Takeaways From Alabama Basketball's Win Over Mississippi State

Blake Byler's thoughts and takeaways from the Crimson Tide's difficult road win.

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Alabama basketball is on a roll right now, extending its win streak to five games after travelling right across the state line to Starkville and earning a hard-fought win over Mississippi State, 82-74.

So, what did we learn from Alabama's third SEC win of the season?

1. Nelson making major improvements defensively.

Ever since SEC play started, Grant Nelson has been in a funk offensively. He has yet to break double figure scoring in league play, and seems to have lost a lot of confidence in his offensive game. 

The positive? His offensive woes haven't affected his effort on the defensive end, which has actually improved.

Nelson played his heart out defensively against Mississippi State, being tasked with guarding former first team All-SEC center Tolu Smith for much of the game, due to foul trouble from both Mohamed Wague and Nick Pringle. 

Smith was able to score 15 points, but he did so on an inefficient 5-for-15 shooting from the field, and Nelson made him work for each and every point. Nelson also came up with three blocks and three steals, and was awarded he hard hat at the end of the game for racking up the most blue-collar points.

Head coach Nate Oats has made it clear that it's not someone's offensive output that earns them playing time, but their defensive effort. Nelson's case made that very clear, as he played 33 minutes despite struggling to score the basketball, and quite frankly looking incredibly uncomfortable trying to score.

When Nelson shakes out of this slump as an offensive player, it will open up things even more for this Crimson Tide offense that ranks No. 1 in the country. In the meantime, his defensive improvements have been a revelation, and one that raises the ceiling of this team tremendously, especially as much as Alabama's typical 5-men are prone to get into foul trouble.

2. Latrell Wrightsell keeps proving his value.

It took Latrell Wrightsell Jr. a minute to find his footing and his role at Alabama, but over the past few games, he's settled in comfortably. 

After not breaking double-digits for the first 12 games of the season, Wrightsell has scored at least 11 points in three of the past four games, including tying a season-high with 19 against Mississippi State.

Wrightsell currently plays the role of sixth man for Alabama, and as an experienced senior guard, that couldn't be more valuable. 

When Mark Sears or Aaron Estrada need a break, there's hardly any drop-off in the backcourt. Wrightsell is an experienced scorer, having scored 16 points a game at Cal State Fullerton last year, and he takes care of the ball better than anyone on the roster, averaging less than one turnover per game.

"I think we have one of the deepest, best backcourts in the country, if not the best," Oats said.

It may have taken him a little while to adjust to his new role in Tuscaloosa, but Wrightsell has proven to be as valuable as anyone on Alabama's team during the team's 3-0 start to SEC play, and his adjustment signals how the team as a whole is gelling with so many new faces to the roster this season.

3. Alabama is a competitor in the SEC yet again.

After the Crimson Tide's 3-game losing skid in mid-December, much of the fanbase questioned whether this team would be able to compete in the SEC this year.

Well, through three games, only two teams remain undefeated in league play: Alabama and Auburn.

The SEC is a deep league, there's no denying that. But it's also a league that doesn't necessarily have a dominant, elite team right now. As far as we've seen, pretty much anyone can beat anyone on any given night.

For example, Tennessee, who was the preseason favorite to win the league, just lost on the road to the same Mississippi State team Alabama just beat. Kentucky, who's always a force, went on the road and lost to Texas A&M, who was previously 0-2 in league play.

Auburn seems to be the best team in the league as it stands today, but even they've looked human at times this season. 

The SEC in 2024 is deep, it's challenging, and it might feature seven, even eight NCAA Tournament teams. But once again, Alabama looks to be right in the middle of competing for another SEC regular season title.

If the Crimson Tide continues to improve on defense like it has the past few weeks, don't be surprised to look up and see the script 'A' near the top of the SEC standings when March rolls around.

Toughness Epitomizes Alabama Basketball in Gritty Victory Over Mississippi State