Alabama Basketball: Crimson Tide outshot and out-rebounded by Stanford

Alabama basketball was soundly defeated by Stanford Monday night in the Maui Classic.

Any Alabama basketball fans who missed the Tide’s Monday game are forgiven. The ones that watched and hung on until the end deserve an award. Numbers don’t lie but they sometimes don’t show the complete picture of a game. Nate Oats’ Alabama Crimson Tide lost to Stanford, 82-64. In reality, the game was not that close.

The Cardinal, coached by former UAB head man, Jerod Hasse, led by 12 points at the end of the first half. The Crimson Tide cut the lead to seven points at 15:21 of the second half. The Cardinal pushed it back to 10 on its next possession and stretched the lead to 23 over the next seven minutes. Stanford coasted through the game’s last eight minutes to an easy win.

Very little went well for the Crimson Tide. Stanford shot 63 percent on just 15 three-balls. The Tide put up 29 outside the arc with just 24 percent success. Stanford also won the rebounding battle, 47-31. Neither team shot well at the foul line.

Nate Oats’ ‘Rims and 3s’ offensive system requires finishing at the basket and making at least 34 percent of threes. The Tide offense delivered too little of both components. The Stanford plan was to contest outside the arc, forcing the Tide to take tougher shots or drive to the basket. As a result, Alabama basketball got few ‘catch and shoot’ opportunities. Most of the drives also ended in tough shots, the Crimson Tide could not regularly convert.

On the 23 threes by the Tide’s most used players, only Jaden Shackelford, making 2-for-5, shot a good percentage. John Petty and Alex Reese were each, 1-for-4. Jahvon Quinerly and Jordan Bruner were each 1-for-3. James Rojas and Keon Ellis were each 0-for-2.

Roger Hoover reported on Nate Oats comments, after the game.

"I thought they played harder than we did. That’s on us. Out-rebounded by 16, that doesn’t bode well. They’re a good team but we’ve got to play better.To me the most disappointing thing was rebounding.We had zero offensive rebounds until last minute of first half. It’s absurd. It’s a problem. To get out-rebounded by 16, that’s a big effort stat. If we don’t get better effort tomorrow night we’re not going to win tomorrow night.Sometimes our shot selection hasn’t been great. Got guys forcing contested ones up instead of playing how we need to play.Part of our problem too, didn’t finish layups at the rim. If we could convert at rim, it was bad tonight. Some maybe should’ve been sprayed out for open kick out 3’s. Sometimes we’ve got to make a shot, show some toughness."

Nate Oats clearly defined what Alabama basketball fans saw. The loss must be a wake-up call for his team or more losses will come from UNLV and other early-season opponents.

Two games into a season is no time to panic. Alabama basketball fans will need patience as the new, rebuilt lineup comes together. Win or lose against UNLV on Tuesday, the game will reveal much about Nate Oats’ Alabama basketball team.