Freshmen steal the show at Alabama basketball's Tide Tipoff
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Collin Sexton started hot, then John Petty caught fire late. The two freshman guards started on opposite teams during Alabama’s Tide Tipoff event Tuesday night in Coleman Coliseum. In 17 days they will be playing side by side as Alabama opens up its regular season against Memphis in Annapolis, Md., on Nov. 10
Tuesday’s 20-minute scrimmage proved just how exciting that could be.
Starting for the crimson team, Sexton led the charge early, hitting back-to-back 3s while dazzling the crowd with a between-the-legs pass to Texas transfer Tevin Mack for a 3. After a slow start, Petty developed his touch from beyond the arc, draining three straight 3s at midway through the scrimmage. Ultimately the Huntsville, Ala., native would lead the white team to a 106-103 victory after the two teams started the scrimmage tied at 50-50.
Although, after seeing what both freshmen can bring to the table, Alabama was the real winner.
“They’re both very competitive young men. They can pass, dribble and shoot. They compete on the defensive end, they want to get better,” Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said of his freshman duo. “A lot of the guys that we have to play and compete against this year, a lot of those high-level freshmen, especially in the ones that are in our conference or some of the other great teams we are going to play against, they have been going against those guys for the last year or two on the AAU circuit, so they are familiar. I think they’re very confident in their abilities to do what they need to do on the floor.”
The crimson team came out with a starting lineup of Sexton, Mack, Herb Jones, Alex Reese, Donta Hall, while the white team started a more experienced lineup of Avery Johnson Jr, Dazon Ingram, Petty, Braxton Key and Ohio State transfer Daniel Giddens.
While it’s still too early to make out what Alabama’s starting lineup will be to begin the season, it was interesting to see Johnson put Sexton and Ingram on different teams. Ingram played point guard last year but has been projected by some to move into a shooting-guard role this season as Sexton takes over the point guard position.
“We’ve tried to work them together,” Johnson said. “Trying to find the best combinations on the floor is critical... trying to find out who works well together in what situations, and what types of offense and flow they need to function out there on the court together.”
Although Alabama’s two five-star freshmen might have stolen the show Tuesday night, Johnson made a point to state that the team’s success this season will most likely be determined by its veteran players.
“Our returning players are going to have to step it up, especially in these coming days of practice,” Johnson said.
One new player who could also provide veteran experience is Giddens, who sat out last season after transferring from Ohio State. Tuesday, the 6-foot-11 sophomore forward was the Crimson Tide’s best rebounder while also adding a scoring threat from the paint, something Alabama struggled to find last season.
With all the talk surrounded around Alabama’s backcourt, the Crimson Tide should also see a vast improvement in depth from its frontcourt as well. Along with Giddens Alabama also brings back its third-leading rebounder from last year in Hall. Add in freshmen Reese and Galin Smith and the Crimson Tide has more depth down low than it has had in several years.
“Donta Hall, we thought he took a significant step in the SEC Tournament, shooting his jump-hook,” Johnson said. “Now you have a guy like Daniel Giddens, you can see he’s 6-10, 250 pounds solid. He’s a force inside. We also have some there with Galin Smith our freshman whose put on about 20 pounds since he joined us here on campus. Then Alex Reese gives us a different dynamic because we can play him at some five and he’ll be more of a 3-point shooting five. We haven't had that capability here.”
Johnson said he’s trying to get to a nine-man rotation early in the season instead of using the 11-man rotation Alabama went with for much of last year.
Forward Riley Norris (hip) and Ar’Mond Davis (knee) sat out the scrimmage due to injury. Johnson said both players are week-to-week moving forward.