BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In a decisive display of dominance, the No. 1 Arizona Wildcats defeated the No. 12 Alabama Crimson Tide 96-75 in the C.M. Newton Classic on December 2, 2023. The Wildcats capitalized on their considerable rebounding advantage, securing 22 offensive rebounds compared to Alabama’s three, leading to a staggering total rebounding margin of 52-32.
Alabama’s head coach, Nate Oats, highlighted the team’s struggles on the boards, stating, “The toughness factor was a problem… You can’t win games giving your opponent 28 more field goal attempts.” With Arizona taking 84 shots to Alabama’s 56, the disparity in rebounding proved critical. Oats noted that the Crimson Tide’s issues with rebounding against physically imposing teams have persisted, stating, “This has been a recurring issue with us.”
Arizona’s centers, Mo Krivas and Tobe Awaka, played pivotal roles in the Wildcats’ rebounding success, combining for 29 rebounds, with 16 on the offensive glass. In contrast, Alabama’s center Noah Williamson managed just one rebound in 11 minutes of play. Oats expressed concern over the need for his team to improve in this area, particularly against top-ranked opponents.
Alabama point guard Labaron Philon contributed significantly with 26 points and 10 rebounds, marking his first double-double of the season. However, he failed to secure any offensive rebounds. “We tried to make an emphasis all week that the guards had to come down and try to rebound,” Philon said, reflecting on their preparation leading up to the game. “I think I could’ve done a better job of crashing the glass on the offensive end.”
Despite leading 41-39 at halftime, Alabama’s rebounding deficiencies became more pronounced in the second half. Oats acknowledged that the team’s previous losses against elite teams, including Arizona, No. 6 Purdue, and No. 8 Gonzaga, can be traced back to similar rebounding woes. “The three elite teams we’ve played, we’ve lost to because we got our tails kicked on the glass,” he noted.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd, who previously served as an assistant under Mark Few at Gonzaga, emphasized the importance of endurance in his team’s approach. “A theme for the week for us is early energy, early effort,” Lloyd said. “You have to have competitive endurance against a team like that because they just keep coming at you.”
As Alabama moves forward, addressing their rebounding issues will be crucial for success against top-tier competition. With players like Aiden Sherrell contributing five rebounds before leaving the game due to cramps, and Oats expressing the need for greater contributions from players like Bol Bowen, the Crimson Tide must find a solution to remain competitive.
The outcome against Arizona serves as a stark reminder for Alabama. Without improvement in rebounding, the Crimson Tide may struggle to achieve their goals in the highly competitive landscape of college basketball.
