Alabama’s Free-Throw Struggles Cost Tide Key Momentum in Loss to Ole Miss
The atmosphere inside Coleman Coliseum was tense, the crowd on edge and desperate for a spark to ignite the Alabama Crimson Tide’s comeback. Down by four with 12 minutes left on the clock, No. 4 Alabama caught a rare break against No. 21 Ole Miss when Rebels forward Jaemyn Brakefield was hit with a technical foul, offering the Tide a chance to shift the game’s momentum.
Mark Sears made good on the opportunity, sinking both free throws to trim the deficit to two points. Moments later, Alabama was gifted another opportunity when Brakefield fouled Grant Nelson, sending him to the line with a chance to tie the game.
But the Tide’s hopes quickly wavered. Nelson, usually a dependable free-throw shooter, missed both attempts, eliciting frustrated groans from the Alabama faithful. The missed opportunity was compounded shortly after when Ole Miss guard Sean Pedula drained a three-pointer, pushing the Rebels’ lead to five and deflating the crowd’s energy.
While Nelson’s misfires weren’t solely responsible for Alabama’s 74-64 loss—their first SEC defeat of the season—the team’s struggles at the free-throw line once again came into focus. The Tide went 19-for-26 from the charity stripe, a respectable but far-from-perfect performance that underscored a troubling trend.
A Lingering Concern
“We missed seven [free throws]. That didn’t lose us the game,” head coach Nate Oats admitted after the loss. “But I’ve been telling our guys, if we don’t fix it, it is going to lose us a game.”
This isn’t a new issue for Alabama. After finishing last season with an impressive 78.4% free-throw shooting average, the Tide has regressed significantly, converting just 69.9% of their attempts this year.
The loss of Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Alabama’s best free-throw shooter, due to an Achilles injury in November has undoubtedly hurt the team. Additionally, key offseason departures, including Aaron Estrada, Sam Walters, and Rylan Griffin, have further weakened the Tide’s reliability at the line.
Even returning players, like Grant Nelson, are struggling. Nelson, who shot 81.3% from the line last season, has seen his accuracy drop to 62.8% this year. His 3-of-7 showing against Ole Miss epitomized Alabama’s ongoing issues.
A Mental Game
Coach Oats believes the problem is largely psychological.
“Free throws are the one part of basketball where there are no external variables—it’s all in your head,” Oats said. “If you want to have confidence, you’ve got to earn it. You can’t just talk yourself into it. Confidence comes from putting in the reps—hundreds, even thousands of free throws.”
Oats emphasized that free-throw shooting doesn’t strain players physically, meaning they can work on it even on recovery days. The coaching staff has also started charting free-throw attempts more meticulously during practices and games, highlighting the increased focus on addressing the issue.
Looking Ahead
With a tough road game against No. 8 Kentucky looming, Alabama has little time to correct its free-throw woes. The hostile environment at Rupp Arena will demand precision and composure, especially in clutch moments.
Aden Holloway, one of Alabama’s guards, remains optimistic about Nelson and the team’s ability to improve.
“We have a lot of faith in him,” Holloway said of Nelson. “He’s a great player and a great free-throw shooter. It’s just about putting in the work every day.”
For Alabama, the challenge is clear: regain confidence at the free-throw line or risk letting more games slip away. As the SEC schedule intensifies, those seven missed points against Ole Miss could serve as a cautionary tale of the importance of fundamentals.
The Tide’s trip to Kentucky will be a critical test—not just of their skill but also of their mental resilience. If they hope to bounce back, their success at the charity stripe may very well determine the outcome.
