Alabama Basketball Faces Tough Three-Game Stretch
Alabama basketball has recently navigated through a challenging stretch of three games, each of which pitted them against top 10 teams, all away from home. Even in the NCAA Tournament, encountering such a formidable gauntlet is uncommon. Regrettably, the Crimson Tide was unable to secure a victory in any of these matchups, highlighting the need for the team to execute more winning plays and commit fewer fouls. This was particularly evident in the recent game, where Alabama succumbed to No. 4 Arizona with a final score of 87-74 in Phoenix.
The game was marked by a high number of fouls on both sides, disproportionately impacting Alabama in the second half, ultimately resulting in Nick Pringle and Mo Wague fouling out for the third consecutive game.
Alabama’s struggle was also reflected in their 3-point shooting, with only 3 successful attempts out of 22 in the first half. Despite this, their defense managed to keep the game competitive, with the halftime score at 41-40 in favor of Arizona.
Nevertheless, the challenges with 3-point shooting persisted in the second half, with Alabama ultimately finishing 8 of 40 (20%) from beyond the arc. Turnovers also plagued the team, with a total of 18, 11 of which occurred in the second half alone.
Looking ahead, Alabama will have slightly less formidable matchups after facing some of the toughest teams in the nation. Their next game is scheduled against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, followed by a game against Liberty in Birmingham on Dec. 30. Subsequently, the new year will herald SEC play for the Crimson Tide.
Nick Kelly, the esteemed Alabama beat writer for The Tuscaloosa News, acknowledged the challenges the team has encountered and offered valuable insights into their upcoming games. With a demanding stretch of games now in the rearview, Alabama will be seeking to regroup and mount a resolute return in their forthcoming matches.