Slipping to the NIT can cause any number of reactions from a basketball team. Avery Johnson wasn't too worried about Alabama's mental approach after a Monday practice in Tuscaloosa.
Before leaving for the 8 p.m. Tuesday game at Creighton, Johnson said the Crimson Tide had its first practice dust up of the season.
"I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it," Johnson said with a grin. "I was just hoping ... because I was on the floor trying to break them up, I was just hoping I didn't get punched in the eye. Because if I would have gone home with a black eye, it wouldn't have been nice."
Johnson wouldn't reveal who did the scrapping, but said it was a good sign. He said his really good teams had three or four of those in a season.
No. 5 seed Alabama (18-14) will face the Bluejays on Tuesday night after both teams lost to eventual conference champions in their respective leagues.
Fourth-seededCreighton (18-14) has lost three straight. That includes a 81-73 setback to Seton Hall in the Big East tournament on March 10. Alabama lost five of its final seven games after having an NCAA tournament spot in sight by mid-February.
Johnson said he's been paying close attention to see how his team reacts to the different scenarios. The Monday scrap wasn't a reason for concern in the least.
"But it's good. Guys were physical," Johnson said. "It's good stuff. I don't want to divulge too much, but it's good for you guys to know that. And I like that kind of stuff. I like it. You go to some football practices, you always see guys getting tangled up. We need more of that."
Alabama head coach Avery Johnson yells in during Alabama's SEC basketball game with Arkansas, Wednesday, March 2, 2016, at Coleman Coliseum.