Three pathways for Florida Basketball to beat Alabama

For the first time under Todd Golden, Florida Basketball is ranked in the AP national poll. After winning seven of their last eight games, the Gators are ranked 24th in the country.

Their reward is a date with the Alabama Crimson Tide, ranked 13th in the country. With an NCAA Tournament bid in sight, here are three pathways the Gators have to walk away with another Quad 1 win for their tournament resume.

Florida Basketball Keys To The Game

Get Inside

There are admitedly not a ton of weaknesses when it comes to Alabama. Unlike Florida, their first half and second half scoring margins are both in the top 25 in the country.

Part of what makes Alabama tough is that they defend the permitter well, but the numbers would indicate there is a pathway to get inside shots off and in.

Opponents are making their two point shots at a clip of 49.6%, which ranked the Crimson Tide 143rd in the country. And over their last three games, Alabama is allowing two pointers to go in 52.6% of the time.

Block Party

Another weakness for Alabama is when they themselves try to get off contested shots. Their two point shooting percentage is top ten in the country, but they are prone to having their shot blocked at a rate far higher than the rest of the country.

The Crimson Tide are having their shot blocked 6.3% of the time. That's 249th in the country.

Isolate and Trap

Alabama runs a higher tempo offense and is ranked first in the country at offensive efficiency/points per possession.

But despite putting up a ton of points, their propensity to pass the ball isn't super high.

Alabama is 57th in assists per possession, which is still respectable. But they are also only 119th in assists per field goal made, indicating they are prone to resort to some isolation plays to get their tough buckets.

Alabama also turns the ball over on 16.3% of their possessions, which is 140th in the country.