Defense of Alabama basketball stifled Kentucky in the 2025 dry tournament

The discussion happened at the break, inside the alabama locker room from Bridgestone Arena. Crimson Tide was leading Kentucky and wanted to avoid leaving.

The message?

If we want to be dominant and set the tone of the tournament, we must go out and show them what we are able to do in the second half.

Then, Crimson Tide did. The crime was easy to observe but the defense impressed even more in what has proven to be A 99-70 victory for Alabama over Wildcats in the quarterfinals of the sec.

Alabama exceeded Kentucky 54-32 after the break and shot 56.3% beyond the arch. But the defense was the bigger surprise.

A Kentucky offense, in the 8th place in the country, in the offensive efficiency adjusted on Kenpom, only managed .842 points per possession in the second half. This is the smallest defense in Alabama allowed in the second half throughout the season against the SEC opponents.

“We wanted to develop our defensive intensity,” said coach Crimson Tide, Nate Oats.

Consider.

Alabama forced 16 digits, marking 29 points on them. Crimson Tide owned one of the best crimes in the country to 38% on the ground and 26% from Deep.

“I think our ball pressure caused some problems,” said Oats. “Our plan was to try to keep them outside the transition, to remove them from the three -point line, to press the ball on the defense.”

Kentucky was not in maximum power. But Alabama didn’t do this to anyone, let alone one of the country’s best offenses.

The last time Alabama allowed anything under a point on possession in the second half of a game, which happened against LSU, almost two months ago. And the tigers are nowhere as good as Kentucky’s offensive. LSU ranks 132 in offensive efficiency.

The question becomes: how can Alabama do this again?

More challenges are waiting for this postsezon, whether it is Madness or the next day: Alabama will play the number 2 Florida on Saturday (14:30 CT, ESPN) for a place in the tournament championship and probably a seed no. 1 in the NCAA tournament.

The strong defense will then be needed in future games.

“It was wonderful to see the potential we have defensive,” said the advanced Grant Nelson.

He remembered Nelson about what happened last year in Postsezon, on the route to Final Four.

“I hate to say it: when we had to play defense, I did it,” Nelson said. “Throughout the whole season I did not really guard last year. I think we have an additional level for us even this year. ”

Alabama will welcome this defense. Better march than never.

Nick Kelly is a writer for Alabama Beat Al.com and the media group in Alabama. Follow it on x and Instagram.