![Alabama guard Labaron Philon (0) and Florida guard Boogie Fland (0) fight for the ball during the first half of an NCAA Mens basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, February 1, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_2634,h_1481/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/187/01kgkcfsz58zmxs3gpep.jpg "Alabama guard Labaron Philon (0) and Florida guard Boogie Fland (0) fight for the ball during the first half of an NCAA Mens basketball game at Steven C. O'Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Sunday, February 1, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
Not having an on-court leader is hurting this Alabama basketball team more than anything else as they enter Wednesday's game against Texas A&M.
Nate Oats has said this team cannot be great until they are not okay with losing. A coach can preach this until they are blue in the face, but if there is not an on-court leader pushing the coach's message, it is not going to work out well. How much pride a team plays with starts with the leader(s) on the team. Sure, there are stars on this team like Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway, but not sure either demands more from their teammates. There is no leader who can give an inspiring halftime speech or a quick message in a huddle late in the game.
We have seen a lack of on-court leadership in key moments at home against Texas and Tennessee. We have also seen the team seemingly quit in the second half against Florida. We all know the Gators are a bad matchup for the Tide, but there has to be more passion from the players on the court. There should not be a time when it feels like the team has completely quit. Coach Oats can not always be the most fired-up and emotional person during the game. This team needs a leader who steps up in tough situations, and the team looks to them for guidance.
The energy outside of arguably Houston Mallette is not consistent from game to game. It is easy to play inspired basketball when the three-ball is falling, and the transition game is going. But this Alabama team, for the most part, has not figured out how to win when obstacles arise. It is easy to point to coaching, but at some point, the players have to buy into what is being said and live by that in-game. Great teams have a certain scrappiness and energy all the time, and that is what is missing this season.
The potential to be great is still there, and we have seen moments of greatness, but until a leader emerges and demands more of himself and teammates, we might see a much earlier end to the season than what we as Alabama basketball fans have seen as of late.