TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It was a reality check that the Alabama basketball team had yet to face this season. Saturday’s 65-62 defeat to Central Florida marked Alabama’s second defeat of the season, albeit the first in which the Crimson Tide finished with five men on the court.
More so, it was a game Alabama could have and should have won inside of Coleman Coliseum. Alabama (6-2) didn’t play up to its typical offensive standard, shooting a season-low 43.1 percent from the court while failing to score 70 points for the first time this season.
Things needed to be sorted out and the Crimson Tide players were determined to get to the bottom of it. Following the game sophomore guard Dazon Ingram organized a players-only meeting as Alabama attempted to clear things up heading into what will be an important week with games against Rhode Island (5-2) and Arizona (5-3).
“He was just saying we need to be more of a team, become closer than we already are and just keep believing in what Coach is saying,” freshman forward Herbert Jones said.
While Saturday’s loss was disappointing, Alabama is far from crisis mode. The loss to UCF can primarily be chalked up to a down performance from the Crimson Tide’s three leading scorers. Guards Collin Sexton, John Petty and Dazon Ingram combined for just 25 points and shot 6 of 22 on the afternoon.
“I feel like everyone’s going to struggle at some point during the season,” Jones said. “It just so happened to be Sunday. I feel like we’ll learn from it and get past it.”
How Alabama responds to its first taste of adversity will be crucial as the Crimson Tide enters its most challenging week of the season to date. Alabama will host Rhode Island on Wednesday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Tucson, Ariz., for a game against Arizona on Saturday. Rhode Island entered the week No. 10 in the NCAA’s RPI rankings, while Arizona was ranked as high as No. 2 in the Associated Press top 25 earlier this season.
As far as Johnson’s concerned, Sunday’s players-only meeting is a step in the right direction.
“I think that’s positive leadership,” Johnson said. “I don’t think you have to have one after every game. I think the bad teams have too many of them. So I think at the appropriate time they are good for a team to get together, especially when the head coach or the coaching staff doesn’t have anything to do with it.”
Sunday’s meeting has to be encouraging to Johnson. While he still doesn’t know exactly what was discussed, he has been pleading for more communication among his players all season. The head coach even joked the newfound interaction might have supernatural effects.
“The great thing about that team meeting, guess what I think happened. Nobody probably had their cellphones, so they probably talked to each other,” Johnson said with a smile. “Wow, that’s why it’s raining. Maybe it will snow outside.”
Scouting Alabama
— Alabama fell to 6-2 on the young season following a narrow 65-62 loss to UCF last Sunday. It was the first home defeat for the Crimson Tide of the year. The Tide’s two losses (lost to then-No. 14 Minnesota, 89-84, on Nov. 25) have been by a combined eight points.
— Through its eight games, Alabama is averaging 80.4 points per game and outscoring the opposition by 9.9 points per contest (80.4-70.5). As a team, Alabama is connecting on 50.7 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from beyond the arc. The Crimson Tide also owns a narrow +0.4 rebounding advantage (37.0-36.6) and averaging 14.4 assists per contest. Additionally, Alabama tops the SEC and ranks fifth in the nation in blocked shots per game (6.6).
— Defensively, Alabama is allowing opponents to shoot 41.4 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from deep. In addition, the Crimson Tide is averaging 6.6 steals a contest. Despite struggling at the foul line this season, shooting 63.3 percent on the year. The Tide also ranks second in the league and 45th nationally in free throws attempted (207).
— Four players are averaging double-figure scoring: Sexton (22.1 ppg), Petty (12.3 ppg), Ingram (11.8) and Donta Hall (11.8). Sexton also tops Alabama in assists with four per game. Petty tops Alabama in 3s made (24) and attempted (62), while his 3.0 treys per game is third-best in the SEC.
— Hall leads the nation in field goal percentage (.778, 42-of-54), while also leading Alabama in dunks (21), rebounds (6.8 rpg) and blocks (2.8 bpg). Hall is tied for third on the team with sophomore guard Dazon Ingram in points per game, both averaging 11.8. Ingram also ranks second on the team in rebounding (5.4 rpg) and assists (3.1 apg) a game.
Scouting Rhode Island
— Alabama and Rhode Island will meet for just the second time in series history when the two teams square off on the hardwood on Wednesday night. The only other meeting between the teams took place on Dec. 29, 1992 when they met in the Cable Car Classic in Santa Clara, Calif. The Crimson Tide walked away from that game with a narrow 79-78 victory.
— Rhode Island comes into Wednesday night’s contest coming off a 75-68 victory over rival Providence last Saturday. Fatts Russell led five Rams in double figures with 20 points in 24 minutes off the bench.
— Senior Jared Terrell leads the Rams with 17.9 points per game, while E.C. Matthews, who has been sidelined the last five games with a wrist injury, is second on the team with 14.0 ppg. Andre Berry also averaged double figures at 10.4 points per contest. Guard Stanford Robinson leads the squad in rebounding (5.1 rpg) and steals (3.0 spg), while adding 9.9 ppg.
— As a team, Rhode Island is averaging 77.7 points per game, shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from deep. The Rams are being outrebounded by the competition 31.4-33.0 but make up for that deficit by averaging 9.4 steals per game.
— Rhode Island was the preseason choice to win the Atlantic 10, according to the league’s head coaches and media. In addition, senior guards E.C. Matthews and Jared Terrell were named to the preseason All-Atlantic 10 Team. Matthews was a first-team selection, while Terrell earned spots on both the second team and the all-defensive team. The senior guards – who helped lead Rhode Island to the 2017 Atlantic 10 title – have combined to score 2,701 points, the second most among active teammates in the country.
