TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 4 Alabama put on one of the most dominant basketball shows we’ve seen across the country on Saturday, destroying LSU at home with a final score of 106-66.
It was one of the best games the Crimson Tide has played so far this season, so here are my takeaways from the game:
1. The shooting was immensely assisted by the offensive rebounds.
They say it’s not the first shot that kills you, it’s the second.
Alabama embodied that saying on Saturday. The Crimson Tide netted 20 3-pointers in the game – just three fewer than the program and SEC record – but did so with a somewhat modest 37 percent clip.
Alabama was able to do that thanks to its offensive rebounds, a division head, Nate Oats and his staff have persevered in recent weeks after the team’s offensive rebound numbers plummeted to start the SEC game.
Time and time again, Alabama missed the first three-pointer it took possession of, got an offensive rebound, and stepped out for a much more open three-pointer after the defense struggled to get the rebound themselves. Alabama had 20 offensive rebounds in the game against LSU’s 14 and a whopping 32 second chance points in the game against LSU’s 8.
Even if Alabama doesn’t shoot well on a percentage basis, if opposing teams can’t keep the Crimson Tide off the glass, it’s going to be a long night.
2. Brandon Miller opened up his game to more than just shooting.
Freshman phenom Brandon Miller has been one of the best shooters in all of college basketball this season. He currently leads the SEC this season with 56 points in 3-point marks and ranks second in 3-point percentage in the conference with just over 46 percent.
For a time, however, it could have been argued that much of his offensive play was one-dimensional, as Miller sometimes struggled to get inside consistently in games.
He opened up his inside game against LSU. On 2-point attempts, Miller shot 4-of-5 in the game with several nice finishes on the rim, but what struck me wasn’t necessarily the finishes – although they were impressive – it was the way he got to the rim.
Miller made seven 3-pointers in the game, so LSU defenders started tapping on his 3-ball. Because of this, Miller began using dribbling hesitations and fake shots to get defenders airborne, resulting in wide, open lanes where he could get to the edge with ease.
He’s not as strong as other forwards out there, but he’s incredibly fluid, so being able to manipulate his defenders’ positioning with the threat of his shot opens up his offensive game even more than it already was.
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3. Alabama passed another maturity test.
If it feels like I talk about the maturity of this team almost every week, it’s because I am.
After a physical and high-intensity road win over Arkansas, it would have been incredibly easy for Alabama to return home, see LSU coming in with a 1-3 record in the SEC, completely miss them and sleepwalk to start the game.
Not only did that not happen, it was exactly the opposite. Alabama came out totally focused at every stage of the game, dominating LSU from the opening tip to the final buzzer.
Even in the team’s post-game press conference, Oats mentioned that he was proud of the team for showing the maturity by getting stuck. In the players’ post-game press conference, one of the first things they mentioned was how it was time to start focusing on Vanderbilt.
This team doesn’t pump up after big wins, and this team doesn’t overlook or underestimate opponents. So far this season, Alabama has met every opponent with the same intensity and attitude — an attitude that wants to win every single game, regardless of who’s on the other bench.
For a team starting three freshmen and playing eight new rotation players, that’s unheard of and speaks volumes about the culture that Oats has created.
4. A few more things…
- Not only did offensive rebounds increase, turnovers were back in the single digits. After the game, Oats said he was glad both of the concerns of the past few weeks had been addressed and taken seriously by the players.
- Alabama’s defense once again performed very well. The Crimson Tide is now down under 70 points in six straight games and still boasts an analytical top-10 defense in the country.
- The Coleman Coliseum was packed once again and the sell out crowd provided another great home setting this season.
See also:
No. 4 Alabama basketball decimates LSU by 40 points
It’s Miller Time: Brandon Miller continues to prove he’s one of the best players in college basketball
Coleman Coliseum’s Callin’ Baton Rouge: Another 3-point shooting clinic for No. 4 Alabama vs. LSU