TRIPLE THREAT: Alabama dominates Longwood 75-54

[Jordan Harper]

1) Alabama used their length, athleticism, and team speed to dominate Longwood in every aspect. This is the best defensive performance I’ve seen from an Alabama team in a while. They forced a really good shooting team to 27% shooting and had 8 blocks. They altered a lot of shots as well, and also did a great job hedging and communicating on screens. You didn’t see many guys get lost or left wide open.

2) The freshmen dominated. The freshmen combined for 48 of the Tide’s 75 points. Brand Miller’s debut finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds. While he didn’t shoot the ball well from deep, he has such length and athleticism on both ends. The shots will fall for him. Jaden Bradley, Noah Clowney, and Rylan Griffen all performed phenomenally.

3) Alabama shot the ball poorly from deep (3/28) and committed 19 turnovers, but chalk that up to first game rust and having a brand new team. They had a lot of great looks and several were halfway down and out, but there will be better shooting nights ahead. Alabama dominated the boards 62-35 and scored 48 points in the paint.

Overall a great result against a team predicted to win their conference. A lot to clean up, but you don’t want your team playing their best ball in the first game. Next up is Liberty at home on Friday.

 

[TideFanatic]

The box score on sec website showed 67 rebounds. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a total that high. Of course, we missed 42 shots too. Unreal.

 

[aggietider]

I like how you named it triple threat! I know you didn’t mean from three, just funny. We were a threat in every way possible tonight, except from three. If we would have shot the ball well, our walk ons would have been in as early as ever.

 

[Codie B]

Very happy with the win, but they are not helping with my concerns over our outside shooting after the two exhibition games and tonight. 3-28. Last exhibition was something like 3-23. Yikes!

 

[BamaNavyCPO]

The box score on sec website showed 67 rebounds. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a total that high. Of course, we missed 42 shots too. Unreal.

Good point! A lot of missed shots equates to a lot of rebounds.

 

[Jordan Harper]

Very happy with the win, but they are not helping with my concerns over our outside shooting after the two exhibition games and tonight. 3-28. Last exhibition was something like 3-23. Yikes!

Shooting is contagious. When a few are off, it tends to spread. When they’re on, the same applies. 10/28 a game is doable for this bunch and imagine the scores they’ll put up then.

 

[WAR_GA]

Thanks, @Jordan Harper ! Look forward to your insight after every game.

 

[Jordan Harper]

The 67 rebounds by Alabama were the most a D1 team put up against another D1 team in a regulation basketball game in ELEVEN years.

 

[winin11]

Biggest surprise for me was Rylan Griffen, he was everywhere and scored in several different ways.
This teams defense is much better than last years team was. Miller was Miller but Griffen, Clowney and Pringle will just get better and better.
Sears was the glue for this team last night and Burnette got better in the 2nd half after turning the ball over a few times in the first half.
You could see this team getting better during the game, and they cut down on mistakes as the game wore on.
Our 3 point shooting needs to improve and confidence is what they need. I saw lots of really good looking 3 point attempts that rimmed out, they will get better.
No chance for resting on this win with Liberty coming in Friday night. They are a legit team with one of the best point guards in the nation in Darius McGee. 5'9" but don't let that fool you as he averages about 25 points / game.

 

[Sweetlou2.0]

We are going to need Burnett to be good. Period. We cannot have 4 McDonalds All Americans on a team and only one being a major contributor. And unfortunately, I’m becoming skeptical on Burnett. Really hope he turns it around.

 

[kimbell]

Not a popular opinion, but I don’t think Oates basketball style is going to be a long term success. We are fundamentally bad on offense. Too many turnovers. Shot selection is extremely bad. Our offense is stagnant. A lot of dribbling with people standing still watching. We have had 3 games so far and there is no indication this team can shoot. No adjustment to our style of play. Can’t shoot, so what, keep shooting or out your head down and drive to the basket. Not a fan

 

[michael1965]

Man, this is a tough crowd! Four freshmen played high minutes , held the other team to below 35% shooting, had 67 rebounds and 9 steals but nothing positive comes from the game? Oates #1 priority was improved defense and they nailed it. Longwood is a solid, experienced team but we beat them handily. Roll Tide

 

[Codie B]

Shooting is contagious. When a few are off, it tends to spread. When they’re on, the same applies. 10/28 a game is doable for this bunch and imagine the scores they’ll put up then.

I hope you are correct. I just have been disappointed about our outside shooting for what now seems to be eons, and I have heard many times it will be good this season. Past experience has just taught me you have to see it consistently occur first before I will believe it.

 

[pfaud001]

I am usually the biggest sunshine pumper here, but I am frustrated. I wanted to see less TOs. That was it. Oats said they made it an emphasis this year. They are still very careless and sloppy with passes. I don't like it. I did like how Oats yanked Burnette after he had several TOs and then yanked him again after he turned it over at the beginning of the half. That has got to be fixed. As for the 3 point shooting, Burnette is probably the best one and he was pressing. Sears is probably second best, and he was missing. I think that will fix itself.

