🏀 Crimson Tide takes 93-65 exhibition win over Georgia Tech

[18Champs]

• -Nice to see a team play the way a coach described they will play. That’s new for us. Impressive.
• -We have a legit alpha ‘go to’ player on this team named Kira Lewis. Turned it over a little too much but otherwise a boss stat line.
• -Petty will probably always be a streak shooter. But today despite being 0-5, 0-3 from 3 in 1st half, he played hard on defense and got 4 rebounds. Then he proceeded to go 3-4 from 3 point range and score 13 total in 2nd half. That never happened his first 2 years when he started cold. Same thing happened with Reese. 0-3 from 3 in 1st half, 3-3 in 2nd.
• -Shackelford is as advertised. Can really shoot, has great confidence, doesn’t play like a freshman. Bolden is going to be a big contributor too.
• -Smith needs to step up his presence inside and get some boards. Davis did a good job rebounding. But we played significant minutes without either of them on the floor. Oats system allows for that.
• -Overall, the style of play, energy, chemistry, and effort were refreshing. And 11 for 16 from 3 in the 2nd half was great to see.
• -It seems clear that Coach Oats holds our players accountable for playing hard all the time, and more importantly believes in them and instills confidence. Can’t wait to watch this season.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Most telling stat of the day?

Remember when I said last year that our woes from the stripe for most of CAJ's tenure were due to a lack of coaching in that area?

Well, so far so OUTSTANDING for Coach Oats...

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

 

[planomateo]

^^ Ball & Oats - perfect!

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[TerryP]

Alabama put up 77 field goal attempts, including 37 three-point tries against the Yellow Jackets. On those treys, the Tide nailed 17 of them, which Pastner said was the key to Bama’s win.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

@TerryP
77 FG attempts indicative of pace of play?

Curious as to what last year's team's average attempts were.

Then this

 

[TerryP]

Curious as to what last year's team's average attempts were.

I had the same thought ... less than 60 FG per was the average.

 

[TerryP]

 

[mando]

Not sure how good Ga Tech is but they are in the ACC and in the past they were pretty good. Stats show improvement for sure. Looks like 9 players were in the rotation based on minutes played.

 

[rick4bama]

Did GT make the NCAA ?

 

[TerryP]

Not sure how good Ga Tech is but they are in the ACC and in the past they were pretty good. Stats show improvement for sure. Looks like 9 players were in the rotation based on minutes played.

Off the top of my head ...

I know they were below .500 last season and I want to say it was a couple of games. I'd have to look ... a 15-17 type of record overall. That said their calling card last year was defense. They were close to the top of their conference in FB and 3pt defense.

The only reason I mention that is according to what I've read about GT this season they returned all of those guys.

It's arguable pace of play had a large impact on the game yesterday. Now, how that translates to a few weeks from now? Who knows. Exhibition games don't always feature teams that are in "season shape," so to speak.

 

[18Champs]

Another one I found:

Pace and effort were 100% as promised.

A lot of 3 balls, many went in. Shackleford, Reese, Kira, Petty.

Need to finish drives to the hoop better in the half court. Dribble drive is the next thing that will help draw the defense in.

Fast passing and ball movement. Great to see!

Healthy amount of turnovers due to fast pace, but that should improve as we get used to this style.

Very aggressive half court D. As promised by Coach Oats, no wasted/token full court. Up in your grill in half court ready for run outs on turnovers.

Boxed out and rebounded very well for a "small" team. Galin and Javian worked hard against Tech's much bigger center.

Like the barn's small team last year, we're going to give up some 2's and rebounds down low, but if we run our stuff and hit 3's we'll outscore giving up the 2's.

Really liked the Kira, Beetle, Shackleford combo.

Georgia Tech was a good scrimmage opponent. Prolly lower/mid ACC. Our pace wore them down and affected their decision making and shooting.

Need to stay healthy. Obvious. No reason in the world JQ shouldn't get his eligibility. We could use his minutes.

Nice, enthusiastic crowd of around 4,000 as the church bells were ending. Crowd gave the kids many ovations for effort all over the court. And kids fed off that. I'm sure Coach Oats appreciated that.

Saw at least 2 to 3 recruits in the recruiting seats.

Coach Oats and staff were energetic and all business. Good work heading into the opener vs Penn.

 

[Bama News]

Crimson Tide takes 93-65 exhibition win over Georgia Tech | TideSports.com

It wasn’t the official opening of the Nate Oats Era of Alabama Basketball but it seemed like a promising preview. The Crimson Tide rolled past Georgia Tech 93-65 at Coleman Coliseum on Sunday, hitting 17 3-point shots in the fast-paced won, although Oats said there was more to come. “People...

www.tidesports.com

It wasn’t the official opening of the Nate Oats Era of Alabama Basketball but it seemed like a promising preview.

The Crimson Tide rolled past Georgia Tech 93-65 at Coleman Coliseum on Sunday, hitting 17 3-point shots in the fast-paced won, although Oats said there was more to come.

“People came up to me after the game and were talking about the pace but to be honest, we are nowhere near where we need to be or where we are going to be.

“Our effort was great. We struggled early with the zone but eventually we broke them. There were way too many turnovers. We will clean up the messiness before conference play, I hope.”

Freshman Jaden Shackleford came off the bench to lead all scorers with 21 points, making six of 10 3-pointers. Sophomore point guard Kira Lewis Jr. added 20 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

Alabama attempted 37 3-pointers, making 17. The records from the exhibition are unofficial but as a reference point, the 17 3-pointers were the most by Alabama since a Dec. 1, 2004, game when UA made 19 3-pointers against East Tennessee State.

The Crimson Tide led 40-32 at halftime but broke the game open with a flurry of 3-pointers early in the second half. Forward John Petty scored all 15 of his points in the second half.

“He missed some early but I told the guys that one of our keys this year is confidence,” Oats said. “If shooters have an open shot, shoot it, don’t look over at the bench to see if it’s a good shot.”

Georgia Tech head coach Josh Pastner had high praise for Alabama.

“They shot the daylights out of it,” Pastner said. “Jaden Shackelford for crying out loud. He can really shoot it and we didn’t really have him on our scouting report. We used some different combinations, tried to play everybody which we don’t usually do but this game doesn’t count on our record. But Alabama is a very good team and if they shoot like that, they’re going to be a very tough out.”

OATS ADDRESSED the situation of transfer guard Jahvon Quinerly — whose appeal to the NCAA for an immediate eligibility waiver was denied on Friday — and continued to express optimism that the sophomore would be allowed to play for UA this season after being cleared of wrongdoing doing his recruitment out of high school.

I wouldn’t say I was surprised (at the ruling),” Oats said. “Disappointed, maybe but there is an appeals process and we had a feeling that’s where we were going to win it anyways.”

“His case is so different, what he’s gone through,” Oats said. “Nobody knows where you check the box. JQ’s attitude has been great and his parents were obviously disappointed with everything they’ve been through. They want to see him play but I think he’s handling it well and we’re going all the way through with it.

“We’re planning to win the appeal and we’re still planning on him playing next Tuesday (in the season opener against Penn) but we have to go through the appeal and see if we can’t get it won through that process.”