Alabama basketball crashes party on glass to make Sweet 16: Five observations
· Yahoo Sports
TAMPA — Oh, what a night. December 1963. Ironically, the date bearing the namesake of the song by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons was the last time Texas Tech beat Alabama basketball.
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Sixty-three years later, the Red Raiders proved a one-hit wonder against the Crimson Tide at Benchmark International Arena as No. 4 seed Alabama (25-9) dominated No. 5 seed Texas Tech, 90-65, on Sunday, March 22.
Despite no Aden Holloway, who was arrested for drug-related charges before Alabama’s sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament run began, his teammates made up for the absence of the squad’s best sniper from 3-point range.
Totaling a team-high 24 points, Latrell Wrightsell Jr. led UA’s arc operation with six triples as the team finished 19-for-42.
Here are five instant takeaways:
Early run sets Alabama basketball up for success
As Texas Tech went scoreless for 2:35, Alabama went on a 9-0 run, sparked by a Houston Mallette three, to take a 10-7 lead.
Labaron Philon contributed with a triple, too, as Aiden Sherrell offered a two-point basket and Wrightsell chipped in from the free throw line.
The Crimson Tide extended the run to 13-2.
Latrell Wrightsell Jr. makes defensive difference vs Christian Anderson
Alabama coach Nate Oats said that Wrightsell’s defense against sophomore point guard Christian Anderson helped “set the tone.”
In the first half, Anderson − a three-level scorer who ranks third in the nation in assists − was limited to five points, no rebounds and two assists, primarily under Wrightsell’s pressure. He didn’t score his first basket until the under-9 minute mark leading up to the break and finished the game 2-for-11 with one rebound and three assists.
Best rebounding performance of season propels Alabama
With eight minutes to go to halftime, Alabama was up 24-8 on the glass against the Red Raiders.
The Crimson Tide finished plus-12 in the rebounding battle, led by eight boards from Mallette..
Has Noah Williamson turned corner for Crimson Tide?
After not making a trey for the entirety of SEC play, the 7-foot Bucknell transfer center has banked three-pointers in consecutive games in the NCAA Tournament. His triple in the first half against Texas Tech gave Alabama a 40-21 lead.
Williamson added another three in the second half to boost the Crimson Tide to a 77-49 lead. He finished with eight points, two rebounds and two assists in 13 minutes.
Labaron Philon Jr. sets new best vs Texas Tech
As other players took the load of scoring, Philon made it possible with a career-high 12 assists.
Alabama’s ball movement proved critical as Texas Tech guards struggled to register eight dishes against 25 total for Alabama.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball owns Texas Tech on glass to make Sweet 16: Five takeaways