’s Return as One of the Nation’s Top Bigs
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama’s Wednesday night matchup against Florida offers another clash in the paint.
The Gators have a dominant post player in Colin Castleton, who ranks seventh in the SEC averaging 15.6 points per game. The senior also leads Florida in rebounding and ranks 10th in blocks with 110 in program history.
“He’s considered one of the best bigs in the nation,” said Alabama’s Noah Clowney.
It’s kudos for the Deland, Fla. native, the latest big man Alabama has faced this season. The Crimson Tide has planned for Gonzaga’s Drew Timme, North Carolina’s Armando Bacot, UConn’s Adama Sanogo and Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe. The team went 2-2 against those four forwards while Timme, Bacot and Sanogo all had 20 points or more against Alabama.
Castleton, who comes to the Coleman Coliseum, has shot more than 50% from the field in his last four games, including back-to-back performances in which the forward scored 20 points or more.
“Colin is in the top 10 on the International Player of the Year rankings,” said Oats. “Last week if you look at what he did, he averaged 23 and nine. He’s a big, skilful, scores with his back to the basket, can look at the basket, can drive and pass the ball well.”
Similar to Gonzaga’s offensive plan by running it through Timme, Florida has a similar game plan with Castleton, who has a 27.3 utilization percentage this season. The mark is a new career high for the forward, who has led the team this season with a 107.6 offensive rating.
Castleton’s assist numbers have also increased this season as he now averages 2.7 assists per game.
“He’s a really good player and we have to focus on him,” said Mark Sears. “But they also have shooters.”
Keeping guards committed to their duties was another key for Oats in trying to slow Florida’s offense. While the Gators are averaging just 71.3 points per game, which is good for seventh place in the SEC, they are shooting nearly 44% from the floor, thanks in large part to Castleton’s efficiency from the floor.
Oats said he will be counting on Charles Bediako to slow down the 6-foot-11 goalscorer. Due to his recent trend of getting into trouble early in games and recovering from his recent injury scare against LSU, Oats said he’ll be ready to throw multiple defensive options at Castleton.
“I’m not sure too many of our guys got him one-on-one, but they shot all over the floor, too,” Oats said. “That makes it difficult, they don’t make it easy to double him up because you don’t want to give up threes to the shooters they have on the floor. It’s going to be hard cover. Our guards. We have to put all the pressure on the ball, we have to make it difficult to put the ball for him where he wants it… When our intensity is where it needs to be, I think we can do things can create a little harder, just in general overall.”
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