Alabama Basketball: Crimson Tide levels Florida at home

Alabama basketball showed no signs of slowing down as it railroaded the Florida Gators by a score of 97-69. The Crimson Tide put the Gators out of their misery early, taking a 29-point lead in the first half before cruising to the victory.

Alabama shot the lights out once again, connecting on 44 percent of its three-point field goals and hitting 15 shots from the outside. The Tide had 11 players score, with three in double figures.

Brandon Miller was laughably good, going for a flashy 24 points and nine rebounds. All game long, Miller hit deep threes off the dribble, threw down emphatic dunks, and invented crafty finishes around the basket. Florida, like most of Alabama’s opponents this year, just didn’t have an answer.

Guard Mark Sears pitched in 19 points on 7-9 shooting from the field, hitting four triples for the Crimson Tide. Fellow guard Jahvon Quinerly hit three three-pointers of his own. Quinerly contributed 11 points and five assists off the bench.

Center Charles Bediako was a force in the paint with eight points, five rebounds, and four blocks. Nick Pringle spelled Bediako and stuffed the stat sheet with four points, four rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.

Pringle caught a monster alley-oop that will make all of the Alabama basketball highlight reels at the end of the season. The only negative aspect of Pringle’s box score was that he missed his second shot of the year, dropping his season field goal percentage to 92 percent (23-25).

Freshmen Jaden Bradley and Noah Clowney continued to be major assets to this team. Bradley had eight points and five assists, while Clowney added nine points and four rebounds before leaving the game with an apparent facial injury. After the game, Coach Nate Oats asserted that he expects Clowney to be available against Auburn this weekend.

Alabama basketball avoided a potential trap game once again, something it has made a habit of this season. This team has exhibited a focus, intensity, and maturity that few teams ever display. Given that Alabama is made up primarily of newcomers and plays four freshmen significant minutes, its unity and unwavering attention to detail is even more impressive.

With the Florida game in the rearview mirror, Alabama basketball can focus on its upcoming trip to Auburn this weekend. This could be one of the most difficult games of the year, as Bama faces a good team in a hostile environment. If the Crimson Tide keep the big picture in mind, they will be just fine.

Alabama maintains a two-game lead on the rest of the SEC, and Tennessee’s dramatic Wednesday evening loss to Vanderbilt just widens the gap. If the Tide takes care of Auburn, it will move even closer to cementing the regular season title outright.