How Sweet it is: Alabama destroys Texas Tech

Alabama rolled into the second round for a matchup with Texas Tech that was supposed to be very close according to the oddsmakers. It turned out to be anything but, as the Tide made easy work of what turned out to be a sorely overmatched opponent.

It was actually competitive out of the gate, as the two teams traded blows into the first media timeout with Alabama leading 10-7. The Tide had a few dumb turnovers to keep things close, but were winning on the glass and getting great looks at the basket when they managed to take care of the basketball.

Whatever Nate said during the media break was effective. Labaron Philon immediately knocked down a three for a six point lead and that started a Tide spurt, and a couple of minutes later Taylor Bol Bowen knocked one down from the corner for a 20-9 Alabama lead headed into the 12-minute break, on the back of a 13-2 run. Alabama’s defense was smothering the Red Raiders and they were dominating the glass like we’ve rarely seen this season.

After play resumed, Latrell Wrightsell and Philon promptly knocked down back-to-back threes for a 16 point lead, which forced Tech coach Grant McCasland to call timeout barely a minute later. Alabama got yet another stop and four offensive rebounds on the ensuing possession, but only one point as Amari Allen made one of two from the line.

Things stood at 27-12 headed into the 8-minute media break. The good news was that Alabama was dominating the score and the boards, but it had to be a bit concerning that Tech was hanging around because of turnovers and 35% shooting from Alabama. It was clear that the message during the break was to get the ball inside. It wasn’t always pretty, but a three-point play and a drive from Wrightsell maintained the 15-point advantage and led McCasland to call timeout again just inside of six minutes.

You really can’t say enough about the effort Alabama was showing on the defensive end and on the glass. Tech could get absolutely nothing going, as Alabama took advantage of its considerable length advantage on the perimeter to harass the Red Raiders’ guards. Leading scorer Christian Anderson managed only five points on seven shot attempts, and 46% three point shooter Donovan Atwell got off only one shot. The Tide got hot from three late in the half and ended up taking a 49-25 lead into the locker room. It was a result that exactly nobody saw coming, least of all the four CBS studio analysts who each picked Texas Tech in the pregame.

Sherrell led the scoring with 10, including 4-4 from the line. Wrightsell and Houston Mallette added nine apiece and Philon was only fourth on the team with seven points. Philon filled up the sheet though, adding six rebounds and six assists to lead the team in both categories. Rebounds were the key to the lopsided score as Alabama came out on top 30-16. Four Tide players tied for second behind Philon with three boards apiece.

Texas Tech opened the second half running things through big LeJuan Watts. He opened the scoring with a three on the opening possession which Wrightsell answered. Watts then drew a third foul on Amari Allen, scored on a drive, got a steal that led to a score and then added a free throw on a drive for good measure. This flurry of activity allowed the Red Raiders to get the lead under 20, but threes from London Jemison and Wrightsell pushed it right back out to 58-35 at the 16-minute timeout.

Allen stayed in the game despite the foul trouble and scored on a beautiful drive out of the break for a 25-point lead, but the Red Raiders kept battling. They showed a couple of defensive looks, stealing a possession with a half court trap at one point, and went on a 10-3 spurt to close within 18 at the 12-minute timeout. This was a critical moment in the game, as Alabama would either show some killer instinct to put Tech away for good or allow them to claw their way back into the game.

Alabama had possession out of the timeout and moved the ball beautifully for a wide open Mallette three. Watts was fouled on the other end and made both, but the bigger issue was that Sherrell was whistled for his fourth foul on the play. Aiden was forced to the bench, but that didn’t stop a quick five point spurt on another three from Mallette and a Bol Bowen dunk. Two more Wrightsell threes sandwiched around one from Noah Williamson put the Tide up 80-49, and it was all over but the crying. Noah had eight points, which tells you all you need to know about this one.

Wrightsell led all scorers with 24 including 6-9 from deep. Coach Houston painted his masterpiece with 15 points and eight boards, including five on the offensive end. Mallette was the ultimate glue guy in this one, and his hustle was infectious. Most encouragingly, Alabama dominated the game despite getting only 19 combined from Philon and Sherrell. Philon did add 12 assists and six rebounds to his ledger, and both contributed to the dominant defensive effort. Allen added 12 points and four rebounds of his own.

It doesn’t get any tougher than the next matchup, on Friday against a Michigan team that has thoroughly dominated some very good teams this season. The Wolverines have had no trouble in the first two rounds of the tournament.

But that’s for next week. Tonight, we celebrate Alabama’s fourth straight trip to the Sweet 16, yet another high water mark in Alabama history that Nate has reached in only seven seasons at the Capstone. Enjoy it, folks. These are the good times.

Roll Tide.