There aren't many teams in college basketball that could have their star guard ailing and still produce 90 points and a road win without missing much of an offensive beat.
Labaron Philon is the engine that makes Alabama basketball go, but the star sophomore guard was far less than 100% against LSU on Saturday, managing only 24 minutes and scoring a season-low eight points on just 2-of-8 shooting from the floor.
Fortunately for Nate Oats and Alabama, when Philon doesn't have it or needs a rest, they can just place the basketball in the capable hands of Aden Holloway, who took over lead guard duties for the Crimson Tide in Baton Rouge, and helped Alabama's offense overcome a sluggish start to still put up 90 in a seven-point win.
Holloway couldn't find his three-point shot, hitting just 1-of-6 from deep, but he still led Alabama in scoring with 17 points and dished out four assists to only one turnover.
“I thought he was better," Oats said of Holloway. "I mean, he didn’t shoot as well as he usually does, but that’s fine. Nobody’s gonna shoot it great every game. I mean, you look, he had four assists, one turnover. We were +16 when he was in the game. His offensive leverage was positive, too. He’s good. I mean, I thought he ran the team. He got downhill, got to the free-throw line, went 6-6 at the line.
"I thought he had a good job leading the team. I thought he handled their physicality pretty well. I thought he led the team."
Aden Holloway's defense was the most impressive part of the game according to Nate Oats
Oats was even more complimentary of Holloway for his defensive performance against LSU. Everyone knows the junior guard is one of the elite offensive players in the country, but it's his defense that frequently leaves a lot to be desired.
Some of those issues are beyond his control. His size presents physical limitations that will prevent him from being an elite defensive player, but he can still be pesky and give maximum effort, which he hasn't always done.
Oats raved about the defensive effort he gave against LSU.
"I thought that was the best game Aden Holloway’s played on the defensive end all year," Oats said. ..."I really thought Aden’s intention to really give us a great effort on defense really showed up. He ended up with the two steals. His defensive leverage was tied with the highest on the team, him and Aiden Sherrell. So, I liked where his head was at."
Alabama needed a strong two-way effort from Holloway, particularly with Philon not able to provide much support. The junior guard did exactly what he needed to on both ends of the floor to help lift the Crimson Tide to a win in what seemed like an obvious spot for a hangover-type game.