Alabama Basketball has some outstanding NCAA Tournament performances by individual players. Against Penn in 1995, Antonio McDyess scored 39 points along with 19 rebounds. Leon Douglas scored 35 points against North Carolina in 1976. Last season, Mark Sears scored 34 points against BYU, making 10 of 16 three-point shots.
From someone who has seen every Alabama Crimson Tide NCAA Tournament game, what Philon did on Friday afternoon was arguably the best Big Dance individual performance ever. If not for the entire game, Philon played the best all-around half of Alabama's NCAA Tournament basketball.
Alabama led Hofstra by two points at the break. Philon took only six first-half shots and produced eight of the Crimson Tide's 37 points. Philon took over the game for Alabama in the second half. He finished the game with 29 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.
Philon was not perfection. He missed eight of his 18 field goal attempts, missed a free throw, and had five turnovers. What he was, was relentless. At some point, he told Nate Oats, "I'm not going home." Philon made big play after big play, but his biggest contribution came from his will to win. Borrowing an old phrase, Philon 'chose to win' the game.
On Sunday, against Texas Tech, the challenge will be tougher for the Crimson Tide. Against better teams, Philon will need more help. In 19 minutes, Houston Mallette got one rebound, made one assist, and scored no points. Latrell Wrightsell made only two of eight three-point attempts. Aiden Sherrell made a major impact with 15 rebounds, but was only 4-of-12 on field goals. Taylor Bol Bowen gave the Crimson Tide a big boost with 15 points and three blocks, but only two rebounds in 21 minutes.
A comparison of Labaron Philon to the NBA's best
Labaron has his teammates' respect. After Friday's game, Houston Mallette interjected during an interview, "Y’all can’t lie. This dude play like Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander."
No doubt Philon enjoys the respect of his teammates, but in games, he appears to have no distractions. With no Aden Holloway, Alabama will need more than Philon to advance to the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight, but it is doubtful that fact deters Labaron in the least.