The team's head coach was Wimp Sanderson, who was in his seventh season at Alabama.

The team played their home games at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The team lost forward Buck Johnson to graduation, but signed freshman forward Keith Askins from Athens High School in Athens, Alabama.

The Tide also won the 1987 SEC men's basketball tournament, beating LSU in the final and earning an automatic bid to the 1987 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

The Tide defeated North Carolina A&T and New Orleans before falling to Providence in the Sweet 16.