Following a significant road victory at Texas A&M, the Alabama men’s basketball team faced a tough challenge at home, suffering a 74-64 defeat against Ole Miss in Coleman Coliseum. This marks Alabama’s first loss in SEC conference play this season, bringing their record to 14-3 overall and 3-1 in the SEC.
Head coach Nate Oats’ squad struggled offensively throughout the game, showcasing a concerning performance that leaves fans wondering about the team’s direction as they prepare for an upcoming road game against Kentucky.
Here are three key takeaways from the loss:
A sluggish start characterized the beginning of the highly anticipated matchup between Alabama, ranked No. 4 nationally, and No. 21 Ole Miss. The game started with both teams exchanging turnovers, leading to a disjointed opening where Ole Miss only managed to score two points in the first few minutes. The first half was marked by erratic play, including a series of turnovers from the Tide, who managed to head into halftime with a slight lead of 36-32 despite committing 11 turnovers that allowed Ole Miss to capitalize for points.
The turnover issue persisted into the second half. Alabama’s struggles continued as they tallied a staggering 21 turnovers in total, allowing Ole Miss to score 19 points off those mistakes. Before this game, Alabama had not exceeded 24 turnovers in a game under Coach Oats, and they faced a season-high of 20 against Rutgers earlier in the season.
On the offensive front, Alabama, noted for having one of the top offenses in the country, fell short of expectations, only managing a field goal percentage of 43% and a mere 25% from beyond the arc. Key players such as Mark Sears and Chris Youngblood, who had recently shown improvements, could not find their rhythm, leading to a season-low scoring output.
Moving forward, Alabama will need to address these challenges and find consistency in their performance. With a critical matchup against Kentucky on the horizon, fans remain hopeful that the team can turn the tide and return to their winning ways.
In summary, Alabama’s recent loss to Ole Miss highlights pressing issues with turnovers and shooting accuracy that the team must rectify to regain their momentum in the SEC. As they prepare for a pivotal game against Kentucky, improvement will be essential for Alabama to stay competitive at the top levels of college basketball.