Alabama basketball made big plays late to hold on to a 103 to 96 win over St. John’s with dominant guard play.
Alabama basketball was able to get good news before the game, with Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Aden Holloway making their debuts with Keitenn Bristow out for the second game in a row with an injury, and the guards did not disappoint one bit inside the “World’s Most Famous Arena.”
“Our training staff deserves a little credit because we wouldn’t have won this game if those guys weren’t available to play,” said head coach Nate Oats on Holloway and Wrightsell Jr. being available for the game.
It was the first time the Red Storm gave up 100 points or more under coach Rick Pitino.
St. John’s captain and returner Zuby Ejifor was practically unstoppable for much of the game and had a game-high 27 points, with the Tide playing the numbers game with plenty of open looks from the midrange.
Alabama scored 103 in the game with 13 assists and 14-22 from the charity stripe with 11 from deep.
The Tide began its tough four-game gauntlet with a win as the underdog and will more than likely be the underdog for three out of the four games and coach Nate Oats and co. embrace that.
“We are a little overlooked right now, and we’re probably better off being the underdog right now,” said Oats.
Alabama’s backcourt trio took over
Labaron Philon took over the game, whether it was driving to the cup to finish or some step-back threes. The full Philon bag was shown in the game with another career high of 25 points, 10-17 from the floor, at the most iconic arena in sports.
“We already knew we could beat them off the dribble,” said Philon.
Wrightsell Jr.’s impact in just the first half alone was sparked with some big deep threes, which allowed the Tide to lead for the majority of the first half. Wrightsell Jr. had left the game and went to the locker room with cramps and came back to have a huge and-one lay-in on a steal to pretty much end the game with 1:44 to go and went on to finish the game with 17 points and 4-8 from deep with 4 steals.
Holloway made his season debut as well and showed how quick he was with the ball to go with some tough shot-making and finishing around the rim to add to his bag from a breakout season last year, and the momentum continued into the game with 21 points while fouling out with 3:22 to go in the game.
The trio had combined for 63 of the team’s 103 points, with all three who returned from last year’s team showed that it is one of the best backcourts in the country that is not being talked about enough.
Taylor Bol Bowen‘s breakout game
Taylor Bol Bowen’s opening night did not go as planned with a struggle performance, and he got called out in the process for not being tough around the glass by the staff and answered the bell on why the Tide won in the transfer portal recruitment over Kentucky with a huge night, and filled the stat sheet with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals.
Bol Bowen came into the game needing to be the X-factor in the game for the Tide to come out with a win, and delivered. Bol Bowen won the hard hat to go along with it.
“He was 100% the X-factor in this game, and if he doesn’t bring it like he brought it, we have no chance to win that game,” said Oats on Bol Bowen’s performance.
The Tide’s front court without Bristow was already a little bit shorthanded, and was forced to go small because of foul trouble from Aiden Sherrell, Noah Williamson, and Collins Onyejiaka all not being able to stay on the floor without fouling, which made Bol Bowen be forced into playing small ball 5, where the team seemed to have tons of success and was able to generate stops and mismatches on the offensive end.
Rebounding and ball security
Through the exhibitions, from opening night, much of the Oats-era turnovers have seemed to be in the middle teens, and with 10+ in the three games on the court so far, it needed to protect the ball and control the pace with only 7 turnovers on the night, forcing the Johnnies to turn it over 12 times to win the turnover battle.
“The only time they (Alabama) lose is when you turn them over more,” said Pitino.
Pitino’s teams are always physical and gave Oats a hard time in the days at Iona. The Tide outrebounded the Johnnies by only one, but were able to grab 14 offensive rebounds with 19 second-chance points, which allowed for more open threes or put-back layups.
Amari Allen, as a big guard, was able to be another huge help on the glass with a 10-rebound game and continues to pad the sheet and do it all for the Tide, and was a +19 while on the floor.
“He’s a physically strong guard who can go in and grab rebounds,” said Philon on Allen.
Next for Alabama basketball (2-0): vs. Purdue (Thurs., Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. EST)
Next for St. John’s (1-1): vs. William & Mary’s (Sat., Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. EST)