Keon Ellis reveals what changed from the first half to second half

Despite falling 80-77 in overtime against LSU, Alabama head coach Nate Oats thought his team showed better effort than in past games. One of the Crimson Tide’s players who showed the most was former junior college standout Keon Ellis, who helped keep Alabama in the game through the second half and overtime periods.

After scoring just two points on a pair of free throws in the first half, Keon Ellis led all Alabama scorers for the game with 17 second half and overtime points to bring his game total to 19. During the postgame press conference, he addressed what changed from the first half to the second half.

“I don’t think it was a big adjustment,” said Ellis. “In the first half, I turned down a couple of open looks just trying to move the ball and whatnot. Some of the catches I didn’t secure all the way, and everyone was telling me for us to hang in this game I have to take shots. I just started to get going by just shooting it when I had the chance. Just playing offense the right way. If I have a chance, shooting it. And they were falling so my teammates just kept finding me.”

Ellis is averaging 12.1 points, six rebounds and 1.8 assists per game this season and he is one of the best defensive players on the roster.

Nate Oats addresses Alabama player’s absence

Alabama forward Jusaun Holt did not play for Nate Oats in Saturday’s 80-77 road loss against LSU and was not seen with the team on the bench either. The unranked freshman has seen spot minutes on and off all season, but his future now appears in doubt after a strange postgame response.

During his postgame press conference, Nate Oats spoke through technical difficulties about a developing situation off the court surrounding Jusaun Holt and his future at Alabama.

“Me and him are going to meet this weekend and figure out his status with the team moving forward,” said Oats as the audio cut in and out. “Internal issue. No, just, team issue.”

Holt has averaged 0.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in his freshman season, playing spot minutes in most of Alabama’s games but making an impact in others. Against Ole Miss in February, he appeared to give the coaching staff the boost it was seeking and played a career-high 26 minutes.

On a team which Nate Oats has admitted he has trouble motivating, another off-court story now appears to have the Crimson Tide’s focus elsewhere after the benching of point guard Jahvon Quinerly and suspension of forward Darius Miles earlier this season.