Some college basketball fans hold on to the old saw, 'live by the three, die by the three', even though it is outdated. It may no longer apply to any team, and it certainly does not apply to Alabama Basketball.
Nate Oats does love the three-ball, but he knows there are other necessary components for winning games. Oats has been asked if a team can ever shoot too many threes in a game. His answer is no, if outside the arc shots are taken within the team's system of play, and the shooter is in rhythm.
In December, Alabama shot 57 threes against UTSA. Alabama won 97-55 despite making only 16 threes for 28.1%. The UTSA game was the fourth one for Oats and Alabama with 50 or more three-point attempts in a game. The team record for attempts in a game is 59 against Auburn in 2020. Alabama lost in overtime to the Tigers.
The team record (and NCAA Tournament record) for made threes in a game was against BYU last March. Against BYU, Alabama made 25 of 51 attempts. In five other games under Nate Oats, Alabama has made 20 or more threes in a game.
It is possible but not likely that Alabama will add another 20-plus made threes on Saturday. The Tennessee Vols will work hard to run the Tide off the line and limit three attempts and makes. In the loss to the Vols in January, Alabama shot 26 threes, but made only six. That stat line deserves an asterisk because Aden Holloway and Amari Allen sat out the January game due to injury.
New Alabama Basketball Season Team Records
However many threes Alabama takes and makes on Saturday, the Crimson Tide is tracking to set two team three-point records by the end of the 2025-26 season. The current record for three attempts in a season was set in 2023-24. Alabama shot 1108 threes in 37 games and made 413. For that season, game attempts averaged 29.94 and makes averaged 11.16.
In 28 games of the 2025-26 season, Alabama has taken 1,006 three-point shots and made 363. The Crimson Tide is averaging more attempts and more makes. Alabama will play at least five more games this season. More likely, Alabama will play at least seven more games. Even with only five more games, the Alabama season record for three attempts and makes should be broken. At six or more games, the records will be easily broken.
That's the prediction and given a 2025-26 roster heavily populated by three-point makers, perhaps the prediction is not so bold.
Note: Data provided by Sports Reference and rolltide. com