E117 BH Alabama blows out Missouri at home 90 64 Quick Reaction in Hoops On a cold January night, Alabama was hot from three and from the free throw line led by Latrell Wrightsell’s 21 points all from three as Alabama snapped a two-game home losing streak to blow out Missouri 90-64 and move it’s record to 14-6 overall and 4-3 in the SEC. No. 23 Alabama snapped a two-game home skid with a dominant 90–64 victory over Missouri at Coleman Coliseum. After a tight start that saw the teams tied midway through the first half, the Crimson Tide utilized a 21–8 run late in the first half to take control before halftime going into the half with a 42-29 lead. After halftime, the onslaught continued in the second, highlighted by a 16–2 spurt midway through the 2nd half that pushed the lead to as many as 29 points as Bama wins by 26 pts 90 to 64. Alabama’s efficiency was the story of the night, as they connected on 15 three-pointers and shot an elite 88% from the free-throw line, while defensively holding the Tigers to a season-low 19% from beyond the arc. The win was fueled by a standout performance from Latrell Wrightsell Jr., who poured in a season-high 21 points on a career-best seven triples. He was well-supported by freshman Labaron Philon, who added 18 points and six assists, and big man Aiden Sherrell, who chipped in 16 points. A major storyline involved center Charles Bediako, who contributed 14 points and six rebounds after being cleared to play via a legal injunction against the NCAA. This comprehensive win moved Alabama back into the win column, capitalizing on Missouri’s poor 34.8% shooting from the charity stripe making only 8 of 23 missing 15 Free throws to secure the blowout. Latrell Wrightsell with 21 pts, 5 rebs, 2 assists, and 2 steals - LaBaron Philon with 18 pts, 4 rebs, 6 assists, and 1 steal, but had 2 turnovers. Aiden Sherrell had 16 pts and 2 blocks -- Charles Bediako had 14 pts, 6 rebs, and 1 steal, and was 6-6 from the free throw line --TBB had 10 rebs and Houston Mallette had 8 rebs as both of them hits the boards hard all night -- Key Team Stats Hot shooting by Alabama Bama made 15 threes and shot 38% from three compared to Missouri shooting 19% from three and only 39% from the field and shooting 35% from the three throw line Bama made 23-26 Free throws shooting 88% from the charity stripe MO outrebounded Bama by 5 rebs 44-39, but that stat didn’t matter given how poorly MO shot the ball MO also had 13 TO’s to just 7 for Alabama MO did have 44 pts in the paint to just 20 for Alabama, but Alabama scoring 23 free throws to just 8 for MO and Alabama making 15 three’s as well to just 4 for MO overcame the fact that MO scored effectively in the post against Alabama. Bama needs for Amari Allen to get healthy. He is needed for his all-around play and one of Bama’s five best players. Bama has added depth in the front court now with Bediako, but none of the post players can score effectively with post moves around the basket. Sherrell playing a stretch four with Bediako at the five opens up the offense. The best starting lineup seems to be Bediako at Center Sherrell at stretch four Amari Allen when healthy on the wing Either Holloway or Wrightsell at shooting guard And Philon at the point. Up next: Alabama visits No. 19 Florida on Sunday, Feb 1. That will be a tough test for Alabama. We will find out a lot about this Alabama team on Sunday. Florida like TN has Alabama’s number over the past two plus years, so given that Auburn just beat Florida, it will be a great measuring stick for Alabama. Alabama (14-6, 4-3 SEC) will next face Florida in Gainesville on Sunday, Feb 1.

