It is never fun to lose to your biggest rival, especially in the fashion that Alabama did on Wednesday night to the Auburn Tigers.
The same issues that have hovered over this team all season long, reared its ugly head once again in Neville Arena. The Crimson Tide defense is simply not where it needs to be.
Sure, Alabama lacks a true rim protector or physical paint presence defensively, but there is more to it than that. The Tide’s inability to consistently defend the dribble on the perimeter has compounded Alabama’s defensive struggles.
Following the loss on Wednesday night, head coach Nate Oats issued a challenge to Alabama’s best player, senior guard Mark Sears. But Oats didn’t just call out Sears, he reaffirmed it will take a team effort to improve.
“And honestly, we need Mark to play better defense. Like we’re not going to be able to win at the level we’re used to winning at around here if he’s not better for us on defense. But we do need some guys to step up and help him out on offense a little bit more.”
Sears and the rest of the team will soon have an opportunity to answer the challenge dealt by Oats when Alabama travels to Baton Rouge on Saturday to take on the LSU Tigers.
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