The Alabama basketball team returns to Coleman Coliseum Tuesday to host the South Florida Bulls (5-1) after playing in Kansas City last weekend.
The Crimson Tide returns to its home court after splitting back-to-back games at the CBE Hall of Fame Classic in Missouri. After narrowly falling 84-74 to No. 13 Iowa State on Monday, Alabama edged Arizona State 76-71 for its first win away from Tuscaloosa in 18 attempts. The Crimson Tide last won on a court other than Coleman Coliseum March 15, 2013 against Tennessee in the SEC Tournament.
“We’re looking forward to getting back on the court. Obviously, we’ve been off for a few days after our tournament in Kansas City. I felt like the two games we played there were good for our team. Obviously, we didn’t accomplish what we wanted to accomplish with two wins, but I’m proud of the way our guys fought in the last game and we were able to come out with a victory against Arizona State,” Alabama coach Anthony Grant said. “ As I always talk about, we just try to use every game to try and learn about ourselves and try to get a little bit better from each time that we play. I think our guys have responded well to myself and our coaches asking them to take that approach of one day at a time and try to get better every day.”
Through five games, Alabama’s offense is performing at a much higher rate than last season, averaging 78.6 points per game. Captain and senior guard Levi Randolph is averaging 20 points per game, up from last season’s 9.6.
“Coach gives us the credit but I think it’s a credit to the coaches because it’s things that we emphasize every day in practice,” Randolph said. “We always refer to the [NBA Champion San Antonio] Spurs and how they’re an unselfish team and they get the ball movement. When you move the ball, then it makes the defense rotate and it makes easier shots for your team. It’s hard for the defense to guard and with the ball movement, it opens things up for each player.”
After finishing 2013-14 at the bottom of the American Athletic Conference, South Florida is off to a flying start with a record of 5-1 and a shooting percentage of 49.1 percent. The Bulls have their own high scoring senior guard: Corey Allen, who averages 15.8 points per game and 50 percent from the three-point line, where Alabama has struggled to defend in recent games. South Florida is a prolific team in front of the basket, scoring over 30 points in the paint four times this season.
“We’ve got a great challenge ahead of us with [University of] South Florida coming in here tomorrow,” Grant said. “I’m really impressed watching them on film. They really attack you offensively, they’ve got great speed, size, and physicality. Defensively, the numbers speak for themselves. They’re doing a great job of limiting their opponents of easy opportunities and being disruptive in terms of creating turnovers. This will be a great challenge for our team from an offensive standpoint, being able to attack them, from a defensive standpoint, being able to limit their size and physicality along with their speed and perimeter players.”
