The Extra Point: Alabama Basketball Has Developed a Game-Winning Superpower
"There are two options: adapt or die."
That quote attributed to Andy Grove was said in reference to the responsibility of living organisms if they want to survive. Find a way to adapt to your surroundings and environment or face the consequences.
The same principle applies to sports and the teams that play them. Talent and effort are important, yes, but the best teams are the ones that when faced with difficult circumstances, adapt and still find a way to win.
For the newly No. 1 ranked Alabama basketball team, adaptability has become a superpower.
There is no doubt the Crimson Tide are immensely talented and have a team full of skilled players but what has been more impressive than their talent, is their ability to do whatever is necessary to win even if it means playing a different style or relying on a player they may not have expected to.
Take a look at the Auburn game for example. The Crimson Tide were on the road in a raucous environment against their biggest rival in a game with huge stakes. Early on, the Tigers were applying intense defensive pressure to the Alabama offense, smothering ball handlers and running shooters off the three-point line.
The strategy stymied Nate Oats' squad for the first several minutes as the perimeter shots his teams normally rely on were nowhere to be found. But what did the Crimson Tide do?
Adapt.
Alabama, a team known for its three-point shooting, suddenly began attacking the paint with ferocious determination. Possession after possession, whether it was Jaden Bradley, or Mark Sears, or Brandon Miller, took the ball strong to the rim and finished time after time. Throw in Rylan Griffen becoming Vinnie Johnson reincarnated and the Crimson Tide had Auburn on the ropes.
When it was all said and done, Alabama had shot an incredible 23-for-28 from two-point range and defeated their hated rival on their own court, 77-69.
The game was a microcosm of what the entire season has been like for Alabama. The Tide can win anywhere, in any way, and with a number of different players ranging from experienced veterans to talented freshman.
Quite frankly, that's a formula that can win it all when the calendar turns to March.
Now, Nate Oats and the No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide will head to Knoxville, with another chance to assert their dominance against a top ten team in the form of the Tennessee Volunteers.
The game certainly figures to be a tough challenge but if Alabama has taught the world anything this season, it's that they'll be ready for whatever is thrown their way.
See Also:
With Win Over Auburn, Nate Oats' Commitment was on Full Display
Alabama Escapes Auburn with 77-69 Win, Stays Undefeated in SEC Play
