Alabama's two losses have had one major thing in common: the Crimson Tide significantly lost the glass and second-chance points battle.
While they didn't get bludgeoned on the boards the same way they did against Purdue two weeks ago, Alabama still finished -12 on the glass and got outscored 25-10 on second-chance points against Gonzaga in a 95-85 loss on Monday night in the Players Era Festival.
Just like against Purdue, Alabama lost to Gonzaga because the Bulldogs were there more physical team. The Zags got after it on the glass, and the Crimson Tide didn't respond with the amount of toughness it was going to require to win the game.
"Everybody’s gotta contribute," Oats said about the glass. "We’re not a very tough, physical rebounding team right now, and until we get that way, we’re gonna have a hard time consistently beating the best teams in the country.”
It's not a coincidence that in Alabama's four-game stretch against Top 15 opponents: St. John's, Purdue, Illinois, and Gonzaga, that the Crimson Tide won the two games they weren't at a significant disadvantage on the glass and lost the two it was a mismatch.
Alabama outrebounded St. John's by one and only lost the glass to a big Illinois frontline by two. Alabama was -24 in rebounding to Purdue and then -12 last night against Gonzaga. Sometimes basketball is simple.
Alabama's rebounding has been exposed early. Now it's time to fix it
The reason Oats loves challenging his team against the best competition in the country right away is that it exposes the biggest flaws early in the season. Through five games, Alabama has not only earned some quality victories that will bolster its resume in March, but Oats knows exactly what the Crimson Tide is going to have to do better in order to be a championship caliber team.
It starts on the glass. No rebounds, no rings, as Pat Riley used to say.
It's a collective effort, but Alabama has to get more out of its starting front court of Aiden Sherrell and Taylor Bol Bowen. The duo combined for 10 rebounds in 44 combined minutes, which was one less than Gonzaga's Graham Ike grabbed by himself in 33 minutes of action.
The only player who brought his lunch pail with him and strapped on his hard hat was Keitenn Bristow. In 19 minutes, Bristow was Alabama's leader in rebounds with 11. He is playing with a high motor and effort that will continue to earn him additional playing time as he continues getting in-game shape after missing the first three games of the season.
The good news is that it's a fixable issue. And as Alabama gets healthier, it will be easier for Oats to shorten the rotation and play the guys who are consistently giving the effort he requires.
Playing without Latrell Wrightsell, Alabama still had an opportunity to beat another quality opponent, one that could be on the shortlist of National Championship contenders, but couldn't get it done on the glass to give itself a shot down the stretch.
The team is still ahead of where many thought they would be, and now knows five games in exactly who they are and what they need to do.