TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Defense has carried Alabama’s basketball team to the top of the SEC.
The Crimson Tide (17-8, 9-2) is tied with Florida for the conference’s best record because they lead the SEC in several defensive categories.
“They do a great job of staying between you and the basket,” said Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey, whose Razorbacks (16-9, 5-6) play Alabama at 6 tonight in Coleman Coliseum. “They’re a tremendous help team. They don’t break down.
“They don’t beat themselves defensively.Fundamentally as a group they get themselves repeatedly to the right spot.”
In conference games Alabama leads the SEC in scoring defense (60.5 points), f ield-goal defense (38.2 percent), three-point defense (30.3 percent), steals per game (9.3) and turnovers forced pergame (15.6).
“The statistics don’t lie, especially when you’re this deep into the season,” South Carolina Coach Darrin Horn said.
Horn said the Tide, who held South Carolina to 28.6 percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers in a 57-47 victory over the Gamecocks, are at their best in man-to-man defense, but also play an active zone and do a good job of trapping in half- and fullcourt situations.
“Alabama keeps you off balance,” Horn said.
Five Alabama players are averaging at least 1.3 steals, led by senior guard Senario Hillman and sophomore forward Tony Mitchell at 1.7 each.
“They’re physical with your ball-handlers. They’re physical guarding in thepost,” said Auburn Coach Tony Barbee, whose Tigers lost to the Tide at home 68-58. “They’re pushing, they’re directing you with their hands. It’s something a lot of teams try to do, but Alabama has the personnel to do it.”
The Tide returned four players who started at least 14 games last season and added freshman point guard Trevor Releford, who is averaging 1.5 steals.
Releford helped hold Ole Miss senior Chris Warren, who is averaging 18.4 points, to 2-of-10 shooting and 15 points last Saturday when Alabama beat the Rebels 74-64. Warren’s two field goals came in the final 1:16.
“That’s what we do,” Releford said of containing Warren. “We’re a defensive team, the best defensive team in the SEC right now. Coach told us to go out there and sell out.”
Anthony Grant is in his second season as Alabama’s coach. He was an assistant with Pelphrey at Marshall and Florida.
“Anthony is a great, great coach period, and a tremendous defensive coach,” Pelphrey said.
The Tide have improved defensively in all statistical categories over last season when they finished 17-15 overall and 6-10 in the SEC.
“I think our guys understand that if we defend up to our ability, then we’ll have a chance in every game,” Grant said. “We’ve kind of bought into that.
“I do think any time you have familiarity with the system it certainly helps. We’ve got several guys that are integral parts of our team that were here last year and understand the mentality, the terminology and the things that we need to have.”
Arkansas shot 42.3 percent (22 of 52) in beating Alabama 70-65 on Jan. 15, but that was at Walton Arena.
No visiting SEC team has scored more than 66 points at Coleman Coliseum - where the Tide beat Kentucky 68-66 - and in five conferencehome games Alabama is holding opponents to 36.1 percent shooting.
“They’re very quick, so you have to be very sharp with your passes and your decisions,” Arkansas forward Michael Sanchez said. “Passes that we normally make one game might not be there this game. We have to adjust to that.”
Mississippi State shot a combined 36.5 percent (42 of 115) in losing to the Tide 75-57 and 75-61.
“They’re just going to get up into you,” Bulldogs Coach Rick Stansbury said. “And when they do, it’s very hard to drive that basketball by them because they’re quick enough to guard on switches.
“Defense has been a constant in their game.”
Sports, Pages 15 on 02/19/2011