Mixed issues: Alabama wants to build on rivalry win, turns to LSU

Alabama recently secured a significant victory over No. 8 Auburn, resulting in a tie for the top spot in the SEC.

Despite the triumph, head coach Nate Oats is emphasizing the need for improvement as his team, the Crimson Tide, readies to face LSU in Tuscaloosa.

The 79-75 home win against Auburn was deemed a “big win” by Oats, acknowledging the necessity of the victory for the team.

However, he stressed the imperative to enhance various aspects of their performance, stating, “but we’ve got to get better at a lot of things here.”

Alabama encountered a challenging start against Auburn, trailing by eight points early in the game before making a comeback.

Oats expressed concern about their inconsistent starts, stating, “We’ve got to figure our starts out; we have not had good starts here for a long time.”

Despite slow starts, the Tide have managed to secure victories in seven of their last eight games.

Notably, their recent losses came against formidable opponents, including Purdue, Creighton, Arizona, and Tennessee, all highly ranked at the time of their matchups.

Reflecting on the Auburn game, Oats acknowledged that the opponent had a strong initial impact, stating, “Auburn punched us in the mouth out of the gate.”

However, he commended his team for displaying grit and resilience in responding to the challenge, highlighting their ability to overcome adversity.

On the other side, LSU also demonstrated resilience in their recent game against Georgia, where they fell short in a 68-66 loss.

Down by eight points with under three minutes remaining, the Tigers mounted a 9-0 run to take the lead.

Despite their efforts, they ultimately surrendered the lead due to an offensive rebound and a three-point play by the opposition.

Coach Matt McMahon praised his team’s resiliency, emphasizing their ability to compete at a high level and make comebacks throughout the game.

LSU’s recent performances have been marked by close defeats, including a narrow loss to Texas A&M. Mark Sears, who led Alabama with 22 points against Auburn, maintains an impressive average of 19.9 points per game, leading the Crimson Tide.

Meanwhile, Jordan Wright leads LSU with an average of 15.9 points per game.

As Alabama and LSU prepare to clash, both teams seek to build on their recent displays of resilience and address areas that require improvement to secure a favorable outcome in their upcoming matchup.