Saturday's Alabama Basketball victory over Kentucky was more than a bounce-back win for the Crimson Tide. It was a restatement that Alabama under Oats is built to persevere in tough road environments against good basketball teams. The 2024-25 season might not yet be at the midpoint and already the Crimson Tide has won in Chapel Hill, College Station, and Lexington.
Nate Oats is respected for his effective use of analytics. It is not uncommon for Oats' particular amalgam to be called Bamalytics. The Crimson Tide is most known for its unrestrained use of three-point shooting. Saturday in Rupp Arena, Alabama went up against a better three-point shooting team in the Kentucky Wildcats. The Cats were above their three-point average against Alabama, making 41%. Alabama was above its average as well, at 38%, compared to its season average of 32%.
The most remarkable stat from Saturday's game was the result of two factors. For the season, Alabama was tied for No. 241 nationally, making free throws at 69.7%. Against the Wildcats, the Crimson Tide made 85% of its free throws. After the game, Nate Oats praised Grant Nelson and LaBaron Philon for their extra shooting drills since the loss to Ole Miss.
As reported by Katie Windham, Nelson's work included a change in his shooting. In two practice sessions he made 90-of-100 and 91-of-100. Nelson went into the Kentucky game making frees at 62.9%. He was 9-of-10 against the Wildcats.
LaBaron Philon was making threes at 26.8% and free throws at 67%. In Rupp Arena, Philon was a perfect 4-of-4 at the line and made 3-of-5, threes for 60%.
Oats concisely summarized why his two players made such strong improvements: "It's not rocket science. You spend time in the gym, and you make shots."
Alabama Basketball 'Bamalytics'
There was more to the Crimson Tide's win than extra practice work. Another factor was Alabama's offensive plan of attacking the paint against Kentucky. The byproduct was frequently good shot opportunities or forcing the Wildcats to foul. Not only did the Crimson Tide scorch the twine at the line, but Alabama shot 14 more free throws than Kentucky.
A major component of Nate Oats' wizardry is the Crimson Tide more than doubles its Points Per Possession (PPP) production average when the ball enters the paint during a possession. On Saturday, points in the paint favored Kentucky, but the Rupp Arena crowd watched the Crimson Tide strategy overwhelm Kentucky's defense with 68 points from outside the arc and the foul line.
Note: Multiple stats provided by Sports Reference and ncaa.com