Notebook: Alabama bench 'has been great' over last six games

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Nate Oats has gone with the same starting lineup in six of Alabama’s last seven games, and the Crimson Tide has won all of those contests. But the country’s No. 4 team has also received strong play from its bench, particularly in its last six victories.

Alabama’s reserves have out-scored the opposing team’s bench, 238-123, in its wins over North Dakota, Kent State, South Dakota State, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas A&M. During the span, the Crimson Tide bench is averaging 39.7 points per game, with two instances of lopsided backup scoring – 38-5 against Oklahoma and 39-4 at South Carolina.

“Our bench has been great,” Oats said. “We’ve gotten more scoring off the bench than our opponents most games.”

Alabama bench production over the last six games

at North Dakota – 42-26
Kent State – 36-27
South Dakota State – 43-30
Texas A&M – 40-31
Oklahoma – 38-5
at South Carolina – 39-4
at Texas A&M – 40-31

Oats went on to praise several individuals who are coming off the Crimson Tide’s bench.

“(Aden) Holloway is leading the SEC in field goal percentage,” Oats said. “He comes in, shoots it well. He scored in double figures in five straight games. I expect to see him come in and provide that quick spark. That three he pulled up in transition, I loved that. I think he needs to do that more. I think he’s still turning down open threes. I never want him to turn anything down. Shoot, if he’s open inside about 26, 27 feet, he needs to shoot it. So he’s been great for us.

“I think Derrion Reid’s been really good for us off the bench, providing a scoring punch. He’s pushing double figures in most games, if not over double figures. (Mo) Dioubate’s had really good games for us. (Chris) Youngblood’s coming off the bench. He’s been playing really well. Shoot, he was the conference player of the year last year, and we currently have him coming off the bench.

“You kind of go down the list of some guys that we’ve been able to put in and give us production. We’ve got a lot of guys. We’ve been playing 10 guys and all 10 of them are capable of scoring it in bunches. The game before, Aiden Sherrell had seven points in limited minutes. He’s capable of scoring it, as well. 

“Our bench has been great. We need the depth. We need the scoring off the bench.”

Holloway heating up

Holloway has been on a tear of late, scoring double-digit points in his last five games. He had his most productive game in an Alabama uniform against South Dakota State, where he scored 26 points and made eight 3-pointers. The Auburn transfer is averaging 10.8 points per game while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from 3-point range.

On Monday, Oats discussed Holloway’s growth as a scorer since transferring to Alabama.

“We want him to get more aggressive,” Oats said. “I think he figures it out when he gets in the lane pretty well. He’s got unbelievable touch. We don’t take many non-rim twos, but I’m more than comfortable with him shooting some of those paint floaters. He makes them at a really high clip. So I kind of told him that. ‘Look, if you get in the paint, the big’s gonna drop. Maybe go ahead and shoot it.’ He’s comfortable shooting it. He’s getting comfortable in our offense, how aggressive we want him to be. 

“He’s got a pretty good finishing package. His skill level is as high as about anybody I’ve – he’s obviously much different than Quinerly, but in similar regard, the finishing package at the rim. Holloway’s been able to shoot it at a high clip. Quinerly worked really hard to get his shot up. But those two guys are smaller guards that are ridiculously skilled. I think you’re starting to see more and more of Holloway’s skill.”

Why is Stevenson starting?

The most popular starting five Oats has deployed has featured Mark Sears, Labaron Philon, Jarin Stevenson, Grant Nelson and Cliff Omoruyi. Sears and Omoruyi have started all 16 of Alabama’s games, while Philon and Nelson have started 14. Stevenson has started 12, but the second-year forward ranks ninth on the team in scoring with 4.7 points per game.

However, Stevenson has won back-to-back Hard Hat awards and remains in the starting lineup as UA wades deeper into conference play. Oats explained why it’s still happening.

“He’s about the right stuff,” Oats said. “He’s always been about the right stuff. I think he’s tried to please the coaching staff so much to the point of like afraid to make a mistake almost. We kind of met with him and just said, ‘Look, man. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Make sure it’s a mistake of commission. You’re committing a mistake, not an omission where you’re just not getting beat. Just be a little more aggressive. If you think you should go block the shot, just go block the shot. We’ll get you back over there.

“‘So if you think maybe you should do it, just go do it. Let’s just start being more aggressive. Let’s have an attacking mentality on the defense and offensive end. If you get beat occasionally because you’re a little more aggressive, that’s great. We’re alright. You’re 6-10. You can catch up, cover your mistakes. Herb Jones got beat plenty when he was here. He’s the best defender I’ve ever coached. He gets beat, comes back, pins it to the backboard.’ 

“… We just needed Jarin to be a little more aggressive, less afraid to make some mistakes that way. I think he’s gotten that way here in the last couple of games.”

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