The Alabama Crimson Tide will meet the St. John's Red Storm on December 12, 2025, inside Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, as part of the annual C.M. Newton Classic, a showcase that pits two of the nation's most promising programs against each other.
A year ago the Crimson Tide edged the Red Storm 103‑96 at Madison Square Garden, with sophomore guard Labaron Philon delivering a career‑high 25 points that helped swing the game in Alabama's favor.
Both squads advanced to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Alabama as a No. 4 seed before falling to the Michigan Wolverines 90‑77, while St. John's, a No. 5 seed, rallied to topple the Kansas Jayhawks at the buzzer before succumbing to the eventual champions.
St. John's capped the season by capturing the Big East regular‑season title and winning its conference tournament, finishing a stellar 30‑7 and earning a reputation as a late‑season powerhouse.
Alabama concluded the year at 25‑10, sharing second place in the final SEC standings, and marked its fifth Sweet 16 appearance in the past six seasons, underscoring the program's consistent March Madness pedigree.
A Packed Non‑Conference Calendar
The Crimson Tide open the 2026‑27 campaign on November 2 against the Sam Houston Bearkats, then travel to face a lineup that includes Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma at Coleman Coliseum, before embarking on a road stretch that pits them against Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, Missouri, Texas A&M and Texas.
SEC play will see Alabama host Auburn, Mississippi State and Arkansas while also welcoming the traditional rivals on a home‑and‑away basis, promising a grueling but potentially rewarding conference schedule.
With the memory of last season's victory still fresh and a roster bolstered by returning starters, Alabama looks to translate its early‑season momentum into a deep run in the upcoming tournament.