How Alabama Basketball is Preparing for Another Elite Rebounding Opponent

The Crimson Tide is about to face its second consecutive consecutive opponent in the top-2 for offensive rebounding rate.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama basketball was tested on the glass Saturday, and quite frankly, didn't pass.

Against Texas A&M, the Crimson Tide was outrebounded by 11 for the game, and gave up 26 offensive rebounds in the process. 

Usually, that's a recipe for a loss, but Alabama was still able to come away with a 25-point win despite its deficiencies on the glass. 

Now this week, a date looms with No. 24 Florida, who ranks No. 2 nationally in offensive rebounding rate. The only team it trails in that category? Texas A&M.

The Gators play three bigs at least 6-foot-10, and have consistently been one of the best rebounding teams in the country all year long. It may pose even more of a threat than Texas A&M did due to the Florida offense, which ranks in the top-10 nationally in offensive efficiency to pair with that rebounding prowess.

During his Tuesday press conference, Oats outlined three points of emphasis he made against Texas A&M, and how he's emphasizing them again in preparation for the Gators.

"We kind of made three points, we've got to turn them over more so there's less shots to get rebounds," Oats said.

Against Texas A&M, Alabama forced 14 turnovers. A modest number, certainly not bad, but the Aggies still got three more shot attempts than Alabama in the game. 

"We need to keep them off the glass. We didn't do a good job with that, they had 26 o-boards," Oats said.

The last point, though, is where Oats thought his squad found success.

"But we also said when they do get a rebound, they don't get points for it. We still have to get stops. To give up 26 o-boards and only get outscored by five in second chance points, was not bad. I think we did a decent job still getting stops," Oats said. "Garcia, he had eight offensive rebounds and only scored three points total. We did a decent job continuing to guard, not getting deflated when you give up an o-board."

For Oats, that's the recipe. Forcing turnovers, trying to keep them off the glass, and when the inevitable offensive rebounds do come, still being able to dig in and get a stop. 

Those steps will certainly be challenging, especially considering where Florida ranks statistically in those categories. The Gators are a top-3 team in the SEC when it comes to limiting turnovers, and with the size Florida has on the interior, keeping them off the glass will take an extra effort from the Crimson Tide guards.

"It's not like this is a team that comes in turning it over a lot," Oats said. "If we could turn our pressure up, with a guard guarding one of their bigs and pressure it a bit more, we've got to do a better job of that."

Tipoff between No. 13 Alabama and No. 24 Florida is set for 6 p.m. CT on Wednesday.

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How to Watch: No. 13 Alabama Basketball vs No. 24 Florida