Alabama Basketball: Tide moves to 10-6 with home win over South Carolina

Alabama basketball gained a relatively easy home win against the South Carolina Gamecocks, winning 76-62. The Tide was led in scoring by John Petty’s 15 points.

After two road losses, Alabama basketball badly needed a win. South Carolina entered the contest with a 10-5 record. Gamecock’s coach Frank Martin is in a rebuilding phase, having to replace three key players from last season, including the SEC Player of the year, Sindarius Thornwell. Thornwell led South Carolina to a Final Four berth last season.

South Carolina’s leading scorer, Chris Silva was hampered by foul trouble on Tuesday night. He fouled out after only playing 18 minutes. Silva finished with just nine points. South Carolina was led in scoring by senior guard, Wesley Meyers who more than doubled his average with 15 points.

Freshman John petty scored 15 points for the Tide, followed by Donta Hall with 13 and Daniel Giddens with 11 points. Alabama coach, Avery Johnson juggled the starting lineup, adding Giddens to the group of Collin Sexton, Hall, Braxton Key and Herbert Jones.

John Petty responded well to his bench role, playing one of his best games. To go with his 15 points, Petty added four rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes. Freshman Collin Sexton had a quiet game, playing only 22 minutes, scoring five points and adding four assists. Alabama basketball dominated the bench point stats. In addition to Petty, Avery Jr. had 10 points, Galin Smith, six and Dazon Ingram four points.

The Crimson Tide outshout South Carolina 59 percent to 36 percent. The Tide was also 41 percent from three-point range. Alabama had a decided advantage on the boards, pulling down 35 to South Carolina’s 28.

A young team looking for leadership

South Carolina head coach Frank Marton credited Avery Johnson Jr.’s leadership as a difference in the game. In response, Avery Sr. said,

"We need him to lead more and step up and stop apologizing for being the coach’s son. You are who you are. We need him to lead more."

According to rolltide.com,

"Alabama is one of the few teams in the nation that does not have a senior on its active roster. In fact, according to KenPom.com, the Crimson Tide ranks 348th out of 351 teams in terms of experience on its roster with an average of 0.81 years of experience."

That young roster needs to find a way to win three of the next four games. The Tide travels to LSU on Saturday, followed by home games with Auburn and Mississippi State and another road game against Ole Miss.

Next: Tide Defense woke up to win National Championship

According to live-rpi.com, the Tide RPI is No. 42 after Tuesday night’s win. Six SEC teams currently have a higher RPI ranking than the Crimson Tide.