E116 BH Alabama loses at home to Tennessee 79 73 Quick Reaction in Hoops Alabama playing without two starters loses to Tennessee at home 79 to 73 in tough loss where Bama fails to score in the last 3 mins of the game to run its record to 3-3 in the SEC and 13-6 overall as Bama fails to execute on offense and rebound on defense at the end of the game. Alabama played without Aden Holloway and Amari Allen who both sat out with injuries, and at crunch time, it showed. The big story pre-game was Charles Bediako playing, but the bigger factor was Bama not having Holloway and Allen. And Nate Oates has a Rick Barnes and TN problem as Alabama has now lost 5 in a row to TN. It is another bad home loss to drops Bama to projected seed of 5 or lower for the tournament. The Tennessee Volunteers defeated No. 17 Alabama 79-73 on January 24, 2026, at Coleman Coliseum. Despite leading 39-36 at halftime, the Crimson Tide struggled offensively in the second half, get outrebounded by TN and shot just 34.5% from the field and going scoreless over the final 3:11 of the game. During the key last four minutes of the game, Alabama missed six 3-pt attempts and made only one three (going 1 for 7 in the last 4 mins) and attempted zero 2 pt shots in that time period and let Tennessee outrebound Alabama as well. Alabama’s three point shots during those last four mins of the game were not clean, good looks, but rather contested shots. And Bama failed to run its offense to just get a good open shot from where ever to get points. Second half – Tennessee outscored Alabama 43-34 in the second half to secure a 79-73 comeback victory. The Volunteers erased a 39-36 halftime deficit by opening the period on an 11-2 run, taking a 47-41 lead just minutes into the half. Decisive Run: With 7:34 secs left, TN led 64-63, Tennessee responded to Alabama's with a 6-0 run burst, fueled by Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Ament, to extend their advantage to 70-63 with 6:34 to play. • Bama then went on a 7-2 run to cut the lead to 72-70 with 4.42 left. Then TN scores 5 consecutive points to take a 77-70 lead with 4 minutes to go. • The Closing Drought: Alabama then cuts the lead to 77-73 following an Aidan Sherrell three-pointer at the 3:11 mark, the Tide's offense completely stalled and went scoreless to the end. Alabama went scoreless for the final 3:11, missing their last five field goal attempts while Tennessee's defense, anchored by Felix Okpara, sealed the game with late blocks and rebounds -- LaBaron Philon with 26 pts, 4 rebs, 7 assists, but had 3 TO’s and only shot 2 for 9 from three. Other notables: Latrell Wrightsell had 14 pts Charles Bediako had 13 pts, 3 rebs, 2 steals, and 3 blocks - TN only had two players in double-figures Led by Nate Ament with 29 pts, 7 rebs, and 3 assists as Ament made clutch shot after clutch shot down the stretch in the 2nd half to lead TN to victory over Bama And Ja’kobi Gillespie had 24 pts, 3 rebs, 4 assists, and 2 steals in a strong performance Bama is not playing like a final four or even elite 8 team if you judge them by the way Bama played against Oklahoma. Bama still on pace to make the tournament, but their ability to get a top four seed in a region is slipping. Need to start stacking wins again. There is no great team in the SEC, but there are a bunch of really good teams. Up next: Alabama (13-6, 3-3 SEC) will next face Missouri at home on Tuesday, January 27.

Currently, Alabama is 13-5 on the season and 3-2 in the SEC. Tied for sixth in the SEC right now. Bama needs to figure some things out and keep winning games or their seeding in the NCAA will slide. Let’s do our midseason review and report for the Team Up next: Alabama plays Tennessee at home on Saturday, Jan 24 at 7.30 pm. Charles Bediako – what??? Players of note The leader - Labaron Philon The three amigos Aiden Sherrell Amari Allen Aden Holloway The rest of the cast – who can we count on? Houston Mallette TBB London Jemison Keitenn Bristow Latrell Wrightsell Jalil Bethea Noah Williamson Injuries Davion Hannah SEC Standings Highlights Issues Issue – Why Bama has lulls in the games where they just lose focus? The static offense – too much one on one and not enough ball movement Bama has little depth in the front court. TBB is hurt. Bristow is hurt. And Williamson is not reliable. Need TBB healthy and to play well game in and game out Need Bristow to step up and contribute. Don’t know what he will do and how he will play game in and game out. Williamson played and contributed very little in this game, but need more from him if Bama wants to be a great team. I know who our best four players are, but who is the fifth starter? Bethea contributed a bit in 7 minutes, but we need more from him. The Big man issue with Nate Oates and Bama – inability to recruit, develop, and get big men into the NBA – centers and power forwards – great with wings and guards and 3 and D players and stretch fours. Lack of low post play Nate Oates – North Carolina and Kentucky – could try to hire him away? Alabama is now 13-5 on the season and 3-2 in the SEC. Bama needs to figure some things out and keep winning games or their seeding in the NCAA will slide. And let’s hope it doesn’t get so bad that they risk not making the tournament. Bama is not playing like a final four or even elite 8 team if you judge them by the way Bama played against Oklahoma. Up next: Alabama plays Tennessee at home on Saturday, Jan 24 at 7.30 pm. Tennessee is struggling, but Rick Barnes will have them ready to play against Alabama. Will be a tough game. Bama must play with the kind of effort and focus game in and game out they played with against Oklahoma in the 2nd half if they want to be a sweet 16 team again this year. I am cautiously optimistic that Bama can make the elite 8.