Basketball is a game of matchups and Duke like Florida just isn’t a good matchup for us. I was surprised they were able to shut us down as much as they did because even against Florida we still got our points for the most part. There length caused issues all game. Honestly Knepell was the guy that impressed me the most (I already knew how good Flagg was). as I thought he was more just catch and shoot type guy. He was strong with the ball and played solid defense even though he not super athletic. I think his draft stock is going up each game. He might not have the look as an NBA guy but I’d rather draft him than some of the just athletes that go lottery year in year out then do nothing.
Bama Game Thread: Elite 8 Postgame Bama v Duke
- Thread starter CajunCrimson
- Start date
Appreciate what Sears and Nelson did at Alabama. They will be remembered forever. I never thought Sears would do this at Bama after watching him grow up playing around the Shoals in AAU and travel ball against our son. But he worked hard and developed into a great college player.
When we play these elite teams like Duke and UConn last year, it just feels like we are just struggling to hang on for dear life instead of truly competing. Oats is going to have to tweak his roster construction to get bigger, stronger guards, add some more offensive sets with off ball screens and movement to free up shooters, and come up with a better strategy to defend middle pick and rolls.
When we play these elite teams like Duke and UConn last year, it just feels like we are just struggling to hang on for dear life instead of truly competing. Oats is going to have to tweak his roster construction to get bigger, stronger guards, add some more offensive sets with off ball screens and movement to free up shooters, and come up with a better strategy to defend middle pick and rolls.
Philon played a pretty good game; 16 pts, 3 stls, 3 assists, 5 rebounds.
CBB officiating favors the “physical” teams because they know refs don’t have the guts to foul out all the players who deserve it. It especially shows up in the tournament. What’s the O/U in the UT/UH game, 80?
I know a lot of talk is about getting bigger guards but I think the biggest issue is the lack of offense from the bigs all year. We got no offense from most of them all year unless it was lob dunks. This is a type of game you need something from them to help out when the three pointers are not falling. Cliff has no offensive game, Stevenson has been a huge disappointment for me all year. Mo is tough but lacks size against bigger teams. Sherrill more a pop out guy. Texas Tech gave Florida fits using there 4 and 5 guys in post ups back to basket when they neeeded a tough score.
Officiating didn’t cause us to lose tonight… it was the continual combination of lack of size at guard and defensive inconsistency. These two things have lost is games throughout the year and it was what took us down tonight.
Duke made a change this past offseason that we need to replicate - they eliminated the small guards from their roster (6’5” is their shortest player). Auburn has done the same thing and so has Florida. Will be very interesting to see what roster construction looks like next year.
Another excellent year… but one that will go down as underachievement considering the expectations created inside the program. It’s a testament to Nate Oats that we’re at this point. Prior to 2019, “success” was to make the tourney. Today, it’s to make the Final Four. Look forward to the off-season and RTR!
Duke made a change this past offseason that we need to replicate - they eliminated the small guards from their roster (6’5” is their shortest player). Auburn has done the same thing and so has Florida. Will be very interesting to see what roster construction looks like next year.
Another excellent year… but one that will go down as underachievement considering the expectations created inside the program. It’s a testament to Nate Oats that we’re at this point. Prior to 2019, “success” was to make the tourney. Today, it’s to make the Final Four. Look forward to the off-season and RTR!
I think CNO is the kind of coach that can get us there.
At this point, college basketball is about the portal and finding the rare one and done super star like Flagg.
We had ours in Bradon Miller but the talent around him wasn't as deep as this year's team.
I sure wish the BYU recruiter would have rolled with us. He may be next year's Flagg and Miller.
Disappointing as tonight was, it’s worth remembering that it wasn’t that long ago that we were losing to Norfolk State at home in the first round of the NIT…..
You can get it either way. Duke’s 7’2” guy isn’t a monster offensively, but their bigger roster constantly creates mismatches and allows them to play aggressive defense. But you’re right… big-man offense didn’t materialize this year. A healthy Reid probably helps there.
I think it’s apparent which way college basketball is going… the days of a speed-based team being effective is slowly disappearing.
I didn’t expect us to beat Duke, so while the outcome was disappointing the season overall was a success.
After ending the season 2-3 I wasn’t expecting to get this far so I’m not complaining. Duke is very good. I don’t hate on them and I certainly don’t want TN or the barn winning it so if they win that’s fine but honestly I don’t care.
RTR and here’s to another good run in 2026. Getting to the R16 should be the floor going forward.
After ending the season 2-3 I wasn’t expecting to get this far so I’m not complaining. Duke is very good. I don’t hate on them and I certainly don’t want TN or the barn winning it so if they win that’s fine but honestly I don’t care.
RTR and here’s to another good run in 2026. Getting to the R16 should be the floor going forward.
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Thank you Mark Sears. It didn't end the way anyone wanted, but just a heck of a career at Alabama! None of this would have been possible without him. He's a program legend in my book, and maybe even the Bama basketball GOAT.
That's not to forget about the rest of the seniors. None of this would have been possible without Grant either, and Cliff and Youngblood were key contributors this year. I really am going to miss this team. I liked this one a lot
That's not to forget about the rest of the seniors. None of this would have been possible without Grant either, and Cliff and Youngblood were key contributors this year. I really am going to miss this team. I liked this one a lot
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Williamson guy from Bucknell has got to be at the top of our priority list. I like Cliff, but Williamson feels like a perfect fit for our system. There aren't many of those lying around in the portal at Center, so getting him would be huge. Longer guards will be important to get also, but there are a few more of those. We also hopefully have Mallette coming back, who is a longer guard that I think we really could have used tonight.
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Roll Tide. I’ll pull for Florida the rest of the way, if not them, anyone but UT or AU.
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