Alabama Basketball Faces a Tough Challenge Against Arizona
BIRMINGHAM — Nate Oats was well aware of the challenge that awaited his Alabama basketball team when they faced top-ranked Arizona. In the days leading up to the C.M. Newton Classic, he even joked about borrowing some of Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer’s defensive linemen to prepare for the matchup. This lighthearted comment was rooted in reality, as No. 12 Alabama (7-3) found themselves in a tough battle against the undefeated Wildcats.
The game, held at Legacy Arena in Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center, saw Arizona dominate in the second half, ultimately winning 96-75. The Wildcats, known for their top 10 defense, faced off against an Alabama offense ranked No. 2 nationally. However, the Tide struggled in the final 20 minutes, allowing Arizona to go on a 28-6 run early in the second half. With Arizona also boasting a top 10 offense, this game proved to be one of Alabama’s toughest yet, especially for their frontcourt, which was physically challenged from the start.
Rebounding and Shooting Struggles
Alabama’s struggles were evident in several areas. On the offensive glass, the Tide gave up 22 rebounds and only managed three of their own. In total, they were outrebounded by 20. Labaron Philon had his first double-double of the season with 24 points and 10 rebounds, but his five turnovers didn’t help the cause. While Philon and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. were consistent scorers, the team’s shooting percentage dropped significantly, from 50% in the first half to 38.5% in the second half.
Fans began to leave Legacy Arena as the score gap widened, with Arizona establishing an 89-69 lead with three minutes left on the clock. The final score was 96-75, marking a significant loss for Alabama.
Key Moments and Player Performances
Throughout the game, there were several key moments that highlighted the challenges Alabama faced. Former Alabama prospect Brayden Burries scored 18 points in the second half alone, leading Arizona with 26 points. Oats had previously mentioned that Burries was capable of a 30-point performance, and his efforts in this game were a testament to that.
Aden Holloway, who returned to the starting lineup, had a quiet first half, failing to score any points despite playing 10 minutes. His only contributions were two field goal attempts and one assist, along with a personal foul.
On the other hand, Aiden Sherrell made an impact early in the game, scoring the first points for Alabama with a dunk. Later, he tied the scoreboard at 39, showing his potential. However, the overall team performance was not enough to overcome Arizona’s strong play.
Halftime Highlights
At halftime, Alabama held a 2-point lead, thanks in part to strong performances from Philon and Wrightsell. Philon made a jumper to take the lead, while Wrightsell contributed 12 points. Taylor Bol Bowen led the team in scoring with seven points, including a crucial three-pointer that helped narrow the deficit.
Despite the halftime lead, the second half proved to be a turning point. Arizona took control, going on a 9-0 run over 1:13 to extend their lead. Alabama went without a field goal for 2:49, highlighting the team’s struggles in the second half.
Final Thoughts
This game served as a valuable lesson for Alabama, showcasing the importance of maintaining focus and consistency throughout the entire contest. While players like Philon and Wrightsell showed flashes of brilliance, the team as a whole needed to improve their rebounding and shooting efficiency.
As the season progresses, Alabama will need to address these issues if they hope to compete against top-tier teams like Arizona. The experience gained from this game will undoubtedly play a role in shaping the team’s future strategies and adjustments.
Alabama-Arizona in the headlines
Check out a couple headlines from the days preceding Alabama’s matchup against Arizona.
- Alabama basketball reunion with Jaden Bradley? ‘Not much of a story’ to Arizona
- Arizona’s Brayden Burries once saw himself as Alabama basketball’s next Mark Sears
How to watch Alabama basketball vs Arizona: TV channel, streaming
Start time: 8:30 p.m. CT
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: Fubo, Sling, ESPN+
Starting at 8:30 p.m. CT, Alabama-Arizona will be shown on ESPN. The game can be streamed via Fubo, Sling and ESPN+.
Next five games for Alabama basketball
- Dec. 17: vs. USF
- Dec. 21: vs. Kennesaw State at Propst Arena in Huntsville
- Dec. 29: vs. Yale
- Jan. 3: vs. Kentucky
- Jan. 7: at Vanderbilt
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball suffers second-half collapse vs Arizona: Recap, highlights