Alabama basketball battled a myriad of injuries on Saturday afternoon against Kentucky, but still managed to cruise to an 89-74 win over the Wildcats at Coleman Coliseum to open up SEC play.
Alabama had a lengthy injury report coming in. Taylor Bol Bowen sat out with a tweaked ankle, and while Labaron Philon was able to play after missing the Crimson Tide's win over Yale, he was clearly far from 100%.
During the game, Amari Allen and Aiden Sherrell both got banged up and headed to the locker room in the first half. Allen was able to return, but Sherrell was lost for the rest of the afternoon. It didn't matter, however, as the Crimson Tide's defensive effort and three-point shot-making proved to be the difference in an impressive win over the 'Cats.
The most important observations from Alabama's win over Kentucky
1. The Noah Williamson game
What just happened?
After scoring just 14 points through Alabama's first 13 games, Bucknell transfer Noah Williamson had been a complete bust for the Crimson Tide. But with Sherrell hurt, and Nate Oats desperately needing the senior to step up, Williamson delivered. He delivered so much that the student section was chanting his name. Seriously.
Williamson scored 10 points with four rebounds, two assists, and two steals in far and away his most impressive performance of the season. He gave Alabama 18 pivotal minutes, flashing the skills that made him a coveted name in the Transfer Portal over the offseason.
The severity of Sherrell's injury isn't yet known, but if Williamson can give Alabama key minutes moving forward, it changes the calculus for Oats and his team.
2. Labaron Philon was the closer Alabama needed
It wasn't a banner night for Philon. He couldn't find his shot from deep (0-of-6), and clearly lacked his normal explosiveness. He wasn't 100%, but he gutted it out, and Alabama needed him down the stretch against Kentucky.
After watching a 20-point second-half lead evaporate, Alabama led by just nine points with just over four to go. And then Philon took over. After the Tide missed seven straight three-pointers, the game appeared to be in doubt.
And then Philon dropped Otega Oweh with a nasty crossover, and converted at the rim to push the lead back to 11. Philon then hit a couple of pivotal free throws following an Aden Holloway three, and dropped a pass off to Williamson for a dunk with 1:10 left to put the final nail in the Kentucky coffin.
Philon finished with 17 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals in Alabama's win.
3. Aden Holloway gave Alabama the scoring punch it needed
With Philon a step slower, and Latrell Wrightsell once again struggling to find his shot, the Crimson Tide needed someone to step up and provide the offense. It was, unsurprisingly, junior guard Aden Holloway.
Holloway tied a career-high for a second game in a row, dropping 26 points to go along with four rebounds, and five assists.
Holloway hit 6-of-8 from three-point range, keying the Crimson Tide's big effort from deep. Alabama hit 15 three-pointers on 39% shooting from long-range.
The biggest shot of the game was a dagger from Holloway. With Alabama leading by 11 thanks to the Philon bucket, Holloway drained a three-pointer from Northport to push the lead back to 14.
that's just stupid range!#RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/6e8kyrxH0m
— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) January 3, 2026
4. Alabama's effort on the glass was pivotal
This team's Achilles Heel this year has been rebounding. Against Kentucky, Alabama brought the effort on the glass from the opening tip, and it was a pivotal part of the 15-point win.
A lot of that was thanks to freshman Amari Allen, who grabbed five rebounds before the first media timeout. He led the way with nine rebounds in his 31 minutes, shaking off a scary-looking first-half injury to likely run away with the blue-collar award.
Alabama beat Kentucky 41-37 on the glass and 14-12 in offensive rebounds. That kind of effort in rebounding, and on the defensive end of the floor can take this team a long way. There's plenty of firepower on offense, so if the effort can match, this team is as good as anybody.