The 3 -point shooting was bad, but Alabama had a major problem against Auburn

To protect Chris Youngblood, the answer to the question was simple. That made the problem even more irritating.

No. 2 Alabama male basketball He fought to make trays all day against No. 1 Auburn. What in theory should be one of the easiest and most efficient shots to do was anything except for one of the country’s main offenses. Alabama finished 14 of 30 on the edge in A 94-85 defeat against Los Tigres on Saturday In Coleman Coliseum.

The shooting from beyond the arch could have been much better. Alabama finished 5 of 26 from Deep, a 19%insignificant. But the problems of three Crimson Tide points could have been overcome if they had made their trays.

So what could have been done differently on the edge?

“It may sound a bit mean,” said Youngblood, “but make the trays.”

The comment was not destined to be Snippy or rude. Youngblood was right. Alabama’s problem was not complex or a puzzle that cannot be solved. The crimson tide (21-4, 10-2 seconds) only fought to end on a day when it could be bad to waste the first opportunities.

“We missed many readings,” said Alabama coach Nate Oats. “We have to be better. We have to move the ball better. We have to be a little more selfless in the future. ”

Mark Sears was 2 per 6 on the edge. Mouhamed Diubate finished 4 of 9. Aden Holloway was 1 of 3. Grant Nelson was 5 of 10. This is how Alabama drew each player in the placement.

Auburn deserves some credit. The tigers had the number 17 defense in the adjusted defensive efficiency that entered the game, according to Kenpom. And that defense gave Alabama some problems. Especially close to the edge.

“We did not make great RIM readings, but they took us out of the three -point line,” Oats said. “He pushed us. I made great plays on the edge.”

Auburn blocked six shots. Johni Broome, candidate for the national player of the year for the Tigers, told two of those. It was part of a general defensive effort that limited the number 2 offensive of the Nation in efficiency adjusted to 1,076 points per possession. That is not close to the number that Alabama wants or what is capable.

The triples, or the lack of them, are an easy issue to point out why Alabama lost to Auburn. But the problems that make the placements belong higher in the list of problems.

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