With around six minutes left in the first half on Tuesday night, the Alabama basketball game was over. Mississippi State was beaten after Chris Youngblood hit back-to-back three-pointers to put the Crimson Tide up by 20 points. The Bulldogs continued to battle but the combination of a locked-in Alabama offense and a locked-down Crimson Tide defense was overwhelming.
When Alabama Basketball plays as it did on Tuesday night, it can beat any of the nation's top teams. While holding the Bulldogs to 38% shooting, Alabama shot 52%, including 49% from three. Even more impressive than Alabama's 22 made threes was the Crimson Tide's 28 assists. Seven Alabama players made a three and eight Crimson Tide players had an assist. The leader in points was Chris Youngblood with 27 points. The assist leader was Mark Sears with 10, along with 21 points. Mo Dioubate led Alabama's rebounders with 11 boards.
After the game, Nate Oats complimented the strong performances of Mark Sears, Labaron Philon, and others. Even though the Alabama Crimson Tide beat an NCAA Tournament team 111-73, Oats was not completely satisfied. "I wasn't happy with the defense in the second half. ... We weren't better in the second half today. You can use the excuse that it's hard to play with a lead. If you're immature, then it's hard to play with a lead." Emphasizing his critique, Nate Oats said, "You've got to take care of business... we've buried teams in the past and we've got to get a little better of a killer mentality."
Nate Oats for Alabama Basketball to win it all
For this entire season, Nate Oats has been coaching with college basketball's biggest goal in mind. That is to win it all. Too many times Alabama has played like a team not marching toward another Final Four. That script was flipped Tuesday night. But as Oats knows tougher challenges await. Mississippi State is a good team but not a great one. Tennessee and Auburn on the road, sandwiched around Florida at home will provide challenges akin to an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight or Final Four game.
But seeing Alabama on Tuesday night, playing well and hard. and for each other; the Vols, Gators, and Tigers will have to be at the top of their games, or they will lose.