Nate Oats wanted his team - and himself - to look in the mirror in the aftermath of Sunday's loss to Florida, which Oats described multiple times as "embarrassing." He won't get an argument from any Alabama fan.
But sometimes it takes a rock-bottom feeling for things to click. And if Alabama goes on a run from here on out, they'll look back at the loss to Florida - and the subsequent practice that followed - as the turning point.
According to Oats, Alabama held a high-intensity practice on Tuesday that saw several guys going at and challenging one another. Oats described the practice as intense as any the Crimson Tide has had since SEC play began.
"Some guys went at each other. Some guys challenged each other. I thought it was great," Oats said.
Oats specifically mentioned Labaron Philon and Amari Allen as "going at it" during that practice.
Whatever happened certainly made a difference. Playing against a Texas A&M team that might be the hardest-playing team in the conference, Alabama matched that energy and intensity en route to a 100-97 win over the Aggies to move to 5-4 in the SEC and 15-7 overall.
Labaron Philon and Amari Allen 'went at it' in practice, according to Nate Oats
You can get leadership from anywhere on a basketball team. Alabama got some of it in the pregame from walk-on Jacob Martin, who was seen on camera giving a fiery pep-talk to his teammates.
But the best teams are led by the best players on the court. Philon is unquestionably the best player on this team. And while Aden Holloway is probably second, it is freshman Amari Allen who is generating significant NBA Draft buzz.
Those two being willing to go at one another, call each other out, and hold the other accountable is important.
Oats called out Philon on Tuesday, practically begging him to pick up his effort on defense. He's got a ways to go, but before banging his thigh against Rylan Griffen late in the first half, Philon's pesky point-of-attack defense led to a couple of steals. And he was critical down the stretch getting buckets on the way to 17 points.
Allen is consistently about the right stuff. He stuffed the stat sheet as usual, with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists to go along with a pair of steals in the Alabama win.
Oats said Alabama was reaching a tipping point after the Florida loss. Taking down a quality team like Texas A&M immediately after, and having to dig deep to do it, could be what it takes for this team to refocus for a run down the stretch.