Alabama Basketball won their SEC away game on Saturday in Baton Rouge. Strong post-season reasons for confidence were also demonstrated by the Crimson Tide.
Following Saturday’s eighth SEC victory for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Nate Oats had some insightful remarks. The post-season prospects of Alabama remain a mystery to followers of the Tide. Nate Oats dropped a bombshell.
During the first half of the LSU game, LSU took advantage of Alabama’s weaknesses. LSU star Will Baker has a career scoring average of 10.2 points. Against Alabama, Baker scored 22 points in the first half. Against outmatched Crimson Tide defenders, he made three three-pointers and the remainder of his performance was within the paint. Alabama made adjustments in the second half, with guards assisting in Baker’s defense and pressuring him into three turnovers. Baker attempted only two shots in the second half after taking twelve in the first. Two free throws were the only points he scored in the second half.
Only 12 turnovers were made by LSU during the contest. Amazingly, Alabama converted those mistakes into 23 points. Another outstanding performance by the Crimson Tide came in a game where they attempted 81 shots from the field and only committed eight turnovers.
It’s a success for Alabama to sweep LSU during the regular season. Despite their difficult season, Matt McMahon’s Bengal Tigers have talented players on their roster. They have lost a couple of close games in the SEC. Similar to Alabama, LSU is prone to making defensive blunders.
On Saturday, Alabama’s interior defense flaws were once again exposed. LSU took advantage, making 59.4% of their shots in the first half. With a slightly improved performance in the second half, LSU came in at 55%. A victory should result from such excellent shooting. Nate Oats gave an explanation of why it didn’t after the game.
Against LSU, during a crucial six-minute stretch, there was an explosion. At 9:32 remaining in the game, LSU was ahead 73–72. The Crimson Tide turned a one-point deficit into an eighteen-point lead in just over six minutes. An explosion like this has two roots. First, the offensive philosophy of Nate Oats. Secondly, he brings in players who fully commit to the Nate Oats system.
Indeed, improving the defense is necessary to have a successful postseason run. But everything else needed for a championship is there, even in the absence of a trustworthy rim protector.
