Alabama basketball coach Anthony Grant said his team is getting acclimated to the new academic year and doing some physical conditioning to get ready for practice.

The coaches are teaching players about what to expect from practice and the basketball philosophy.

“We have a group that is excited about learning,” Alabama’s Anthony Grant said. “I think our veteran guys are doing a good job of getting (the young guys) acclimated to what we want to do and the drills we are running.”

The coaching staff has had five limited sessions of work with the basketball team at this point in the year to get the team ready for when practice begins.

Grant said he has “been impressed by all of our new guys.” The new arrivals will comprise about half the team, and are expected to make a real impact on the Alabama basketball team this year.

Center Moussa Gueye tore his ACL at the end of August during a pickup basketball game with teammates.

“Surgery went well,” Grant said. “Right now it is a matter of him going through the natural healing process. He is weight bearing and he is on crutches. He has started his rehab. He missed last year with a (different) injury. We are hopeful he will respond well and can return.”

Three Alabama players participated in international basketball play this summer.

Carl Engstrom played for the under-20 Swedish National Team, and Grant said this was good experience for the player.

“He was able to impact the games that they played,” Grant said. “It was a good experience for him. He had some great competition.”

JaMychal Green played USA in the World Games. “It was a great experience for him,” Grant said. This gave him a chance to be around other great players. “I think he performed well and came back just that much more mature.”

Retin Ojomoh played for the under-20 Belgian team. “He was the youngest guy on the team,” Grant said.

Basketball season arrives November 11 when Alabama faces North Florida in Tuscaloosa.