 

[lainey2020]

Good point! A lot of missed shots equates to a lot of rebounds.

Only if you get the offensive rebounds. We did and thats what kept us going and made us have a big night. lf we don't get all those offensive boards that could have been a very close game.

 

[33TideHoops]

Like I said in a previous post, we're going to have to be patient with this bunch. Lots of new faces and lots of youth. It's already a great sign that they've bought in to bring it on the defensive end. It very well could be a slow start to the season, but this group has the talent to make a run in March if they start clicking. Should be a fun season!

 

[BaselineLeaner4]

I am usually the biggest sunshine pumper here, but I am frustrated. I wanted to see less TOs. That was it. Oats said they made it an emphasis this year. They are still very careless and sloppy with passes. I don't like it. I did like how Oats yanked Burnette after he had several TOs and then yanked him again after he turned it over at the beginning of the half. That has got to be fixed. As for the 3 point shooting, Burnette is probably the best one and he was pressing. Sears is probably second best, and he was missing. I think that will fix itself.

To be fair, Sears and Burnett combined for more than half of those (10 of the 19). I expect to average around ~14 as a team this year. Maybe a little less once JQ is healthy

 

[pfaud001]

To be fair, Sears and Burnett combined for more than half of those (10 of the 19). I expect to average around ~14 as a team this year. Maybe a little less once JQ is healthy

Oh, I agree. They both need to pick better shots. Sears jacked up some that were not advised. Burnett not as much. He just missed.

 

[Jordan Harper]

I understand the frustration of poor 3 point shooting and the turnovers.

Last season the team was not a good shooting team. I’d argue we didn’t have a single ‘shooter’ on the team last year. This season I’d say we have 3-4 solid shooters. The turnovers are infuriating. However, last season we didn’t have hardly anyone to trust with the ball. This year there are multiple guys that can.

When you play fast you tend to force and speed yourself up too much. That’s what you saw Monday night with half the players being freshman/first year players in the program. There will be growing pains, but you can tell this group just loves playing together and for each other. Their defensive intensity will be what win them games and if they make outside shots, they’ll be insanely good. I’m just glad to see a team that plays hard and looks like they take pride on defense.

 

[Sweetlou2.0]

I understand the frustration of poor 3 point shooting and the turnovers.

Last season the team was not a good shooting team. I’d argue we didn’t have a single ‘shooter’ on the team last year. This season I’d say we have 3-4 solid shooters. The turnovers are infuriating. However, last season we didn’t have hardly anyone to trust with the ball. This year there are multiple guys that can.

When you play fast you tend to force and speed yourself up too much. That’s what you saw Monday night with half the players being freshman/first year players in the program. There will be growing pains, but you can tell this group just loves playing together and for each other. Their defensive intensity will be what win them games and if they make outside shots, they’ll be insanely good. I’m just glad to see a team that plays hard and looks like they take pride on defense.

I’d say last year JQ, Shack and Gurley were proven shooters coming in.

 

[Codie B]

I’d say last year JQ, Shack and Gurley were proven shooters coming in.

True. They just seemed to forget how to shoot, and in Shacks case, many times, took ill advised shots.

 

[Sweetlou2.0]

I understand the frustration of poor 3 point shooting and the turnovers.

Last season the team was not a good shooting team. I’d argue we didn’t have a single ‘shooter’ on the team last year. This season I’d say we have 3-4 solid shooters. The turnovers are infuriating. However, last season we didn’t have hardly anyone to trust with the ball. This year there are multiple guys that can.

When you play fast you tend to force and speed yourself up too much. That’s what you saw Monday night with half the players being freshman/first year players in the program. There will be growing pains, but you can tell this group just loves playing together and for each other. Their defensive intensity will be what win them games and if they make outside shots, they’ll be insanely good. I’m just glad to see a team that plays hard and looks like they take pride on defense.

I’d say last year JQ, Shack and Gurley were proven shooters coming in.

True. They just seemed to forget how to shoot, and in Shacks case, many times, took ill advised shots.

Yep. But that’s my point. Last year was supposed to be a good shooting team but it never panned out. Not trying to be a doomsdayer at all… but I think we have reasons to be skeptical. We have a few guys who have the ability to make shots but no proven marksmen from outside.

 

[DrElliot]

On a good note, 8 guys got meaningful minutes last night if you include Pringle with 11 minutes, so it looks like we have some depth to work with this year. As noted above 3-point shooting and turnovers need to improve.

 

[pfaud001]

Dom Welch didn’t play either and he should be another good shooter. I do feel like the defense will be able to keep us in a lot of games and we should have some big man depth. We did not have much length or big man depth last year compared to this team.