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SEC Basketball: 5 takeaways from 2022 SEC/Big 12 Challenge games

By Matt Melton

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - JANUARY 29: Head coach Nate Oats of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates with fans after defeating the Baylor Bears at Coleman Coliseum on January 29, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - JANUARY 29: Head coach Nate Oats of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates with fans after defeating the Baylor Bears at Coleman Coliseum on January 29, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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SEC Basketball Jaden Shackelford Alabama Crimson Tide (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

Alabama Bounces Back

After falling on the road to Georgia on Tuesday night, defending SEC champion Alabama entered Saturday facing what is arguably one of the toughest three-game stretches that you can imagine in college basketball. First up was the defending national champion Baylor Bears in Tuscaloosa, and as you likely know, the Crimson Tide controlled the game from start to finish in route to an impressive 87-78 win.

Receiving a game-high 20 points from guard Jahvon Quinerly, the Crimson Tide did see some struggles from deep going 7-for-21, but were able to make some big shots down the stretch. Also, it doesn’t hurt your chances either when you shoot a combined 59.2% from the field, as well as going 22-for-26 from the free throw line to help drop 87 points on an elite Baylor team defensively.

A game in which Alabama rarely trailed (never in the second half), the Crimson Tide you could argue badly needed this win. Coming off a bad loss, Alabama had fallen out of the Top 25 in recent weeks and were facing a tough stretch of games that would see most teams go either 1-2 or 0-3.

For a Crimson Tide team that now holds wins over three Final Four teams from just last season (Gonzaga, Houston, Baylor), Alabama will look to keep this momentum going, but as expected in the SEC, it won’t be easy. A trip to face rival No. 1 Auburn is next on Tuesday, as well as a home game next Saturday back in Tuscaloosa against what will likely be a Top 10 Kentucky team.

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