BamaCentral Courtside: No. 24 Alabama 102, Indiana State 80
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— From an offensive output standpoint, it's hard to be more productive than No. 24 Alabama (2-0) was through the first two games of the regular season, scoring more than 100 points in each game. This season is the first time that's happened since the 1960s, or as Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats put it Friday, "well before I was born."
Friday's showing against Indiana State featured three players scoring 20 points or more: Mark Sears, Aaron Estrada and Grant Nelson. Estrada was electric, scoring 22 in the first half. Nelson finished with 20. Sears saved his best for the late stages with 17 second-half points to round out his total at 24. No individual Sycamores player scored 20.
Oats wasn't as happy with his team's defense as he was with the offense. It's an area he pointed out and said he'd continue to stress. However, after losing the type of talent it did following the 2022-23 season, there are plenty of things for Alabama to be encouraged about going forward. It's difficult to frown at back-to-back performances with a scoring total in excess of 100, especially when three major players from last season have now gone on to start their futures in the NBA.
Alabama has become known in recent years as a team that can score with the best of them. A 57% conversion rate from beyond the arc, which the Crimson Tide posted against Indiana State, plays a key role in those efforts. Oats was highly complimentary of the Sycamores and pleased with his squad's 22-point victory.
