It was fair to question how Alabama would respond in its first game following Charles Bediako's loss in court. With what feels like the entire nation against them, would they respond or would they fold?
If the first 12 minutes of the game were an indication, it appeared as if the Crimson Tide was going to fold. Alabama started the game just 5-of-25 from the floor and trailed by as many as seven in the first half against an Ole Miss team that came into the game under at just 3-7 in the SEC.
But Alabama kicked it into gear from there, going on a run to end the first half with a two-point lead. In the second half, the Crimson Tide really got going, dropping 61 points on the Rebels. After starting just 2-of-19 from three, Alabama hit 15-of-26 from distance the rest of the game.
The hot shooting helped Alabama cruise to a 93-74 road win over the Rebels without Bediako to improve to 17-7 overall and 7-4 in the SEC.
The most important observations from Alabama's road win over Ole Miss
1. Latrell Wrightsell's hot shooting continues
One of the biggest reasons Alabama was able to find some second-half separation was thanks to the hot-shooting of Latrell Wrightsell.
He came into Wednesday as a game-time decision, according to Nate Oats, after leaving Saturday's win over Auburn with a knee injury. Not only did he play, he made a huge impact.
Wrightsell came into the game against Ole Miss having shot 51.7% from three over Alabama's last four games. The senior guard hit 7-of-13 in Oxford on his way to 21 points off the bench.
Wrightsell finding his shot is a huge development for this team, and it always seemed like a matter of time for a player with his pedigree.
2. Amari Allen's all-around game continues to shine
Labaron Philon is Alabama's best player. But Amari Allen might be the Crimson Tide's most valuable player. In theory, Aden Holloway can do some of the stuff that Philon does. There's nobody else on the team who brings what Allen does on both ends.
He can score, pass, rebound, and is probably Alabama's best all-around defender. He stuffed the statsheet as he often does on Wednesday night, dropping 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists, three steals, and two blocks.
3. Aiden Sherrell held up as Alabama's lone trustworthy five
Without Bediako moving forward, a lot is going to be on the shoulders of Aiden Sherrell. He held up well against Ole Miss, but the challenge is coming with bigger and more talented front lines than Chris Beard has in Oxford.
In 25 minutes, Sherrell put up 15 points and six rebounds with a pair of blocked shots. When he was on the bench, Oats preferred to play small-ball, with Taylor Bol Bowen being the primary backup five. Noah Williamson played just five minutes after sitting out the last two games.
Alabama is going to need more from Williamson going forward.
4. Alabama's guards took care of the basketball
Alabama's trio of starting guards - Philon, Holloway, and Allen - combined to turn the ball over just twice against Ole Miss compared to 15 assists. Holloway and Allen had six assists apiece, and Holloway didn't have a single turnover.
Alabama only turned it over six times, continuing its season-long trend of taking care of the basketball at a higher level than any previous Oats team. Outside of the Florida loss, the Crimson Tide has been consistent in not giving the ball away.