Rapid Reaction: Alabama survives scare from Kentucky to improve to 9-0 in SEC play
The Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball team might have given in to the “rat poison,” to borrow a phrase from football coach Nick Saban.
Up to No. 9 in this week’s AP Poll, the Tide struggled mightily at home against unranked Kentucky, a team that has been an up-and-down mess all season long.
It was a battle all night long, but at the end of the second half, Kentucky’s problems closing games — something that has hampered the team all season — came back to bite it again.
After trailing 54-52 with 4:37 left in the second half, the Tide went on an 8-0 run to take a 60-54 lead and basically ice the game. Alabama ended up winning with a final score of 70-59. It was Alabama’s first season-sweep of Kentucky since 1988-89.
How did Kentucky stay so close for much of the game? Keeping the Tide from lighting it up beyond the 3-point arc. Alabama made only 6 of its 20 3-point shots. Jaden Shackelford led the way with 21 points, but he was only 1-for-6 from behind the arc. Freshman Josh Primo added 10 points. Sharpshooter John Petty Jr. couldn’t get going, scoring only 10 points.
But, Herb Jones played another outstanding game. He only had 13 points, but he had a near triple-double with 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. The way he impacts every aspect of the game is incredible.
Now, the Tide will turn their attention to a game against ranked Oklahoma in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Saturday. Meanwhile, Kentucky will host No. 5 Texas.
Never thought I’d see the day where Alabama has an off night and beats Kentucky. Early take but I imagine there will be basketball schools gunning hard for Oats at season’s end..
Absolutely. He’s done a hell of a job
We need a coach willing to stick around for a while, I agree. We need another Wimp Sanderson or C.M. Newton. Personal disclosure: I am a UAB graduate and have seen coach after coach poached from us since Gene Bartow resigned. Maybe Andy Kennedy will stick around for a while longer.
No reason we cant become a BB power school to match our FB. This is a great start.
I agree. I think there very few schools that would hire Oats away. Being in the SEC with a great fanbase is all you can ask for as a coach… in any sport.
Coach Cal missed big time on this class. It’s like he recruited these kids and hoped they could play. Not only are they poor players They don’t even look like Kentucky players. Kentucky players were a sharp good looking bunch. This team looks like the kind of kids that Hal Sutton recruited. Coach Cal has lost his edge.
all those Mcdonalds All Americans and the product is absolutely horrid
Part the problem is how his level of hype is the same every year. He knew we couldn’t shoot in the summer, but tells the fans that THIS IS THE BEST TEAM SINCE 2015 MAYBE BETTER. If he were honest with the fans, and asked us to be patient then it might be a different story (that’s a big might for most of BBN). He won’t because his whole game is recruiting over guys.
Just wait until we come to Tuscaloosa at the end of the season.
Please come ranked.
Too late already.
Yeah. Even if we win out we probably will stay unranked. Just how it is. Hopefully we can beat Bama and then look forward to next year, which we should be one of the SEC’s best teams. We’re bringing in a top 5 recruit and a 4-star shooting guard. Just need to recruit a point guard cause Cooper is too good.
You guys know how it goes. We just like to wreck it for you guys ranked or not.
we will look forward to it and the singing of our fight song by your representative after the shellacking another team of yurs got the last time the tigers visited Tuscaloosa. We have the brooms waiting
It’d be a big win for y’all’s tournament resume. Oh, wait.
Take advantage of the CATS SEC lodge brothers/sisters while you can. We are only going to have 5 or 6 players go pro so next year look out with all the experience that will take the floor. Man, this is the worst offensive UK team that I can remember. Go CATS!!!
So you are saying the one and done show is over?
It will never be over as long as Cal is here and the NBA keeps the rule. Love it or hate it – most of us hate it bc Cal hasn’t hit big on it since 2015.
No one off this year’s UK team is going pro…unless you are talking about the G league.
They’ll still get paid in Europe or on “potential.” They could get paid a lot more if they try the PJ Washington workouts over the summer.
5 or 6 off that team?
Came here to say good win. You guys are legit and look to be the class of the SEC this year. Hope you have a banner year in the tourney cause we ain’t makin it.
Thanks for a classy comment. It’s an endangered species nowadays.