alabama’s defense was not at full intensity. The nature of an exhibition game matters here, because coaching staffs often prioritize pace control, individual matchups, and offensive sets over strict defensive execution.

Amari Allen provided a scoring anchor for Alabama. The game photo caption associated with the report credited Allen as the team’s leading scorer with 19 points. That total matters in the exhibition context because it suggests at least one reliable shot-maker was able to create against Furman’s defensive looks early, which can stabilize a lineup when several regular contributors are missing.

Alabama’s broader approach also appears to fit the typical exhibition framework: test combinations, give minutes to players who will be critical later in the season, and use the repetition to tighten decision-making for ball screens, spacing, and transition opportunities. When key bigs are unavailable, opportunities for other frontcourt contributors and for perimeter players who can attack closing defenders often increase.

Still, this result should be weighed carefully. Exhibition games do not carry the same roster and game-plan sharpness as regular-season conference play, and Furman’s counter-plan likely reflected its own preparation goals. With multiple Alabama players unavailable for reasons that range from suspension to illness, Thursday’s box score is best viewed as a picture of lineup flexibility rather than a full statement of season-long form.

What to watch next is how quickly Alabama can regain its intended frontcourt balance as exhibition play continues. With Diaz expected to miss time for “a month or so,” Holloway’s situation tied to a suspension, and Richardson’s availability dependent on his illness recovery, the Tide’s midseason rotations may be shaped as much by return timelines and depth as by performance in a single exhibition outing.