Alabama Basketball goes 2-0 to begin the season, with Amari Allen making history as the fourth player in Crimson Tide basketball history to record a triple-double.
Alabama Basketball defeated Sam Houston State 96-74 and defeated Arkansas State 101-86 to begin its college basketball season inside Coleman Coliseum, marking year 8 of the Nate Oats era.
London Jemison showed out for the first games of his sophomore campaign with 15 and 8 points in the first two outings. Jemison moved to the 3-4 after having to play the 4-5 most of last season and can definitely see some more flashes in his game off the dribble and as a catch-and-shoot guy from three.
Jaxon Richardson played in the first game but missed the game versus Arkansas State with an injury; Oats was optimistic he could be back Monday, if not for the Seton Hall game.
Alabama struggled from deep thru the first two games a combined 25-81 from the outside at a 30% clip, although generating a ton of open and good looks that were just not falling.
Defensively, although they’re still allowing the 80s, you can already see improvements in deflections, steals, and blocks. The Tide have forced 40 turnovers through 2 games. Their length lets the Tide jump into passing lanes and force teams into bad shots. Without the late-game relaxed defense, the Tide have been much better than last year on the defensive side of the ball thus far.
Against Arkansas State, the Tide had recorded 21 offensive rebounds, and former assistant coach and now Red Wolves head coach Ryan Pannone praised that area.
“This is the best offensive rebounding team I think Coach Oats has had,” said Pannone.
Alabama Basketball’s next three games will be at home before it leaves Coleman Coliseum for over a month.
Amari Allen takes year two leap
Amari Allen returned to school and forgot the NBA draft to be one of the primary ball handlers on this year’s team, especially during this first week with limited minutes from Diaz and Aden Holloway not back from suspension.
“He came back to play his way up in the draft. I think having a triple-double helps his case. He’s one of the most competitive guys I’ve ever met, both on the floor and off,” said Oats
Allen was everywhere on the court, whether that be in the lane on defense on a rebound, or at the top of the key draining a three.
Allen was in takeover mode against Arkansas State, even made a heat-check three before half that got everybody on their feet, and as a facilitator, he had six assists at the half.
Allen finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists against the Red Wolves despite leaving the game late with a sprained ankle, and should be available for Oakland, but it depends on how the ankle feels.
Brandon Garrison and front court show improvement
A lot of people criticized the portal get for the offseason when Alabama got Brandon Garrison out of the portal, but so far Garrison has shined and been very productive at the 5 spot where Alabama just did not get much from outside of Aiden Sherrell.
Garrison has won the hard hat in back-to-back games with tons of deflections and six steals and blocks combined through two games as well. Garrison also recorded a double-double against the Red Wolves with 14 and 10.
Garrison at times has struggled with maintaining the intensity, but now, being in year four as a Senior leader on the team, will need to continue this level of motor to set the tone.
The others in the front court have also shown flashes and have had their moments, with Boise State transfer Drew Fielder having double digits with 16 and 15 points through two games and 5-for-12 from deep. Fielder and Garrison have been the perfect duo at that 4-and-5 spot, anchoring the paint and making sure the rebounding gets fixed.
Keitenn Bristow returned for year two and continued to be that effort guy the Tide had lacked last season, with 7 blocks through two games and nearly had a double-double with 7 and 9 on Friday.
The Mississippi State transfer showed some bounce as Jamarion Davis-Fleming was active down low as a lob threat and would go sky high for multiple rebounds and also nearly had a double-double with 8 and 7.
Progress and improvement will be big for the Tide as the competition gets tougher later in the month.
Freshman continue to shine
Despite struggles from Cole Cloer and Anderson Diaz, both coming off injury, and Diaz still being a Senior in high school, the freshman class has shone. Whether it be the windmill dunk from Richardson in the first game or the 17-point performance from Qayden “Bugs” Samuels, it’s been important that the young guys get off to good starts, as they will be important throughout the season.
Tarris Bouie has continued to be a big surprise to many with two double-digit scoring nights, and as the rotation will continue to shrink as the year goes on, it will be impossible not to include Bouie in the mix despite some lapses on the floor.
UP Next for Alabama Basketball:
Nov. 9 – Oakland at Alabama
Nov. 13 – Seton Hall at Alabama