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Alabama Basketball: Senior Night Victory Over Ole Miss

By Ronald Evans

Mar 1, 2017; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Dazon Ingram (12) and Alabama Crimson Tide guard Lawson Schaffer (2) react to their teams play against Mississippi Rebels at Coleman Coliseum. The Tide defeated the Rebels 70-55. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2017; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Dazon Ingram (12) and Alabama Crimson Tide guard Lawson Schaffer (2) react to their teams play against Mississippi Rebels at Coleman Coliseum. The Tide defeated the Rebels 70-55. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alabama basketball won on Senior Night at Coleman Coliseum. The Tide easily handled an Ole Miss team that had been on a high-scoring run.

Alabama basketball coach Avery Johnson followed a standard Senior Night script on Wednesday night. Johnson started seniors Bola Olaniyan, Jimmy Taylor, and Corban Collins. The three seniors did not add much firepower to the Tide offense, contributing only 12 points in total. Olaniyan was his usual dominating, stabilizing force on the boards, pulling in 10 rebounds.

The biggest surprise of Senior Night was not Alabama basketball scoring 70 points, but that Ole Miss only scored 55 points. The Rebels/Black Bears, Hotty Toddies, whatever their name, had average 86 points over their last five games.

A major reason for the recent Ole Miss point explosion had been them getting to the foul line. In a reversal from the Tide’s game against TAMU, Ole Miss only attempted 19 free throws. Maybe the less frequent interruption of the game for free throws allowed the Tide to find an offensive rhythm.

Dazon Ingram and Braxton Key were more fluid on offense. They also appeared to continually look to get the ball to each other. Ingram finished with 22 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Key had 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.  The only knock against the pair Wednesday night was some sloppiness with the ball, Ingram and Key made seven of the Tide’s too-high 18 turnovers.

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When you hold the opposing team to 31 percent shooting for a game, you can be sloppy with the ball and survive.

From the still reason to be frustrated perspective, Tide fans cannot ignore that Alabama point guards, Collins and Avery Jr. shot a combined 4-17 and wing players Norris and Davis combined for 1-7 shooting.

If we really want to agonize, we can ask how a player shooting less than 28 percent for the game, is allowed to jack up 11 shots. But it was Senior Night in T-Town and Alabama basketball won its 17th game and earned its 10th win in SEC play. Let’s enjoy this one.

There are games yet to play and doubtless other opportunities to agonize over Alabama basketball.

Next: Check Out the WOAT List - Opposing Coaches Who Were the Worst of All-Time

Alabama basketball takes on Tennessee Saturday afternoon in Knoxville. Connect with us on Facebook and let us know your prediction for the Tide in the SEC Tournament.

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