Bama Game Thread: MBB - Bama hosts State - Wed Feb 25 - 8p CST ESPNU

[CajunCrimson]

I think we all saw why Bethea can’t be a primary ball handler.

 

[dayhiker]

I think we all saw why Bethea can’t be a primary ball handler.

I also saw Hubbard blow right by him as soon as he got in the game.

 

[JDCrimson]

I think that Oats called the dogs off in the 2nd half directing the guys to take more shots at the rim and it ultimately affected our flow inside and out for the game.

If we had kept going we could have scored 120-130 on them. And I'm sure Oats did not want to embarrass Jans that way.

 

[AlistarWills]

I also saw Hubbard blow right by him as soon as he got in the game.

Eh, there were times he was a pain for Hubbard. I’d say it went both ways I guess. I’m glad he got 20 minutes of live fire. The physical things are there.

 

[AlistarWills]

I think that Oats called the dogs off in the 2nd half directing the guys to take more shots at the rim and it ultimately affected our flow inside and out for the game.

If we had kept going we could have scored 120-130 on them. And I'm sure Oats did not want to embarrass Jans that way.

If you listen to the post game presser, not so much. Oats said he was kinda disappointed in the leadership in the second half. Said in the first half we were passing the ball getting the open shots and started dribbling too much late. Someone commented about the 22 3’s we had vs Yale and the fact that Philon sat that game as well. Oats cheekily made the comment about talking to Philon about sitting more.

 

[dayhiker]

Eh, there were times he was a pain for Hubbard. I’d say it went both ways I guess. I’m glad he got 20 minutes of live fire. The physical things are there.

But the point is that he isn't getting on the court because of his lack of defense.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

FWIW I saw Bethea, Trelly and Aden his 22 threes in a row in warmups. Yes, I counted

Obviously it translated to the actual game!

 

[BAMARICH]

Guy commenting on UA basketball last week said "outscoring your opponent is NOT a sound defensive strategy". Most of the time he's correct... but at times (last night was one of them), it proves to work. Great game last night... real test of where this team is right now will come Saturday versus UT.

 

[BAMARICH]

What a great half. Team looks healthier than most of season. Got to spread some minutes out. Jemison gaining more and more experience and confidence is great. Enjoy Allen while we can cause his stock continues to rise even in this crazy good freshman class all over the country. Guy has the it factor and drive.

Read Tuesday that if Allen projects in the latter half of the first round, then he'll be facing the question of "do I come back and try to become a lottery pick". Going to be interesting to see how it plays out.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

Guy commenting on UA basketball last week said "outscoring your opponent is NOT a sound defensive strategy". Most of the time he's correct... but at times (last night was one of them), it proves to work. Great game last night... real test of where this team is right now will come Saturday versus UT.

Isn't the goal to ALWAYS outscore your opponent?

 

[BamaMoon]

I loved how we defended Hubbard. Jumped him with a double team off of every screen and he's so short it was hard for him to pass out of it. He have to lob a pass and we had time to recover and adjust.

This game reminded me of the one in BR a few years ago when we set the SEC record for 3's...at least the way we shot them in the 1st half.

This was a fun, easy win!!!

But, let's not get too giddy about this game. We are MADE to beat a team like this: smaller guards and not much of an inside threat.

The real tests are coming...starting Sat. in Knoxville and then UF...eventually in the SEC tournament and then teams with BIG bigs in MM.

 

[BamaMoon]

Isn't the goal to ALWAYS outscore your opponent?

Not in golf!

 

[BAMARICH]

Not in golf!

And running, skiing, swimming, etc.

 

[Bazza]

Yale basketball coach James Jones, if he were to learn that Alabama was without point guard Labaron Philon on Wednesday, Feb. 25 in a 100-75 rout of Mississippi State, wouldn't be at all surprised by the outcome.

Almost two months ago, the Crimson Tide star sat against Yale in the only other game he's missed, and the result looked much the same against MSU. Both were blowout wins for Alabama, both owing to a head-spinning barrage of 3-pointers.

https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/columns/2026/02/25/alabama-basketball-minus-labaron-philon-threes-have-fallen-twice-now/88752276007/

 

[oskie]

Yale basketball coach James Jones, if he were to learn that Alabama was without point guard Labaron Philon on Wednesday, Feb. 25 in a 100-75 rout of Mississippi State, wouldn't be at all surprised by the outcome.

Almost two months ago, the Crimson Tide star sat against Yale in the only other game he's missed, and the result looked much the same against MSU. Both were blowout wins for Alabama, both owing to a head-spinning barrage of 3-pointers.

https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/sports/columns/2026/02/25/alabama-basketball-minus-labaron-philon-threes-have-fallen-twice-now/88752276007/

What about Coach Oats keeping Philon on the bench for, at least, the first half Saturday?

Kidding/Not Kidding

 

[Bazza]

What about Coach Oats keeping Philon on the bench for, at least, the first half Saturday?

Kidding/Not Kidding

Especially with Coach Oats being an analytics guy - and he even joked around in his presser about this. But of course how do you purposely sit your best player? You can't.