Alabama basketball looked like a team disinterested and unmotivated in Tuesday's loss to Ole Miss at Coleman Coliseum. The Crimson Tide looked like a team that could just go through the motions and win a home game over a good opponent. It was sorely mistaken.
Nate Oats believes his team overlooked the Rebels ahead of its home matchup.
Nate Oats: "I think it did give us a wake-up call. I think we maybe overlooked Ole Miss a little bit.
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) January 17, 2025
"... I just told them, if you overlook anybody in this league, you're gonna take an L."
While it might seem ridiculous for a team to overlook a ranked opponent even in its own building, it's not that far-fetched. Coming off an emotional and physical win in College Station over Texas A&M on Saturday, the Crimson Tide thought it could take it a little easy against the Rebels, cruise to a win, and then prepare for another tough road game in Lexington against Kentucky.
This team has had a bad habit of playing with its food this season. They've popped it into cruise control far too often, particularly to start the second half of games after building a big first-half lead. Against Ole Miss, Alabama tried to sit in cruise for a full 40 minutes and got burned. It was bound to happen, and it often takes a loss to be a real wake-up call.
We've seen this team rely on its talent advantage against several teams this year. They played games closer than they should have against Arkansas State, McNeese, Rutgers, Creighton, and North Dakota.
They were able to dodge bullets in those games. Ole Miss was too good to allow that to happen. Alabama got what it deserved. If they do it again, it'll lead to another loss, regardless of the opponent.
The SEC is too talented and too deep this season to take anyone lightly and escape with a win. Alabama had to learn that the hard way.
Update on Derrion Reid
According to Oats, freshman forward Derrion Reid will be questionable for Saturday's matchup against Kentucky and might miss his second consecutive game. With Houston Mallette likely still out, Alabama would travel to Lexington with nine scholarship players healthy.
“He’s still recovering,” said Oats. “He didn’t go full 5-on-5 today. So he’s questionable for tomorrow. We’ll see. If he’s not able to go tomorrow, hopefully next week. I think from everything Clarke’s telling me, he’s coming along."
Clarke is Clarke Holter, Alabama's head athletic trainer.
Quotes courtesy of On3's Charlie Potter.