The Alabama basketball team is now enjoying a winning streak of five games. This comes after the team bravely
traveled to Starkville, Mississippi, and defeated Mississippi State, 82-74.
Of late, Grant Nelson has struggled to find his offensive flow. He appears to have lost a lot of confidence in his
attacking approach and has yet to score in double figures in league play.
The advantage? His effort on defense has really increased, despite his offensive struggles.
Due to foul trouble from both Mohamed Wague and Nick Pringle, Nelson was forced to guard former first team All-
SEC center Cfor a large portion of the game. Nelson gave his all on defense against Mississippi State.
Smith managed to score 15 points, but Nelson made him earn every point with his ineffective 5-for-15 shooting from
the field. In addition, Nelson recorded three thefts, three blocks, and at the conclusion of the game, he was given the
hard hat for scoring the most points from hard labor.
Head coach Nate Oats has said unequivocally that defensive effort—rather than offensive production—determines
playing time for players. That was amply demonstrated by Nelson, who played 33 minutes despite having trouble
scoring the ball and, to be honest, seemed to be extremely uncomfortable doing so.
This Crimson Tide attack, which is ranked first in the nation, will have even more options once Nelson breaks out of
his offensive rut. Meanwhile, his defensive breakthroughs have been astounding and significantly elevate this team’s
potential, particularly considering Alabama’s usual 5-men are prone to foul trouble.
C. needed a few games to get comfortable and find his bearings at Alabama, but he’s done so now.
Wrightsell has scored at least 11 points in three of the last four games, including tying a season-high with 19 against
Mississippi State, after failing to score in double figures in the first 12 games of the campaign.
As a seasoned senior guard, Wrightsell fills the role of sixth man for Alabama right now, and that is extremely
valuable.
The backcourt barely ever lets up when Aaron Estrada or Mark Sears need a rest. Wrightsell is a seasoned scorer,
having averaged 16 points per game when playing for Cal State Fullerton the previous season. He also has the best
ball handling skills on the team, committing less turnovers than any other player.
“I think we have one of the deepest, best backcourts in the country, if not the best,” Oats stated.
Wrightsell has shown to be as valuable as anyone on Alabama’s team during the team’s 3-0 start to SEC play, even
though it took him a little while to get used to his new role in Tuscaloosa. His adjustment also shows how the team is
coming together as a whole with so many new players on the roster this season.
