Alabama basketball defense clamps down on MSU star Josh Hubbard in home win | Goodbread

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There’s no way an incredible 22-for-45 shooting night from 3-point range can be anything but a primary cause for celebration, so in the wake of Alabama basketball’s 111-73 home blistering of Mississippi State on Tuesday, the Crimson Tide’s squadron of 3-point bombers was deservedly at the center of attention.

But as red-hot as UA was offensively, making sure MSU’s Josh Hubbard wasn’t red-hot might’ve been of equal importance to Alabama coach Nate Oats.

Hubbard rang up a whopping 38 points against the Crimson Tide in Starkville on Jan. 29, but was effectively shut down in the first half by the UA defense on Tuesday. And on a night when Alabama shot the lights out, the outcome was put to bed by the time Hubbard found a second-half rhythm. Earlier in the week, Oats lamented that far too many opposing players this season have posted career-high scoring nights against his defense, and Hubbard’s 38 was among them.

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There isn’t a better way to limit a scorer than to keep the ball out of his hands, and with a strong dose of face-guarding defense on Hubbard in the first half, Alabama limited him to just six points at the break, by which time UA led 53-27. He finished with 21, but his 15 in the second half couldn’t have been less meaningful in a blowout such as this one.

Limiting Hubbard’s touches isn’t easy, as the 5-foot-11 point guard frequently brings the ball up the floor himself, but as soon as he passed the ball, Alabama did what it could to make sure he didn’t see another touch in the possession. Guards Mark Sears and Chris Youngblood, in particular, face-guarded Hubbard in the first half with a ferocity that spoke to the 38 points he hung on the Crimson Tide in Starkville.

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“We didn’t want him to touch it as much as possible. He torched us last time. He makes such tough shots, and he’s going to get them off if he gets the ball,” Oats said. “He’s going to…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/alabama-basketball-defense-clamps-down-052909569.html

Author : The Tuscaloosa News

Publish date : 2025-02-26 05:29:00

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