TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It’s still too early for coaches to start campaigning for NCAA tournament berths.
However, Alabama men’s basketball coach Avery Johnson knows the magnitude of his team’s 71-62 victory against Mississippi State on Saturday night in Coleman Coliseum.
“It is a critical stretch of basketball for our team,” Johnson said. “You have to win at home. You have to win at home when you don’t play your best basketball. They know what is front of them. They know the challenges. They also know the rewards.”
Alabama last played in the NCAA tournament in 2012. Johnson’s second team might be ahead of schedule thanks to a second victory against MSU that pushed Alabama (13-7 overall) to 6-2 in league play, good for third place in the standings.
Alabama entered the day ranked No. 78 in the RealTimeRPI. The next four games include road trips to Arkansas (29) and South Carolina (17) and a home game against Kentucky (five).
“We have surprised some people, but not the guys in the locker room,” Alabama junior Riley Norris said. “It’s just a matter of watching hard work pay off.”
Alabama has moved back into the upper echelon in the league with great defense. The Crimson Tide shot only 32.7 percent from the field but made it to the free-throw line 36 times (hitting 31) to garner the victory. Alabama only had 13 turnovers. It had seven blocked shots and 11 steals.
“Their play underneath was great,” MSU coach Ben Howland said. “It was a difference in both games. I don’t think Alabama is getting the credit it deserves for being 6-2 in the league. That is a very good basketball team.”
Alabama beat MSU 68-58 in Starkville earlier this season. The 58 and 62 points scored were the fewest in eight league games for the Bulldogs.
Ready injury
The Bulldogs suffered a big blow when senior point guard I.J. Ready left the game less than six minutes in. Howland said Ready injured his soleus muscle, or the plantar flexor muscle of the ankle, during pre-game warmups.
When Lamar Peters fell into foul trouble early in the game, Ready entered the game and played two minutes before aggravating the pre-game injury.
“It’s a big blow because he is our lone senior,” Howland said. “Even though he comes off the bench, he has a hand in everything we do offensively and defensively. I.J. had eight assists and no turnovers in our last game (an 89-74 home win over Missouri), so that tells you the value he has to our basketball team.”
In the second half, freshman Tyson Carter played point guard when Peters needed a rest.
Howland said Ready’s injury is a day-to-day situation. He hopes to have him back Tuesday for the team’s game against Ole Miss in Oxford.
Rivalry game next
While the Bulldogs are 13-7 and 4-4 in league play, Howland said his team has grown and matured. He said outcomes of games matter more. He also said this stretch of games has tested his young team.
“We have tears right now,” Howland said. “That is a good thing. The kids are passionate about what they are doing. They are committed. Their feelings are impacted about the outcome of the game. That’s a good thing. When you have young team, you want to see that passion.”
Howland said the SEC is under-rated and that his team’s recent performance is understandable due to the recent schedule.
“We have had two difficult weeks of basketball,” Howland said. “You lose at home to Kentucky and you are down three late in the game. You lose at a Tennessee team, which beat Kentucky. You lose to Alabama today and they are 6-2 in this league. Six and two in this league is a very good record. You look at the size, speed, quickness, and coaching of this Alabama team. They play a lot of veterans. It’s easy to see why they are where they are.”
MSU will face Ole Miss at 6 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network). The rivals split two meetings in Howland’s first season in 2015-16.
Ole Miss is 12-9 and 3-5 in league play. It has dropped back-to-back home games to Texas A&M and No. 5 Baylor in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Ole Miss entered Saturday with an RPI of 64. A win Tuesday for either team would enhance their postseason hopes.
“It’s our biggest game of the season,” Howland said. “You have to remember what you did right today and focus on what you did wrong today. This basketball team has a lot of good days ahead. Tuesday is our biggest game of the season. We’ve got regroup quickly and get ready.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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