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The Tuscaloosa News
Alabama basketball's Clifford Omoruyi shows up in battle of the bigs against Creighton
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Alabama basketball's Clifford Omoruyi shows up in battle of the bigs against Creighton
Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats knew Creighton was going to be a test fit for the Crimson Tide 's bigs.
Aiden Sherrell , a 6-foot-10, 240-pound freshman, has been better than expected. Meanwhile, Clifford Omoruyi , the 6-11, 250-pound senior arrival from Rutgers , hasn't quite lived up to his veteran potential.
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Oats told reporters on Friday, "Cliff is gonna have to step up to the challenge and play a little better."
Tasked with 7-1, 250-pound Ryan Kalkbrenner , who contributed 19 points and eight rebounds in the defeat of UA last December , Omoruyi picked a good day to redeem himself as No. 8 Alabama (8-2) made history with an 83-75 defeat of the unranked Bluejays.
Dec 14, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama center Clifford Omoruyi (11) dunks over Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News
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"I think his presence inside this year certainly changes who their team was a year ago," Creighton coach Greg McDermott said.
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Omoruyi wasn't stacking up numbers in his first minutes like starting forward Grant Nelson, who emerged with four defensive rebounds with less than 16 minutes to go. Compared to the long-range second-chance trey that Sherrell delivered upon being subbed in for the starter Omoruyi, he wasn't really showing off his range, either.
All Omoruyi registered early was one of the "silly" fouls that have been nagging at Oats since the season began.
One trip to the bench, and Omoruyi returned to the floor looking like the rim protector that the Crimson Tide expected.
On top of the roster being short-handed, McDermott knew that Omoruyi's addition was another reason that the Bluejays couldn't dig themselves out of the 17-point deficit they faced on Saturday.
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Alabama basketball's Clifford Omoruyi finds groove in battle of the bigs
At halftime, UA had outrebounded Creighton 29-18, and although Omoruyi only had two boards to show for it, he did an exceptional job at keeping Kalkbrenner away from the glass.
"They were physical and they threw some different bodies at him," McDermott said. "Cliff has always been a great defender and he protects the rim."
Kalkbrenner made two baskets in the paint after defensive rebounds to make it a single-digit game at halftime, but Omoruyi kept the momentum in the locker room. He barreled out to contribute an assist to guard Mark Sears for a 3-pointer that edged Alabama ahead, 40-31.
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After a layup for freshman Labaron Philon brought the stands in Coleman Coliseum to their feet, Omoruyi tore the lid off after ripping the ball away from Creighton's Steven Ashworth with about eight minutes to the buzzer.
Omoruyi finished out the second half with four points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal, totaling eight points and four rebounds on the evening.
Playing 36 minutes compared to just 25 against UA last season, Kalkbrenner was limited to 18 points and seven boards on Saturday.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball's Cliff Omoruyi dominates in battle of the bigs vs Creighton
