The second ranked Alabama Crimson Tide opened their season with a dominating 110-54 win over UNC Asheville on Monday night. In front of what coach Nate Oats called “the best opening night crowd since we have been here.” Considering the fact that the game was a sellout, that tracks. Bama just overwhelmed the visiting Bulldogs with wave after wave of talented players. Seven different Tiders scored in double figures.
Oats started with a five consisting of Mark Sears, Labaron Philon, Clifford Omoruyi, Derrion Reid, and Jarin Stevenson. Grant Nelson, Latrell Wrightsell, Jr. and Aiden Sherrell were back from injuries and thus available. Oats announced pregame that senior transfer Houston Mallette and freshman Naas Cunningham would both redshirt this season, as we mentioned earlier.
Bama shot out to a quick 9-0 lead and really never looked back. With 15:54 left the Dogs had cut the lead to 9-5, but three pointers by Aden Hollloway and Wrightsell pushed the lead back out, and the Tide coasted from there. Oats was playing with his rotation, subbing in up to five players at a time with no noticeable drop off in talent.
The Tide did get a little sloppy in the last two minutes of the half, allowing UNC Asheville to cut the lead to 50-29. In the first period the Tide shot 18-29 for 62% and knocked aside the narrative that they “live and die” by the three, attempting only nine and making three. The free throw shooting left a lot to be desired at 11-19 for 58%, but the team had 27 rebounds, nine assists, four blocks, and five steals. Sears notched 10 points to lead the way, Holloway added eight, while Omoruyi contributed six points and six rebounds. Sherrell played only five first half minutes but grabbed four rebounds.
A strong Bama defensive effort held the Bulldogs to 10-34 shooting in the half for 29% including 3-11 for 27% from deep. UNC A had 15 rebounds, five steals, five assists, two blocks, and committed six turnovers. Toyaz Solomon scored 11 points to led all first half scorers.
Jarin Stevenson was getting treatment for something as the second half opened, so Nelson replaced him in the lineup. Obviously it wasn’t a serious issue, because he quickly entered play. Sears heated up from deep and proceeded to score a very quiet game high 20 points.
The players took turns heating up as Wrightsell, Holloway, Stevenson, and Omoruyi all piled on. A few alley oops were expertly pulled off as the Tide had their way with the visitors. A Wrightsell three with 4:50 left in the game put Bama at the century mark. Senior walk-on Max Scharnowski entered with two minutes left and was able to garner two points and two rebounds to close the game out.
The Tide shot a blistering 20-31 for 65% in the second half, including 5-9 from behind the arc, and improved to 15-18 at the charity stripe. Overall the team finished 38-60 for 63%, 8-18 for 44% from deep, and 26-37 on free throws for 70%. Bama dominated the backboards with 55 rebounds, and finished with six blocks, five steals, and 21 assists. After nine first half turnovers the Tide only added one second half throwaway to the stat sheet.
All-American Sears finished with 20 points on 6-8 shooting with 3-4 from three. Sears added three rebounds while playing only 24 minutes. Omoruyi shot 6-6 and 4-4 at the line and scored 16 points with eight rebounds and three blocks in 19 minutes. Wrightsell added 13 points in 16 minutes. Dioubate continued to impress with 11 points, seven rebounds, and a pair of assists in 16 minutes. Holloway also scored 11 and grabbed four rebounds with two assists. Philon led the team with nine assists and scored 10 points in 24 minutes. Stevenson was the seventh player in double digits with 10, and added seven rebounds in 21 minutes. Sherrell, the huge freshman, led the team with nine rebounds in just 17 minutes.
The Bama defense tightened up even more in the second half, holding the Dogs to 10-39 from the field and 3-15 from deep. Overall UNC-A shot 20-73 for 27%, 6-26 from three for 23% and 8-14 for 57% at the line. The Bulldogs totaled 29 rebounds, blocked two shots, pilfered six steals, dished eight assists, and turned the ball over nine times. Jordan Marsh led the team with 13 points.
What a great opening day win from the Tide. Oats took turns going with big lineups, small lineups, and everything in between. Relentless effort, much improved defense, several options to protect the rim, shooters galore, and the deepest roster in the country, has Bama fan expectations rising to a level never before seen in Tuscaloosa. Aaron Torres called the Tide “Noah’s Arc” because they ““have two of everything.” UNC Asheville coach Mike Morell was making his third trip to Tuscaloosa with his team and said that “this is by far the best Alabama team I have seen, and they have everything they need to win a national championship.”
Oats added after the game that they are planning on playing Omoruyi fewer minutes than he played at Rutgers because of “the style we play, and Cliff needs to be explosive in his minutes.” Oats was complimentary of Sherrell for honoring his commitment even though Stevenson and Nelson both decided to return this season rather than go pro and Omoruyi transferred in at the post.
This is going to be a hell of a ride, jump on the wagon before it fills up.
The Tide takes the court again on Friday as they host Arkansas State at 7 p.m. Game time is 7 pm. CT and can be seen only on SEC Network Plus. Bama plays the toughest schedule in the country and the competition will ramp up through the rest of November and into December.
Roll Tide!
