With one of the biggest regular season games in SEC basketball history looming on Saturday, it would have been easy for Alabama to look past its matchup in Austin against Texas on Tuesday night. Instead, the Crimson Tide dominated the Longhorns with a 103-80 win.
Alabama used a dominant first half on both ends of the floor to build an 18-point halftime lead. Unlike what happened at Arkansas on Saturday, there was no letdown down the stretch as the Crimson Tide never allowed the Longhorns back in the game.
Alabama's offense was on fire all night, but its defensive effort in the first half helped them build a big lead despite nine turnovers. Alabama held Texas to 29% from the floor in the first half. As has often been the case, Alabama couldn't maintain that level of play for the second half, but it was still an encouraging effort on that end, at least for 20 minutes.
Alabama had its most prolific shooting night of the season, connecting on 17-of-29 (58.6%) from three. Most impressively, Alabama's three best shooters - Aden Holloway, Mark Sears, and Chris Youngblood - only combined to make six of those. Alabama got multiple makes from Jarin Stevenson, Labaron Philon, and Mo Dioubate. That trio combined to go 10/13 from deep.
Alabama had fiveplayers finish in double figures with Stevenson (22), Holloway (18), Sears (18), Philon (15), and Dioubate (13) all doing so.
3 Takeaways from Alabama's blow out of Texas
3. Labaron Philon looked healthy and confident
Freshman guard Labaron Philon had hit a bit of a wall recently with just nine total points in the last three games. He also came in having made just 2/14 from three over the last five games. Even more concerning, he has been struggling to finish at the rim after being one of the best at that early in the season.
Philon has been dealing with an ankle injury that has slowed him a bit. Against Texas, playing against his former high school teammate in Tre Johnson, Philon looked like the potential lottery pick he has flashed as. Philon found his outside touch, connecting on 3-of-5 from three on his way to 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Alabama needs this version of Philon to seriously threaten for a National Title. With Auburn on the horizon, getting Philon going is a big development.
2. Jarin Stevenson deserved a game like this
No player has taken the brunt of the ire of the fanbase more than sophomore Jarin Stevenson. His offensive game has been mostly brutal, but he has started the majority of games because he has been an impactful, versatile defender and he always plays with tremendous effort.
Against Texas, the basketball gods finally smiled on Stevenson. He put up a season-high 22 points and hit 4-of-5 from three-point-range. Stevenson hasn't been as bad as many like to believe: he had a brutal 0-of-18 start to the season from three but had made 15-of-45 (33.3%) of his attempts since that horrendous beginning.
After the 4-of-5 night on Tuesday, Stevenson is now 19-of-50 (38%) from three since he shook off the 0-for-the-season start. Him being that level of a shooter opens up a lot more to this offense. It allows Alabama to play their big lineups without sacrificing the offense, which makes them the better defensive team we saw in the first half.
1. When Alabama shoots like this....good luck
Texas had no chance against Alabama with the way the Crimson Tide shot the ball. It was Alabama's best three-point shooting night of the season, with the Tide connecting on 17-of-29 (58.6%) from distance.
Everyone got in on the action, too. Sears and Holloway combined to make five, but Alabama got 4-of-5 from Stevenson, 3-of-5 from Philon, and 3-of-3 from Dioubate.
Along with the brilliant three-point shooting, Alabama was 17-of-26 (65.3%) from two and 18-of-20 (90%) from the three-point line.
This was the seventh time this season Alabama has scored 100+ points. When they shoot the ball like this, I'm not sure this team is beatable.
The win moves Alabama to 21-3 overall and 10-1 in the SEC. Now all eyes are set on No. 1 Auburn at No. 2 Alabama on Saturday.