Playing a second straight game without star freshman Amari Allen, Alabama basketball bounced back from two straight home losses to blow out Missouri on Tuesday night in Coleman Coliseum, 90-64.
Allen missed a second straight game, but Alabama did get Aden Holloway back after the junior guard missed Saturday's loss to Tennessee. It was also the second game back for Charles Bediako, whose preliminary injunction hearing was postponed by the weather, and he was granted an additional 10-day restraining order against the NCAA.
Alabama led by 12 at halftime, but really took it to the Tigers in the second half, building a 20+ point lead and keeping it that way for the bulk of the second half. It was Alabama's defensive effort that led the way, though three-point shooting was a big plus for the Crimson Tide as well.
The most important observations from Alabama's 90-64 win over Missouri
1. Latrell Wrightsell finding his shot is a huge development
It has been a struggle for Latrell Wrightsell this season. Coming off of last season's torn Achilles, Wrightsell has struggled to stay healthy this year, missing eight games with nagging injuries. It's been difficult for him to find a rhythm, and his shot has suffered as a result.
After shooting 42% or higher in his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa, Wrightsell has shot just 27% from three in his senior season. It had to feel really good for him to see 7-of-10 go in against Missouri.
The seven made threes were a career high for Wrightsell, who finished with 21 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals in what was easily his best game of the season so far.
It's hard to overstate how vital it is for this team for Wrightsell to find his shot. If that can continue, the offensive ceiling goes up exponentially.
2. Free throw shooting was a major difference
Alabama made its free-throws. Missouri didn't. That wasn't the difference in the game, but it certainly served to help the Crimson Tide turn it into a laugher.
Alabama connected on 23-of-26 from the charity stripe. Missouri hit just 8-of-23.
3. Taylor Bol Bowen brought contagious effort
If you looked at just his points and his field goal percentage, you might get the impression that it was a struggle for Florida State transfer Taylor Bol Bowen against Missouri. He scored only four points on 1-of-7 shooting (0-of-4 from three).
But Bol Bowen made a massive impact on defense and on the glass, keying a critical effort for Alabama a year after Missouri bullied this team in CoMo.
Bol Bowen led the team with 10 rebounds, crashing the glass with reckless abandon the moment he checked into the game. That's the kind of effort Nate Oats has been begging him for.
4. Charles Bediako continues to be a difference-maker
The chemistry between Labaron Philon and Bediako has developed quickly. In Bediako, Philon has found a willing and ready lob partner, and the former-turned-current Tide center is getting a ton of easy buckets from the star guard's paint touches.
Bediako made the start alongside Aiden Sherrell, and the Crimson Tide's twin towers were both effective. Bediako scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds in just 18 minutes. Sherrell scored 16 and blocked a pair of shots in his first start at the four.
They might not log many minutes together once Allen gets back on the court, but with Sherrell's ability to stretch the floor as a shooter, they can complement one another.