Alabama basketball’s Chris Youngblood heating up as March Madness approaches

February 26, 2025 College Basketball

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Alabama basketball’s Chris Youngblood was almost certain he’d made seven 3-pointers in a game after his performance at Mississippi State in January.

With a little over seven minutes to play in Tuesday’s 111-73 win, Youngblood had already done it again against the No. 24 Bulldogs.

The No. 6 Crimson Tide’s first contest against Mississippi State (19-9, 7-8 SEC) was dubbed “the Chris Youngblood game.” On Tuesday, the USF transfer gave the movie a sequel with a game-high 27 points in Coleman Coliseum.

Feb 25, 2025; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama guard Chris Youngblood (8) shoots a three and is defended by Mississippi State guard Josh Hubbard (12) at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News

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“Youngblood was really locked in with getting stops and holding guys accountable. He was positive-36 in his defensive leverage,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said.

In Starkville, Youngblood shot 70% from deep, scoring all of his baskets in 3-point range. The most 3s he had scored in a game before that was six. That day, bragging rights of being top scorer of the game went to Josh Hubbard, who had 38 points his last time out against the Crimson Tide, which held the Mississippi State guard to 21 on Tuesday.

In his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Youngblood was 7 for 13 from the floor, all seven shots made from beyond the perimeter once again.

“It’s the same thing every game,” Youngblood grinned on Tuesday, thanking Mark Sears, who had 10 assists against the Bulldogs, for making his job “10 times easier.”