On June 12, the Alabama men's basketball team was set to make a significant mark as they prepared to compete in the highly anticipated Players Era Festival in Las Vegas during Thanksgiving week. This festival stands as the first-ever NIL-based multi-team event in college basketball.

Participating Schools and Game Details

No. 8 Alabama joins forces with No. 7 Houston, No. 24 Rutgers, Notre Dame, San Diego State, No. 14 Creighton, Oregon, and No. 23 Texas A&M in this inaugural event. Each team will engage in two games, with the head-to-head record, point differential, points scored, and points allowed all playing crucial roles in determining the seeding for the seventh place, fifth place, third place, and of course, the championship game.

Alabama's Initial Games

The Crimson Tide's first two games will be against Houston on Nov. 26 and Rutgers on Nov. 27. Against Houston, it will be a battle between two formidable teams. Houston, with a 2-1 record in the Big 12, will bring their skills to the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Alabama, on the other hand, enters with a 4-1 record in the SEC. The game is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. CT on Tuesday.For the game against Rutgers, Alabama will look to continue their winning streak. Rutgers, with a perfect 4-0 record in the Big Ten, poses a tough challenge. This game is set to take place on Wednesday at 10 p.m. CT. The Crimson Tide's sports network will provide play-by-play coverage with Chris Stewart on play-by-play and Bryan Passink adding color. The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.

Series History and Recent Matchups

The series between Alabama and Houston is tied at 3-3, with their first matchup occurring on Dec. 28, 1956. In their last meeting, the Crimson Tide emerged victorious with a 71-65 score. Future No. 2 overall NBA Draft pick Brandon Miller had a tough shooting night, going 0-of-8 from the field. However, future No. 21 overall pick Brandon Clowney stepped up, scoring 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting and recording team-highs in rebounds (11) and blocks (2).Regarding the series against Rutgers, it is currently 0-0 as they have never faced each other before. This adds an extra element of excitement to their upcoming matchup.

Recent Team Performances

After their first loss of the season on the road against then-No. 13 Purdue, the Crimson Tide showed their resilience by defeating No. 25 Illinois 100-87 on Wednesday night. Preseason All-American point guard Mark Sears didn't score a single point, but the team's depth was on full display. Forward Grant Nelson tallied 23 points, and guards Labaron Philon, Aden Holloway, and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. each contributed 16-plus points.Houston, like Alabama, bounced back from their first loss with a dominant 91-45 win over Louisiana. Terrance Arceneaux scored 14 points, Milos Uzan added 13, Mercy Miller had 12, Emanuel Sharp contributed 11, and J’Wan Roberts also reached double figures with 11. Sharp and Miller each had four steals, boosting the team total to 17.Rutgers extended their undefeated start to the season with a 74-63 win over Merrimack. Their top-tier freshmen duo of Ace Bailey (23 points) and Dylan Harper (14) combined for nearly half of the team's points. Bailey also grabbed 10 rebounds, while Harper had eight and his six assists were a team-best.This Players Era Festival presents a unique opportunity for the Alabama men's basketball team and the other participating schools to showcase their skills and make their mark in college basketball history. With the NIL era bringing new dynamics to the sport, these games are sure to be filled with excitement and intense competition.