Alabama Women’s Basketball won their SEC Conference opener versus LSU on January 3rd. Photo cred – @AlabamaWBB/Twitter
The Crimson Tide are known as a football powerhouse. However, expect a lot more talk about the rising basketball programs in Tuscaloosa. In her third year at Alabama, coach Kristy Curry has the women’s program headed in the right direction. Alabama is winning more SEC conference games and has seen home-game attendance rise. Here is a look at the good things going on with the women from Alabama this season.
By: @JLHemingwayPSB
The Program
Alabama is off to a fast start this season with a 12-4 record heading into the second week of SEC Conference play. They have notable victories over MTSU in Reno, Nev., at the Nugget Classic and at home over Georgetown. Curry’s squad also started SEC action with a win over LSU on January 3rd.
Naismith College Player of the Year Voter Brandon Clay attended a game this season and watched them earn a victory over Lipscomb.
Watched @AlabamaWBB So. Hannah Cook get 20 pts, 7 rbds in a Mon. W. @ProspectsNation CARD: https://t.co/DqQAZY6m0Ypic.twitter.com/Wzi7frBswo
— Brandon Clay (@BrandonClayPSB) December 29, 2015
Clay had this to say about the direction of the Alabama program following the win two weeks ago. “Coach Kristy Curry has Alabama’s program ascending in the same way that she did at Purdue and Texas Tech. With assistant Shereka Wright running point on recruiting, the Crimson Tide have built a roster full of SEC caliber talent with more on the way in 2016.”
The class of 2016 recruiting class features two players that are ranked within the ProspectsNation.com ELITE 100. Guard Jordan Lewis of Windermere, Fla., is a proven scorer and projects to contribute as either a PG or SG. Add in point guard Cierra Johnson of Mobile, Ala., and coach Curry will have plenty of back court firepower for the next four years.
Player Feature
Sophomore wing Hannah Cook has stepped up in a big way for the Crimson Tide this year. At this moment, she is the only player averaging in double digit points at 12.6 per game. She also leads the team in rebounds at 5.8 per game. Her 39% 3-point percentage also ranks her near the top of the conference in that category.
While Cook has emerged as a go-to option, coach Curry truly has a balanced roster of weapons outside of the 6-foot wing. There are five other players that all average between 8 to 9 points per game for the Crimson Tide. Sophomore guard Meoshonti Knight, sophomore forward Quanetria Bolton, sophomore point guard Karyla Middlebrook, junior guard Breanna Hayden and senior forward Nikki Hegstetter give a balanced effort in all categories. Throw in the return of Ashley Williams, who is sitting out this season with injury, and Alabama will have a deep roster full of contributors next season.
Play Breakdown
Alabama does not have a player that stands over 6-2 that averages double digit minutes per game. Their game is predicated upon getting out in space to make plays in transition. According to the numbers, that is where the bulk of their points come from and they are very efficient in that area.
However, as most coaches understand, conference play means a slower pace and less freedom to make plays in fast-break situations. We peaked in on their game versus LSU last week and noticed that coach Nikki Caldwell implemented a fair amount of zone. Here is a zone continuity that coach Curry’s staff came out with at the begging of the fourth quarter to score a bucket.
The interesting part about this particular line up is that Curry had Hayden in the high post. The 5-8 wing normally faces up, however this shows how being creative with your lineup as a coach can pay dividends. Putting your players where their strengths are highlighted are more important than a given POSITION.
Read the 2014-15 Season Program Feature on Alabama Women’s Basketball here: Alabama WBB
Find more plays, sets and ideas for Zone Offense by searching the CoachHemi.com Playbook: Zone Offense
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Jonathan Hemingway is the Director of Domestic Scouting for the JumpOffPlus.com International Scouting Report, is on the Naismith Trophy Board of Selectors and owns CoachHemi.com, the go-to source for coaches for X’s and O’s. He is the floor director of #TeamEBA camps, a site director for #TeamPSB tournaments and can be reached at jonathanhemingway@peachstatebasketball.com.
