I’m sure you’re all aware that the Alabama men’s basketball team lost their second (consecutive) game of the season.
It’s still early on in the season, and the jury is still out on how good this Alabama team can and will be, but we have to agree that right now, this team is limited offensively. Alabama has scored more than 75 points only once in nine tries.
VCU showed everyone the blueprint, even though they lost, and Georgetown and Dayton completely figured out how to beat Alabama. If you make them play half-court offense, you can beat them. If you make their offense go against a zone defense, you can beat them. If you make them rely on perimeter shots, guess what? You can beat them.
Alabama plays stifling defense and likes to push the tempo on offense. Their defense keeps them in games because they are able to hold most opponents under 65 points. But in the half court they are stagnant and often look confused on offense.
The Crimson Tide’s best player, JaMychal Green, is destined to get into foul trouble every game. Foul trouble has slowed Green’s production more than any defender he’s faced all season. Whether it’s two quick fouls in the first half, or four in the second half (remember Georgetown), Green always seems to find himself sitting on the bench.
Alabama’s second best player, Tony Mitchell, doesn’t foul as much, but he has yet to develop into the dominant wing player the Tide need him to be. Yes, he occasionally knocks down threes; and yes he has the hops to jump out of the gym and will dunk on anyone in his way; but off the dribble, Mitchell is awkward and often finds himself shooting weird, off-balance shots that look more like prayers than practice.
Their third best player, Trevor Releford, usually looks lost on the offensive end. He has big-time ability, but gets overshadowed by Green and Mitchell. He has a nice jump shot, but doesn’t shoot enough to be a serious threat. Releford is also super quick and can finish around the rim, but when teams drop back into zones, he struggles to make plays.
As talented as Alabama’s freshmen are, for the most part they struggle in key moments. Trevor Lacey is the most hyped, and he lives up to it with tough defense and fancy plays off the dribble, but his perimeter shot is too inconsistent. Nick Jacobs has a deadly hook shot, but he’s short (despite being listed at 6’8) and gets lost among the taller frontcourt players. Levi Randolph and Rodney Cooper both start, but neither is capable of taking over a game offensively at this point in their career.
This is not meant to write the Tide off. I believe they have a lot of potential and they should make a run in NCAA tournament.
But if Anthony Grant doesn’t make the proper adjustments and get his team in better offensive sets against the zone, the Tide will find themselves in a different tournament come March. One they came up short in last season.
