Rylan Griffen, Alabama basketball hit reset, crush Eastern Kentucky

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Consider Saturday’s game against Eastern Kentucky a palate cleanser for Alabama basketball. A badly needed palate cleanser.

Before the matchup with the Colonels, the Crimson Tide had just wrapped up a gauntlet of a stretch that included zero wins, albeit against three top-10 teams.

A victory vs. Eastern Kentucky wasn’t going to erase that stretch, but it could provide a reset of sorts ahead of conference play.

And it did. Alabama cruised to a 111-67 victory over the Colonels at Coleman Coliseum. Grant Nelson and Rylan Griffen led Alabama with 19 points each.

Here are observations from the game between Alabama (7-5) and Eastern Kentucky (4-8).

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3-point shooting back on track

If Alabama couldn’t hit triples against this defense, it was going to have trouble sinking 3-pointers against most teams. Eastern Kentucky entered the game ranked No. 362 in the country in 3-point defense, per KenPom.

It showed Saturday; the Crimson Tide sunk triples, and in bunches in the first half. It started from the jump; Mark Sears drained a 3-pointer 16 seconds into the game on Alabama’s first attempt.

The 3-point shooting came from all over, too; six different players hit triples in the first half.

That helped Alabama grab a lead quickly, and the Crimson Tide never looked back. Alabama finished 19 of 38 (50%) from deep.

The reliable shooting from beyond the arc was a welcomed change from the past few games. Against Arizona, Alabama only hit 8 of 40 (20%). Against Creighton, the Crimson Tide finished 4-for-22 (18.2%).

Now, the key will be continuing Saturday’s perimeter shooting against higher-level competition once SEC play starts.

Rylan Griffen has career night

On Friday, Alabama coach Nate Oats praised Griffen for his defense. Then vs. Eastern Kentucky, Griffen put together an offensive…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/rylan-griffen-alabama-basketball-hit-225041500.html

Author : The Tuscaloosa News

Publish date : 2023-12-23 22:50:41

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