The Alabama Crimson Tide came into the season with great expectations after a run to the final four last season. A tough preseason schedule readied the team for the rugged SEC, but some key injuries kept the team from reaching their ultimate goal. Losing Latrell Wrigtsell, Jr and Houston Mallette both for the majority of the season, and Derrion Reid for a large portion of the year robbed the Tide of some of their best shooters and best defenders. The ride came to an end on Saturday night in Newark, NJ as the Duke Blue Devils buried Alabama 85-65 behind their size, length, and strength, that the Tide could not match. Bama finished the year with a record of 28-9 while Duke improved to 35-3 as the head to San Antonio for the final four.
Coach Nate Oats used the starting lineup of Mark Sears, Labaron Philon, Chris Youngblood, Grant Nelson, and Clifford Omoruyi for the last time. Sears, Youngblood, Nelson, and Omoruyi have all exhausted their eligibility, and there is much talk of Philon going into the draft as a possible first round pick.
Duke came out firing and took a 13-5 lead into the first time out at the 15:53 mark. The Tide got a boost from behind the arc from a surprise player as 6’10” freshman Aiden Sherrell hit two from distance back to back to pull Bama close. Duke was efficient on offense and hitting seemingly every shot that threw up. With 9:26 left the Blue Devils forged a 30-19 lead. Youngblood nailed a three pointer, Reid slashed to the hole for a hoop, and Holloway had a make from long distance, and the deficit was still 10 at 37-27 with 5:06 left.
A key point happened after Nelson had two straight baskets down low to cut the lead to 37-31. After a Duke miss, four Alabama players watched a rebound fall between them and the one Duke player in the area grabbed the board and passed out for a three pointer that Tyrese Procter drained. The Blue Devils led 46-37 at the half as Nelson scored right as the period ended.
At the half the Tide shot only 14-35 for 40% with 5-19 for 26% from three point range. Bama made 4-4 at the free throw line, had 17 rebounds, nine assists, three steals, three blocks, and turned it over six times. Nelson and Sherrell led the team with six points each.
Duke was a hot 18-32 for 56%, 5-9 for 56% from three, and made 5-6 free throws. The Devils had 18 rebounds, 10 assists, three blocks, four steals, and had six turnovers. Kon Knueppel led the team with 11 points, while Cooper Flagg had 10 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
Alabama used the same starters for the second half. Philon hit a three in the first minute and the lead was cut to 46-40 with 18:59 left in the game. From that point on Duke outscored the Tide 39-25. Sears finally made his first-and only- three pointer at the 16:15 mark to make the score 50-43. Despite poor shooting Bama was able to hang on the fringe of contending and when Philon made two free throws with 8:03 left the scored was 65-58. Over the last eight minutes the scoring differential was 20-7 to close the game. The Tide had a five plus minute gap in made field goals during that stretch.
In the second half Bama shot 9-30 for 30%, 3-13 for 23% from three, and 7-10 at the free throw line. Overall the Tide only shot 35% at 23-65 with 8-32 from behind the arc, and 11-14 at the free throw line for 79%. Alabama had 30 rebounds, five blocks, nine steals, 14 assists, and turned it over 11 times. Philon had a nice game with 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists in 31 minutes. Nelson’s last game in Crimson was a 10 point, seven rebound performance. Youngblood was also in double figures with 10 points and six rebounds. In his last game for the Tide, Sears shot 2-12, scored six points, dished out six assists, and turned the ball over five times. After combining for 21 made three pointers against BYU the trio of Sears, Holloway, and Youngblood made only 3-16 in the game.
In the second half Duke shot 12-24, 1-4 from three, and 14-16 at the free throw line. Overall the Devils made 30 of 56 shots for 54%, 6-13 for 46% from three, and 19-22 for 86% from the free throw line. Duke dominated the boards with 41 rebounds, had 40 points in the paint, blocked three shots, stole six balls, dished out 19 assists, and turned the ball over 13 times. Kon Knueppel scored 21 points, had five rebounds, and five assists, as one of the three Duke super freshmen. Tyrese Procter had 17 points, likely player of the year Cooper Flagg scored 16 points, grabbed nine rebounds, passed for three assists, and blocked a shot. Khaman Maluach terrorized the Tide in the paint on alley-oop dunks and scored 14 points with nine rebounds, blocked two shots, and altered countless others.
A run to the Elite Eight after a Final Four run is unprecedented in Crimson Tide history. This is truly the golden age of Alabama basketball. Tonight they ran into a bigger, stronger, longer, tougher team that ran the Tide off the three point line, and didn’t allow anything easy down low. Duke has the very likely number one pick in the draft in Flagg, who should still be in high school and did not turn 18 until December. Knueppel and Maluach should also be first round picks. As talented as the Tide is, they can’t match what those three freshmen offer.
But as long as Oats is around Bama will continue to be in the conversation of a potential final four and championship team. There is no telling what the roster will look like next year, but Oats system alway will always be a draw to players. Philon, Holloway, Mo Dioubate, Jarin Stevenson, Sherrell, and Reid are all eligible to return. Wrightsell and Mallette received medical redshirts and could also be on the team. Nas Cunningham redshirted and put on some size and strength. Oats and staff also signed the number six recruiting class with Amari Allen, London Jemison, and Davion Hannah. The transfer portal will be heavily looked out, and will probably go both ways, with some leaving and some coming in. The future is bright and Oats is going to break through and bring the school its first basketball National Championship soon.
Roll Tide
