BIRMINGHAM, Ala.— The Alabama Crimson Tide faced a significant setback on December 2, 2023, suffering a 96-75 defeat against the top-ranked Arizona Wildcats in the C.M. Newton Classic. Alabama struggled defensively, conceding a concerning 22 offensive rebounds while only securing three for themselves. The Wildcats dominated the boards, finishing with a total rebounding margin of 52-32.
Coach Nate Oats expressed frustration with his team’s performance, particularly highlighting the “toughness factor” as a critical issue. “You can’t win games giving your opponent 28 more field goal attempts,” Oats stated. “When we play these tough, physical teams, we haven’t answered the bell real well on the glass.” Arizona’s two centers, Mo Krivas and Tobe Awaka, combined for an impressive 29 rebounds, with 16 coming on the offensive end.
Alabama’s struggles were reflected in the shooting statistics as well. Arizona attempted 84 shots from the field compared to Alabama’s 56. Oats pointed out the team’s rebounding deficiencies, noting that this has been a recurring problem. “The three elite teams we’ve played, we’ve lost to because we got our tails kicked on the glass,” he remarked.
Alabama point guard Labaron Philon managed to record his first double-double of the season with 26 points and 10 rebounds, but did not contribute any offensive rebounds. He acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, “I think I could’ve done a better job of crashing the glass on the offensive end.”
Oats has been challenging his guards to enhance their rebounding efforts, emphasizing the necessity for all players to contribute on the boards. Despite leading at halftime with a score of 41-39, Alabama’s inability to secure rebounds ultimately allowed Arizona to regain control and capitalize on their extra shot attempts.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd, who has a background as an assistant at Gonzaga, noted that his team’s advantage on the glass was a focal point leading into the game. “The word we really hammered in on was endurance,” Lloyd explained. “You have to have competitive endurance against a team like that because they just keep coming at you.”
The Crimson Tide’s rebounding problems were evident across the roster. Center Noah Williamson managed just one rebound in 11 minutes, while forward Aiden Sherrell recorded five before leaving the game due to cramps. Oats mentioned that certain players, like Taylor Bol Bowen, need to step up their contributions on the boards.
With a record of 7-3 following this defeat, Alabama faces challenges if they hope to compete against elite teams without improving their rebounding performance. The coaching staff will need to address these issues urgently to ensure the team is competitive moving forward.
