The Tide suffered heavy losses in the 1987 offseason . Forward Derrick McKey declared early for the NBA Draft after his junior season . Forward Jim Farmer graduated and was also drafted into the NBA . Also , guards James Jackson , Terry Coner , and Mark Gottfried all graduated . The Tide signed freshman forward Melvin Cheatum and freshman guards Gary Waites and Bryant Lancaster to try and offset the losses . Also , junior college transfer Alvin Lee , who the previous season led the NJCAA in scoring , was also signed . The Tide lost in the first round of the SEC Tournament to Ole Miss . The team failed to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1982 and failed to reach any postseason play for the first time since 1978
SEC Tournament
1988 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament
1987–88 Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team