Alabama basketball got its four-game gauntlet off to a perfect start by going to Madison Square Garden on Saturday and knocking off St. John's.
It'll look to continue that momentum on Thursday when it hosts No. 2 Purdue. For Nate Oats, it's a pivotal game for the Crimson Tide. Call it a maturity test. Can this team handle prosperity after beating St. John's and refocus in time to battle another elite opponent?
Oats was harsh with his words on Wednesday when discussing the matchup against Purdue.
"That win will always be with us," Oats said of beating St. John's. "But it's kind of pointless if we do not come in tomorrow night and play well against Purdue."
Nate Oats calls Alabama's win over St. John's 'pointless' if they don't play well against Purdue
Alabama has plenty of motivation going up against the Boilermakers. Last year on the road, Purdue exposed the Crimson Tide in the nonconference, beating the then-No. 2-ranked Crimson Tide 87-78. Alabama will look to return that favor in Coleman on Thursday night.
The road game in West Lafayette last year was the coming-out party for Labaron Philon. As a freshman playing in his first road game in college basketball, Philon scored 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting. He grabbed five rebounds and dished four assists while only turning the ball over once.
A year later, Philon comes into the matchup with Purdue as the best player for the Crimson Tide and among the top guards in the country. He'll have to adjust to being at the top of every scouting report this season. He's had little trouble with that through two games, averaging 23.5 points per game so far, including dropping 25 points on St. John's last weekend.
Unfortunately for the Crimson Tide, its depth will be tested tomorrow night. Along with Jalil Bethea remaining out, Oats announced on Wednesday that Tarleton State transfer forward Keitenn Bristow (ankle) and Collins Onyejiaka (medical condition) will also be out.
Bristow is "highly doubtful" for this game, according to Oats. He rolled his ankle in practice ahead of the Tide's season opener last Monday against North Dakota. His injury shouldn't be a long-term issue.
Onyejiaka, on the other hand, will be out "indefinitely," according to Oats, with what was only described as a medical condition.
Alabama's injury issues will make it more of an uphill battle against a talented Purdue team that came into the season ranked No. 1. If the Crimson Tide can knock off the Boilermakers, it'll state its early case as a contender.