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Quick disclaimer, I did not watch yesterday's Michigan State/Alabama game, but since many of you did, I wanted to post this early to get all of your opinions from that game.
Alabama: 5-0
Kenpom Rating: 11Previous games:
OFFENSE: 15tn efficiency
DEFENSE: 17th in efficiency
With only two NCAA tournament appearances in the previous thirteen seasons prior to his hiring, Nate Oats has been a slam dunk hire. Not only has the Tide made the tournament in the last two seasons, but they have become top destination for HS recruits and transfers ranking in the top-15 nationally in each of their recruiting hauls between the ‘20 and ‘23 classes.
At Alabama, Oats’ has integrated the same style of offense he was famous for at Buffalo: play fast and shoot a lot of threes.
Aside from freshman guard Jaden Bradley and sophomore big Charles Bediako, everyone else in the regular rotation let it fly from three, so expect three or four shooters on the floor at all times.
With the ability to gather the caliber of athletes Oats was unable to attract at Buffalo, Alabama isn’t just an offensive machine: according to evanmiya.com, all players aside from point guards Mark Sears and Jahvon Quinerly are plus-defenders, which makes me think this is yet another game where Tristen Newton can utilize his size, creativity and balance to attack Alabama’s PGs and take advantage of their defensive inefficiencies.
While Oregon’s bigs are more known for their offensive abilities, Alabama’s bigs are much better defensively, but lack overall heft
Looking at Alabama’s most frequently used lineups, perhaps UConn should continue the good spacing it showed last game by utilizing Karaban at the 4, keeping him at the perimeter, and forcing Brandon Miller to away from the basket, which allows Sanogo/Clingan one-on-one opportunities to battle with the thinner Alabama bigs and kick-out when necessary.
I’ll be honest, a week ago, I wouldn’t think UConn would have much of a chance against Alabama, but with the positive momentum moving forward, I’m pumped for this one and like our chances.
Brandon Miller will be an interesting player to defend. 247 compares him to Paul Pierce, a versatile combo forward who can do a little bit of everything on offense. Can Karaban keep up with him? Personally, I'd like Jackson to defend him, but then that would mean we'd play with a smaller lineup with Jackson at the 4 (which necessarily isn't a bad thing).
Major props to the players and coaches for the performance so far this season. It’s a different UConn team than last, but I really like it.
Alabama: 5-0
Kenpom Rating: 11
- 11/7 win over #166 Longwood 75-54
- Six scorers between 8 and 14 points
- Four players with 10+ rebounds
- Three players with 2+ blocks
- 11/11 win over #82 Liberty 95-59
- Three players with 16+ points
- Three players with 3+ assists
- 11/15 win over #218 South Alabama 65-55
- Brandon Miller: 19 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 threes made
- 11/18 win over #228 Jacksonville State 104-62
- Three players with 18+ points
- Four players with 3+ assists
- Seven players with a made three pointer
- 11/24 win over #24 Michigan State 81-70
- Brandon Miller: 24 points, 4 threes, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks
- Michigan St’s Malik Hall DNP
OFFENSE: 15tn efficiency
- #2 in the nation in offensive rebounding
- They shoot a ton of threes (17th most proportionally)
- 23rd in offensive tempo
- Good at getting to the line (46th in FTA/FGA ratio)
- Give up a ton of turnovers (21.3% turnover ratio is 273rd lowest)
DEFENSE: 17th in efficiency
- #1 in opponent 2p% (34.8%)
- 14th in block % (16.2%)
- Don’t generate turnovers in other ways aside blocks (235th in steal %, 309th in non-steal/block TOs)
- 65th in defensive rebounding rate
- Opponents aren’t able to shoot a lot of threes (71th lowest 3pa/fga, 32.9%)
- Prevented opponents’ assists (42.6% A/FGM is 52nd lowest)
With only two NCAA tournament appearances in the previous thirteen seasons prior to his hiring, Nate Oats has been a slam dunk hire. Not only has the Tide made the tournament in the last two seasons, but they have become top destination for HS recruits and transfers ranking in the top-15 nationally in each of their recruiting hauls between the ‘20 and ‘23 classes.
At Alabama, Oats’ has integrated the same style of offense he was famous for at Buffalo: play fast and shoot a lot of threes.
Aside from freshman guard Jaden Bradley and sophomore big Charles Bediako, everyone else in the regular rotation let it fly from three, so expect three or four shooters on the floor at all times.
With the ability to gather the caliber of athletes Oats was unable to attract at Buffalo, Alabama isn’t just an offensive machine: according to evanmiya.com, all players aside from point guards Mark Sears and Jahvon Quinerly are plus-defenders, which makes me think this is yet another game where Tristen Newton can utilize his size, creativity and balance to attack Alabama’s PGs and take advantage of their defensive inefficiencies.
While Oregon’s bigs are more known for their offensive abilities, Alabama’s bigs are much better defensively, but lack overall heft
Looking at Alabama’s most frequently used lineups, perhaps UConn should continue the good spacing it showed last game by utilizing Karaban at the 4, keeping him at the perimeter, and forcing Brandon Miller to away from the basket, which allows Sanogo/Clingan one-on-one opportunities to battle with the thinner Alabama bigs and kick-out when necessary.
I’ll be honest, a week ago, I wouldn’t think UConn would have much of a chance against Alabama, but with the positive momentum moving forward, I’m pumped for this one and like our chances.
Brandon Miller will be an interesting player to defend. 247 compares him to Paul Pierce, a versatile combo forward who can do a little bit of everything on offense. Can Karaban keep up with him? Personally, I'd like Jackson to defend him, but then that would mean we'd play with a smaller lineup with Jackson at the 4 (which necessarily isn't a bad thing).
Major props to the players and coaches for the performance so far this season. It’s a different UConn team than last, but I really like it.
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