The Elephant in the Room? The Elephant Destroyed the Room: All Things CW
The All Things CW notes column by Christopher Walsh appears in five parts each week, with the latest on the Alabama Crimson Tide. This is ...
Take 2
"They got the message," Alabama basketball head coach Nate Oats said.
Yeah, that might be the understatement of the year.
If you saw this week's Take 1 of All Things CW, It's Time to Talk About the Elephant in the Room With Alabama Basketball, it's only right, and fair, to acknowledge how well the Crimson Tide responded from the loss at Oklahoma, and absolutely destroyed visiting Vanderbilt, 101-44.
The energy was great Tuesday night. The team didn't let up even when ahead by 50-plus points. Alabama posted the largest SEC win in program history (previously 53 points over Ole Miss in 1947, 83-30).
“I thought our guys answered the bell after the Oklahoma game," Oats said. "It was a great way to respond. I was expecting a lot from us. It was just unfortunate for [Vanderbilt] that they were the team that followed the Oklahoma game.
Here's how well Alabama did in the statistical categories that were pointed out in Take 1:
Rebounds: The Crimson Tide had a 45-33 edge on the boards, including 35-18 on the defensive side.
At Oklahoma, the teams were nearly even.
3-Point Shooting: The Crimson Tide was 19-for-41, while Vanderbilt was just 3-for-30.
Alabama was 6-for-30 at Oklahoma, while the Sooners were 13-for-20.
Assists: Against the Commodores, the Crimson Tide had a 29-6 edge. It was the second-most assists in a game in program history (30 vs. East Tennessee State in 2004).
In Alabama's three losses, opponents have had a 17.0-9.0 average.
Turnovers: The Crimson Tide had 12 despite the blowout. Vanderbilt had 16. Alabama had a 27-6 advantage in points off turnovers.
Over its previous four games, Alabama had 14, 11, 12 and 13, respectively, for a 12.5 average.
Meanwhile, no one fouled out. No one had a negative +/- ratio. Alabama had a 27-2 edge in fast-break points.
The 42-15 halftime score was even more impressive when considering that Vanderbilt scored the first five points of the game. That was also its longest scoring run of the night. When notching its next points, a 3-pointer about 10 minutes in, the score was 21-5.
Before everyone gets too excited again, it needs to be noted that at 10-12 overall, 3-6 in league play, Vanderbilt is a lot closer to the bottom of the SEC standings than the top. So is the next opponent, LSU.
Alabama (19-3, 9-0 SEC) will still need to maintain this kind of intensity and make sure that this wasn't a one- or two-game response. Teams that continue to improve in February are often the ones to make the biggest noise in March.
But for one night, the Crimson Tide looked like a team that had re-established itself as the one to beat in the Southeastern Conference, and was back in control of its season.
"They really coached each other over the last three days, to be honest, they're a great group that kind of talked amongst themselves," Oats said. "This is who we want to be, this is what we got to do to get better. They did just about all that tonight. We were obviously aided by good shooting night and they didn't shoot it well, which happens. And I think for the most part we played pretty hard and locked into the defensive end tonight. So, it’s good to see the improvement.”
See Also:
No. 4 Alabama Smashes Vanderbilt to Complete Season Sweep
BamaCentral Courtside: No. 4 Alabama 101, Vanderbilt 44
Alabama Basketball Put On Its Best Shooting Performance of the Season
