Alabama exhibition kicks off new season

TUSCALOOSA — First-year Alabama basketball coach Anthony Grant has 11 players at his disposal, and he says all of them will get a chance during tonight's exhibition game against Montevallo.

"Everybody will play," Grant said. "We're looking to find different rotations and different lineups that we can go with at different times. In my mind, it really doesn't matter who the first five are on the floor. We're still in the process of trying to figure our team out right now."

Grant's first preseason in charge of the Crimson Tide has been rigorous for a team that missed the postseason that past two years. Such descriptions have been third-hand, since Grant has sealed off nearly all of Alabama's practice work to the general public, media and many of the university's employees.

A brief open session for boosters last week revealed the up-tempo style Grant has implemented. It will include full-court pressing and transition offense for an undersized squad that will possibly feature four guards on the court at once.

"We're a little behind where I'd like to be right now," Grant said, "but I think that's probably natural, considering everything that is brand-new."

Tonight's tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

— Gentry Estes