🏀 🏀 Kentucky vs Alabama 🏀 : Bama sweeps Kentucky in '25 with 96-83 win over the Wildcats

[mando]

Down in Tuscaloossa for an event that overlapped and did not get to see the game. Tried to find a way to do both and had looked into tickets but was not able to free up in time. Glad they got the win. Still sounds like maybe they started slow if they were down 20-12. Will look over the stats but were the turnovers any better? Needed this one bad so glad they got it.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

 

[UA Press Release]

No. 4/4 Alabama Completes Sweep of No. 17/21 Kentucky, 96-83 - Alabama Athletics

The No. 4/4 Alabama men's basketball team erased a 12-point first-half deficit to push past No. 17/21 Kentucky, 96-83, inside Coleman Coliseum on Saturday ni...

rolltide.com

The Crimson Tide erased a 12-point first-half deficit to earn its eighth win over an AP Top 25 team this season

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 4/4 Alabama men's basketball team erased a 12-point first-half deficit to push past No. 17/21 Kentucky, 96-83, inside Coleman Coliseum on Saturday night. With the win, Alabama completed the series sweep over the Wildcats, doing so for just the fourth time in program history.

Despite trailing by more than 10 points in the first half for the third game in a row, Alabama (22-5, 11-3 SEC) completed its largest come-from-behind win of the season, thanks to a game-high 30 points from Mark Sears. Sears was joined in double figures by Aden Holloway (19) and Chris Youngblood (14) as the trio combined for 63 of the team's 96 points to lead the offensive effort.

Kentucky (18-9, 7-7) was led by Koby Brea's 20 points on 7-of-16 shooting and 4-of-10 effort from deep.

Head Coach Nate Oats​

"I thought our guys did a good job once we kind of dug ourselves a hole. You've got to give Kentucky a ton of credit to come out like they did, knowing that they were down bodies. I think Coach Pope has done a really good job at galvanizing that crew and had them ready to go; I give them a bunch of credit but I thought that our guys didn't really panic when we were down by 12, we just stuck with it and started getting stops.

"Our defensive efficiency numbers after the first four minutes were really good. We held them to a 0.8 (points per possession) and they only scored 24 points on their next 30 possessions. So, the defense, from that point on, was where we need it to be. We are still having turnover issues, we had 15 turnovers and only 14 assists. Part of putting Labaron Philon in the starting lineup was to allow Mark Sears to get off the ball a little bit more like he did last year - it's worked for Mark (Sears) with back-to-back 30-point games for the first time in his career and it's been pretty efficient, too, but we just need Labaron to stop turning it over as much as he is. Sears is playing the best basketball I've seen him play since he's been here, on both sides of the ball."

 

[Bammerboy321]

Some of our issues D is the gameplan and scheme IMO. That said, we have a ton of veterans on this squad with seniors and guys who were a part of the F4 last year. It's infuriating to hear that Oats has to resort to stuff like this because not everyone is bought in. This team needs better leadership from everyone.

 

[alabama mike]

Downside was having 15 turnovers. Our interior defense is still a major weakness.
Sears reduced his to 2 or 3 turnovers but had a big offensive game.
Philon needs to cut down on his turnovers.
Cliff had a good rebounding game, about 15. We still had no answers for the opponents big guy.
Nelson was on the struggle bus for about 36 of the 40 minutes with fouls, lack of scoring and rebounding.
Youngblood finally found his stroke again.
Maybe I’m wrong but Stevenson was a non factor IMO.
Holloway came in and gave us a good scoring game.
Sherrill gave us solid minutes subbing for Cliff and Nelson.
Who am I missing?

Yesterday was a big win against a traditional blue blood in college basketball. Hopefully, we can build on this win and take care of business.

 

[BamaFan334]

Some of our issues D is the gameplan and scheme IMO. That said, we have a ton of veterans on this squad with seniors and guys who were a part of the F4 last year. It's infuriating to hear that Oats has to resort to stuff like this because not everyone is bought in. This team needs better leadership from everyone.

The refreshing part is he wasn't scared to employ it. Football could have learned a thing or two with this mindset no matter what it may cause. Oats is successful because he does it his way. Never gonna be perfect, but sticking to your guns is a lost thing in the sports arena these days.

 

[Bammerboy321]

Youngblood finally found his stroke again.
.

I think most of this was the quality of shot he was putting up. You watch vs auburn and Mizzou, he would throw up a 3 after receiving a high ball screen with a defender still in his area. Hand in face and everything. Later in the game, he had open looks and that's where he started making shots.

Against UK, he did the same early on. Instead of swinging it for someone else to get a better shot off, he'd just throw it up because the ball was in his hands. It's not at all what Oats wants. Players shouldn't just throw up 3s and drive to the rim because that's what the offense is designed to do. It's about getting the highest percentage shot, usually within the first 10 seconds. The unfortunate thing is that players mistake the offensive freedom Oats has instilled, so they usually resort to just throwing up shots whenever they feel like it. I wish guys would understand their roles a little more. Like Youngblood, don't put the ball on the floor and be ready for a spot up jumper when it's time. Allow Holloway, Sears, and Philon to orchestrate the offense and the others buy into spacing, cuts, shots at the rim, etc..

 

[#80]

I think most of this was the quality of shot he was putting up.

When he rushes his shot it's rarely made. He is very aggressive.

 

[24and7]

Downside was having 15 turnovers. Our interior defense is still a major weakness.
Sears reduced his to 2 or 3 turnovers but had a big offensive game.
Philon needs to cut down on his turnovers.
Cliff had a good rebounding game, about 15. We still had no answers for the opponents big guy.
Nelson was on the struggle bus for about 36 of the 40 minutes with fouls, lack of scoring and rebounding.
Youngblood finally found his stroke again.
Maybe I’m wrong but Stevenson was a non factor IMO.
Holloway came in and gave us a good scoring game.
Sherrill gave us solid minutes subbing for Cliff and Nelson.
Who am I missing?

Yesterday was a big win against a traditional blue blood in college basketball. Hopefully, we can build on this win and take care of business.

My dad said Nelson is playing scared.. Something has got in his head..

 

[Bammerboy321]

When he rushes his shot it's rarely made. He is very aggressive.

Yeah I don't get it when he does that. The elevator screen that we love to run, he is almost always going to throw it up.

Some of the guys on the team would really benefit from mastering the shot fake. Especially with how many shots we get up. I think that would add another dangerous element to the offense.

 

[Bama Guy]

My dad said Nelson is playing scared.. Something has got in his head..

Something is off. I wonder if coach has gotten into his head, and he's playing scared trying to avoid a mistake.