Here are the three big takeaways:
1. Solid Defense: Defense has been a bit shaky for Alabama this season, but they really stepped it up against Kentucky. Guard Labaron Philon was a standout, not only scoring 21 points but also contributing with three steals and a key block. Alabama really locked down Kentucky’s best player, Otega Oweh, who had a rough game—just eight points and five turnovers. Alabama forced 16 turnovers and turned those into 29 points.
2. Strong Inside Play: Even though Alabama struggled with their outside shooting at first (missing their first 10 three-pointers), they dominated down low. They got a lot of easy buckets inside, including a couple of alley-oops between Philon and Clifford Omoruyi. By the end, Alabama had more rebounds (41), points in the paint (46), and blocks (4) than Kentucky.
3. Players Stepping Up: Alabama head coach Nate Oats had called on certain players to step up, and they delivered. Jarin Stevenson had his best game of the year, scoring 16 points in just 19 minutes. Mouhamed Dioubate was everywhere, adding 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Even Aden Holloway, who Oats had urged to be more aggressive, had a solid performance with 13 points and 4 assists.
All in all, it was a dominant performance for Alabama, and now they’re ready to take on Florida in the next round.