Kentucky Wildcats Too Tall For Alabama As They Roll In Coleman Coliseum

Anthony Grant‘s Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team has made huge strides this season compared to their tumultuous and emotionally draining season last year. However, they still have a long way to go, and today’s matchup against John Calipari‘s Kentucky Wildcats proved just that.

To be quite honest, Kentucky is scary good. The length this team possesses is akin to an NBA team, which many pundits expressed earlier this season the possibilities of them contending against an NBA squad. While Alabama is no measuring stick to compare to that, the Wildcats’ length frustrated and deterred the Tide’s players all day, as the game was almost in doubt in the first half.

The Wildcats played five players listed 6-foot-9 and above and the Tide, who only have two in Jimmy Taylor and transfer Michael Kessens both got into early foul trouble. Without a legitimate backup to replace them, they were force to stay in at times and play cautious, and Kentucky took advantage and closed the half in impressive fashion.

However, just like many Grant teams, they fought back hard after being down 35-17 at the half to cut it to nine at one point, with the Alabama faithful believing they had a chance.

Then, Dakari Johnson showed up.

Johnson — who is listed at 7-feet, 255 pounds — quickly answered the Alabama run and from that point on. They went on a flurry, as freshman star Devin Booker and the miniature Tyler Eulls drained three-pointers, effectively ending any dreams of a comeback win, thus sticking the proverbial dagger in the hearts of the Crimson Tide.

Johnson led all big men with 11 points, while Booker and Eulls finished with 13 and 11 points respectively, combining for a total of six three-pointers.

As for Alabama, they just could not get it going on the offensive end, and senior guard Levi Randolph, who finished with 13 points, was rendered ineffective for the larger part of the game.

The Wildcats won this contest 70-48. As for the Tide, they hope to finish strong in SEC play in hopes of returning to the NCAA tournament. As far as a rematch with Kentucky, they’ll get their shot in two weeks in Lexington.

If they’re lucky, maybe a few of their players will shrink by then — if not, another thrashing could be in order.