Alabama suffers brutal loss to SEC rival
The Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team entered the season with lofty expectations. While there’s still plenty of time to right the ship, Nate Oats and company must turn it around quickly.
Tuesday’s loss to a SEC rival that had loss 8-straight games and entered the matchup as a significant underdog isn’t what Crimson Tide fans want to see. The Bulldogs entered the game without a single SEC victory and just a 5-14 record.
“This was not about Alabama playing down to the competition, this was Georgia bringing its ‘A’ game,” SEC Network commentator Dane Bradshaw said during the broadcast. “Georgia came out hot hitting the 3-pointers. The second half turned more physical, and Georgia won the majority of the 50-50 balls and earned this victory.”
Aaron Cook led UGA with 15 points, 4 assists, and a rebound. The Gonzaga transfer scored 11 of his points in the second half.
Jaden Shackelford scored 20 points, dished out 2 assists, and grabbed 3 rebounds for the Alabama Crimson Tide. The star shooter was limited to 4 points in the second half.
How can the Alabama Crimson Tide turn around the season?
Last week, after his team began to sputter, Oates was forced with the question many have been asking around Tuscaloosa. How will his team turn the season around?
Alabama basketball hit a rough patch in its season, losing three straight and five of eight since winning back-to-back games against Gonzaga and Houston.
And that was nearly a week ago. Now, the Alabama Crimson Tide are coming off their roughest loss of the year against UGA.
While the 81-77 loss against Auburn leaves nothing to be ashamed of given their form, losses against Missouri and Mississippi State on the road set back the Crimson Tide from reaching their goal of a deep NCAA Tournament run.
The Alabama Crimson Tide have one of the most up-and-down resumes in college basketball, boasting wins over Gonzaga, Houston, Miami and Tennessee and losses against Iona, Davidson and Missouri.
Head coach Nate Oats has spent the last four days regrouping with his veteran Alabama squad, trying to right the ship before No. 13 LSU arrives in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Wednesday night. He spoke about the key to getting the team back on track during a post-practice press conference.
“We beat Gonzaga, pretty much on the road, we had Auburn on the ropes,” said Oats, via AL.com’s Mike Rodak. “Had a shot there with a minute to go that would have put us up. We’re right in there. We just got to clean some stuff up. We got to bring an effort that demands a victory every night out for 40.”
Alabama’s recent success has centered on a “blue-collar” approach and the analytics of three-point shots and layups. The departure of veteran leader and defensive star Herbert Jones left a gap in Alabama’s armor which must be replaced before March.
For Alabama Crimson Tide fans, the hope is there is a major turnaround on the way.