Alabama Basketball: Depth shines through once again
Alabama might have more shot-makers than any other team in college basketball. The Tide just went on the road, without one of its best shooters, and posted 103 points in a commanding win over Chris Beard's Ole Miss Rebels.
Even with Latrell Wrightsell Jr. missing his third straight game and Sam Walters turning in an 0-5 effort from downtown, the Tide still hit 15 threes at a 41 percent clip.
Wrightsell is Bama’s best three-point shooter by percentage and is third on the team with 57 triples this year. Walters gives the Tide another 40-percent shooter off the bench, but was cold in limited minutes in Oxford.
At times earlier this season, when Mark Sears, Aaron Estrada, and Grant Nelson could not produce enough offensively on their own, role players stepped up to varying degrees. Wrightsell, Walters, and Rylan Griffen started hitting shots more consistently, and Bama’s offensive efficiency skyrocketed.
Without the help of Wrightsell and Walters on Wednesday night, it was freshman guard Davin Cosby that caught fire. Cosby hit five triples and poured in a career-high 15 points to help the Tide get by the Rebels.
Whether this team defends or not, it’s going to be tough to beat on a nightly basis because it can just keep rolling out shooters.
Nate Oats’ style of play is heavily reliant on the three-ball, a strategy that draws plenty of detractors. However, he has done a great job constructing his roster in a way that fits his style. While the possibility can never be fully eliminated, Coach Oats has taken every possible measure to minimize the chance that his team goes completely cold from the perimeter. The Tide has shooters in abundance and, more often than not, someone is going to find their rhythm.
In addition to the much-needed contributions from Cosby, Alabama got multiple threes from Mark Sears, Aaron Estrada, and Rylan Griffen to pull away from Ole Miss.
Bama will likely need the whole cavalry ready to go when Tennessee, and College Gameday, come to town on Saturday.