Alabama Gets Big Road Win Over Tennessee 56-38

To get to the big dance, you have to win on the road.  The Alabama men's basketball team got a huge monkey off their back this afternoon by taking down the Tennessee Volunteers 56-38 in front of a hostile crowd at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.  It was the first road win against an SEC opponent for the Tide since a 52-45 win at Georgia back on February 12th, 2013.  Anthony Grant's squad got the victory thanks to a tremendous defensive effort where the Tide allowed the fewest points all season from an opponent.  Alabama is now 12-3 on the season and 2-0 in the SEC.

From the tipoff, it was clear this wasn't going to be an offensive shootout.  Both teams are known for having tough zone defenses, and both squads also used full-court press to create turnovers.  The result was that neither side got many good looks early.  Alabama was able to pull ahead and maintained a consistent seven-to-five point lead for most of the first half.  At the half, the Tide led 29-24.

The second half began with the Volunteers storming back with renewed energy, retaking the lead just minutes in.  But then they went absolutely cold.  Tennessee failed to score for stretch that lasted over ten minutes.  By the time they found the basket again, Alabama had long won the game.  The Tide had an 18-0 run during that time.  It was the best defensive performance all year for a team that prides themselves on that side of the ball.

The Tide were led in scoring by Rodney Cooper with 17 points.  Cooper added five rebounds and five assists.  Defensively, the Tide were led by their big man Jimmie Taylor.  The sophomore forward had 2 blocks and altered many more shots in one of his finest efforts of the season.  After the game, Grant said that the team challenged Taylor to be their defensive captain.  Taylor appears to have taken that challenge head on.  He also added 13 points offensively, including shooting 5 for 5 from the floor.  Ricky Tarrant was his usual self, scoring 14 points for the Tide.

The next game for Alabama is against South Carolina in Columbia.  Next Saturday, the undefaeted and top-ranked Kentucky Wildcats come to Tuscaloosa.  The Alabama Athletics Department has already announced that Coleman Coliseum has sold out of tickets for that game.  Alabama's tournament hopes took a huge boost with this win, but they still have quite a way to go to secure a spot in the field of 68.