Alabama defense takes positive steps forward in win over Georgia

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama basketball’s defense this season has had its ups and downs.

Currently the Crimson Tide ranks No. 41 nationally in defensive efficiency according to KenPom, a solid mark that’s vastly improved from last season’s defense that was outside the top-100 entering the NCAA Tournament.

Despite the decent numbers, Alabama head coach Nate Oats has expressed some frustration with a few defensive performances lately. He was extremely unhappy after allowing 56 in the second half to Vanderbilt about a week and a half ago, and against Mississippi State on Saturday Alabama let Josh Hubbard go for 38 points on his own.

But on Saturday, the Crimson Tide put together one of its best defensive performances of the season, holding Georgia to 69 points in a 21-point win. It was the team’s second-lowest point total allowed against a high-major team this season.

After the game, Oats was asked what areas of the defense looked the most improved.

“Post defense, pick-and-roll defense, and then just overall effort in general, to be honest with you,” Oats said.

Georgia’s offense runs through the interior first, and Alabama did an excellent job guarding the post. Star Georgia forward Asa Newell scored 16 points, but it took him 15 shots to get there as he was routinely challenged by Alabama’s interior defenders such as Grant Nelson, Cliff Omoruyi, Mo Dioubate and Aiden Sherrell.

For the game, Georgia was held to 36 percent from the field, including 37 percent (7-for-19) on shot attempts at the rim. Alabama’s rim protection showed up in a big way, with Nelson blocking five shots and four other players blocking one each.

“Post defense was better, outside of that first four minutes in the second half,” Oats said. “Ball screen defense was better. They don’t run near as many ball screens as some other teams we’ve played, but I thought it was better. I thought we got guys pushed in, we forced a lot more non-paints twos than – the ball had been getting downhill to the rim way too much earlier.”

The goal of Alabama’s defense as long as Oats has been at Alabama has been to force the opposition to take non-rim 2-point shots. It’s the antithesis of what the Tide aims to do on offense, which is taking the most efficient shots in the game — layups and 3-pointers.

Alabama did a great job keeping Georgia from finding easy looks at the rim, and didn’t leave many shooters open on the perimeter. A large portion of the Bulldogs’ shot attempts were from mid-range, which, statistically, is the shot Oats wants his defense to force the opponent to take every trip down the floor.

“I’m looking at their defense right now, over a fourth of their shots, 20 of their shots were non-rim twos,” Oats said. “I thought we did a better job forcing them into the shots that we (want).

“Good game defensively to go into a week break for us. Now we’ve just got to clean up the offense this week.”

Alabama allowed 0.885 points per possession for the game, which was its third-best defensive performance of the season, and its best against a high-major opponent.

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