If you’ve ever spent a Tuesday night in Mobile when the humidity is thick enough to chew, you know the Mitchell Center has a specific kind of energy. It isn't the blue-blood atmosphere of a Kentucky or a Kansas. It's grittier. Honestly, South Alabama men's basketball has always been the program that feels like it’s right on the edge of something massive, only to have the rug pulled out by a bad bounce or a transfer portal exodus.
Right now, in early 2026, the Jaguars are in a fascinating spot. We're midway through the Sun Belt gauntlet. The standings are a mess—as they always are in this league—and Richie Riley is still patrolling the sidelines with that intensity that makes you wonder if he ever actually sleeps.
The Richie Riley Era: Where Do We Stand?
Let’s be real for a second. When Riley took over back in 2018, the program was in a tailspin. Five straight losing seasons will do that to a fan base. He brought juice. He brought "The Jungle." He also brought a recruiting style that relies heavily on finding high-major talent looking for a second (or third) chance.
People love to debate his tenure. On one hand, he’s kept the Jags competitive. He got an extension through this 2025-26 season because he won 21 games a few years back—the most since the Ronnie Arrow glory days. But the elephant in the room is the NCAA Tournament. South Alabama hasn't danced since 2008. For a program with eight historical appearances, that 18-year drought feels like a century.
The Current 2025-26 Campaign
As of mid-January 2026, the Jags are sitting at 12-5 overall and 3-2 in the Sun Belt. It’s a respectable record, but the conference is a meat grinder this year. Troy is up at the top, Arkansas State is dangerous, and Georgia Southern is surprisingly tough.
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South Alabama just came off a high-scoring 91-87 win against Arkansas State on January 15th. It was one of those games where defense was basically optional. They’ve got a massive home game against Louisiana today, January 17th, at 3:00 PM. If they drop that one, the climb to a top-four seed in the Sun Belt Tournament becomes a lot steeper.
The Names You Need to Know
If you aren't watching Chaze Harris, you’re missing out. The 6-foot-6 guard is basically the engine of this team. He’s averaging nearly 17 points a game and handles a lot of the playmaking duties. Sometimes he tries to do too much—his turnover numbers can get a bit scary—but without his aggressive downhill attacking, this offense would stall.
Then there’s Adam Olsen. He’s the floor spacer. You can't leave him alone at the perimeter, or he’ll ruin your night. He’s shooting nearly 39% from deep on high volume. When Harris and Olsen are both clicking, South Alabama is arguably the hardest team to scout in the Sun Belt because you have to pick your poison: do you let Harris get to the rim or let Olsen rain threes?
The frontcourt has been a bit of a revolving door due to injuries, but Peyton Law has been solid when he’s on the floor. He’s a high-efficiency guy—shooting over 64% from the field. He doesn't need twenty touches to be effective; he just cleans up the glass and finishes the looks he gets.
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The Problem With Consistency
Why aren't the Jags 15-2 instead of 12-5? Look at the December road trip. They lost a heartbreaker to North Texas by one point and then dropped a game to Texas State. They have a tendency to play to the level of their competition. They can beat a high-major caliber team on a neutral floor and then struggle to score 50 points against a rival like Troy, which they did back on January 3rd. That 49-59 loss was ugly. No other way to put it.
The "Peanut Butter and Jelly" Legacy
You can't talk about South Alabama men's basketball without mentioning the history, even if some younger fans only know the Mitchell Center. Younger folks might not realize that USA used to be a giant-killer.
The 1989 NCAA Tournament win over Alabama is still the gold standard. Jeff Hodge and Junie Lewis. "Peanut Butter and Jelly." That desperation pass and the last-second shot. That's the DNA of this program. They also nearly upset the eventual champion Arizona in 1997 under Bill Musselman.
There’s a tradition of high-scoring, exciting basketball here. Ronnie Arrow’s teams in the late 80s were averaging 91 points a game. Riley has tried to recapture that "fast and loud" identity, and while the scoring is up (averaging about 74 points this season), the defensive consistency just isn't quite at that 1990s level yet.
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What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of casual observers think the Sun Belt is a "one-bid league" where the regular season doesn't matter. That's a mistake. The way the conference tournament is structured now in Pensacola, getting a top-four seed is everything. It gives you a double-bye.
If South Alabama finishes in the 5th or 6th spot, they have to play extra games in an arena where legs get heavy fast. They are currently hovering around that 5th spot. To move up, they have to stop the defensive lapses. They’re giving up about 67 points a game, but in conference play, that number has spiked.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Season
If you're following the Jags or looking to catch a game at the Mitchell Center, here is what you should keep an eye on:
- Watch the Free Throw Line: The team is shooting about 68% from the stripe. In close conference games, that is a recipe for disaster. If they don't get that toward 72%, they’ll drop at least two more games they should win.
- The Three-Point Reliance: When Adam Olsen or Jayden Cooper aren't hitting, the lane gets clogged for Chaze Harris. Watch the first five minutes of the game; if the Jags aren't hitting from outside, Riley usually has to pivot to a much slower, grind-it-out style that doesn't suit this roster.
- The February Schedule: It’s brutal. They have road trips to Southern Miss and App State. If they can split those four games, they’ll be in a great position for Pensacola.
- Defensive Rebounding: They are basically dead even with opponents on the boards (36.8 vs 36.1). They need Randy Brady and Stephen Williams to create more second-chance opportunities.
South Alabama men's basketball is a program with a chip on its shoulder. They aren't the biggest school in the state, and they don't have the SEC budget, but when they are clicking, they play a brand of basketball that is as entertaining as anything you'll see in the South.
Check the schedule for the next home stand. Whether you're a die-hard alum or just someone looking for high-level hoops in Mobile, the next few weeks will determine if this is finally the year the Jags break the drought. Keep an eye on the Louisiana game today—it's a massive "swing" game for the momentum of this season.