Even shorthanded, Alabama basketball stays atop SEC with win at Georgia

Stegeman Coliseum once again proved to be a problematic place for Alabama basketball to play.

Two seasons after the Crimson Tide lost a game it should have won to Georgia on the road and gave the Bulldogs their lone SEC win of the season, Alabama returned to Athens on Wednesday.

In the first half, the Crimson Tide looked destined for another loss in Athens. Alabama couldn’t have played much worse before halftime. But the Crimson Tide found a way to climb back, taking over late and escaping Athens with the 85-76 victory to stay atop the SEC.

Alabama managed to pick up the win without Nick Pringle (conduct detrimental to team) and Davin Cosby (illness) on Wednesday. Both didn’t make the trip to Athens.

Here are observations and takeaways from the game between No. 22 Alabama (15-6, 7-1 SEC) and Georgia (14-7, 4-4)

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Georgia obliterates Alabama on the glass in first half

Any handful of stats could have been picked to illustrate how poorly the first half went for the Crimson Tide, but none illustrate it better than rebounds.

Alabama got outmuscled and outworked on the glass from the jump. At the first timeout, the Bulldogs held a 7-0 advantage in rebounds. By the time halftime arrived, Georgia held a ridiculous 27-7 advantage in rebounds.

What makes that even worse for the Crimson Tide is that the Bulldogs hadn’t exactly been thriving in the rebound department this season. Entering the game, Georgia ranked No. 9 in offensive rebounding efficiency, per KenPom.

Mix Alabama’s inability to get…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/even-shorthanded-alabama-basketball-stays-013431413.html

Author : The Tuscaloosa News

Publish date : 2024-02-01 01:34:31

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