An offensive freeze in the middle of the game kept things close, but Alabama basketball improved to 3-0 on the season on Monday, eliminating McNeese State 72-64 at the Coleman Coliseum.

“They didn’t give in,” UA head coach Nate Oats said of the Cowboys. “They didn’t give up.”

Then the difficulty increases, with Alabama going to Purdue. Before that, here are three takeaways from Monday’s victory.

The return

Back when Will Wade was coaching at LSU, he and Alabama had a real rivalry. When the Tigers visited Coleman Coliseum, students wore FBI jackets to mock the investigation that ultimately resulted in Wade’s firing.

Both teams also warmed up on the field. When Oats and Alabama scheduled Wade’s McNeese State, it turned heads, even though, as Oats pointed out, it fit his philosophy for non-conference games.

“I know what it’s like to be a good mid-major,” Oats said. “It’s difficult to get good matches. Will tries to get good games for his team. They call us because almost everyone in the country knows we play good teams and we want good teams. We don’t want to play bad buy games, I don’t think it makes you better.

Upon his return to McNeese State, Wade was treated like any other coach at Coleman Coliseum. No FBI jackets in sight, even in the student section.

“It was about as welcoming as I remembered the last time I was there,” Wade said after returning to an SEC arena. “But it’s great for our school, great exposure for our school and our program.”

The start wasn’t perfect

The start of Monday’s game wasn’t exactly what the Crimson Tide was looking for. UA started out a little sloppy with the ball and the Cowboys took advantage.

From the start, shots fell on Will Wade’s group, while Alabama seemed in bad shape. At the first media timeout, UA was down 10-6 and had not made a field goal.

This changed quickly. Alabama took its first lead with 10:32 left in the half, on a Grant Nelson three-pointer, and the Crimson Tide was off to the races.

At halftime, Alabama led 41-30. Nelson led the way in the first quarter, contributing 16 points and four rebounds.

“I think my fall kind of motivated me and the rest of the team,” Nelson said. “It’s just the effort that really moves someone forward.”

Alabama is beatable

Nate Oats tries not to reserve cupcakes. He explains the philosophy is that he doesn’t want the Crimson Tide to be rewarded with a win if they play poorly.

McNeese State fit the bill. The Cowboys made the NCAA tournament last season and were picked to win the Southland Conference heading into the 2024-25 campaign.

With 14:47 remaining, Latrell Wrightsell Jr. scored a three-pointer. With 5:33 remaining, he made another.

Between these two shots, Alabama did not score a field goal. A 57-36 lead evaporated to single digits.

The Crimson Tide was victorious, but the game was a reminder that the team is not invincible. Just like Oats wanted.

“They expose us to several levels that we can now work on before we play in the league,” Oats said. “That’s been my philosophy since I’ve been here. Plan a very tough non-league schedule to set up every possible problem.