Alabama Basketball: Stats and Nate Oats from Tide blowout of La. Tech

Alabama Basketball exploded from the 2021-22 season starting gate Tuesday night in Tuscaloosa. The visiting Louisiana Tech Bulldogs return four of the top five scorers from a team that was 24-8 last season. While the Crimson Tide was favored in the low, double digits based on a talent advantage, the Bulldogs’ experience advantage was expected to keep the game competitive.

It was not competitive – the game was a blowout with the Crimson Tide winning 93-64. The Crimson Tide outshot (floor, at the line and outside the arc), out-rebounded, out – blocked, stole and assisted the Bulldogs. The only meaningful stat in favor of Louisiana Tech was three fewer than the Tide’s 14 turnovers.

The Crimson Tide shot 50%, including 39% from outside the arc and 70% at the foul line. The Tide outrebounded the Bulldogs, 51-37. The swarming Tide defense held Louisiana Tech to 39% shooting.

Alabama Basketball Player Stats

Five Crimson Tide players scored double-digits, led by Keon Ellis with 18 points and Jaden Shackelford with 17 points. Juwan Gary and JD Davison had 12 points each. Darius Miles had 11 points and Jahvon Quinerly added nine points.

The leading rebounders for the Crimson Tide were Juwan Gary with 10 boards and Keon Ellis with nine. Shackelford had seven rebounds. JD Davison was the assist leader for the Tide with six, along with six rebounds and a steal. Eight Tide players had 11 minutes or more of action. Six other Tide players also saw game action.

Alabama Basketball Coach Nate Oats

As reported by Roger Hoover,

"We’ve got good depth, good players, the ball moves. We had 19 assists. We shot it pretty well from 3PT tonight but it wasn’t like we were on fire. We were 16 of 24 at the rim."

As reported by Nick Kelly,

"Nate Oats said Keon Ellis and Juwan Gary are blue-collar guys who can help replace Herb Jones"

As reported by Clint Lamb,

"Nate Oats said Keon Ellis and Juwan Gary are tasked with replacing Herb Jones. Says Ellis can guard 1 through 4 and Gary can guard 2 through 5."

As reported by Charlie Potter,

"Juwan Gary beat Keon Ellis by one blue-collar point to win tonight’s Hard Hat Award."

Nate Oats also found some learning points for his team, commenting the bigs have to learn to play defense without fouling. Transfer, Noah Gurley struggled in his first Crimson Tide start. In 19 minutes, Gurley produced three points and one rebound.

Next up for Alabama Basketball is a Friday night game in Tuscaloosa against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.