SEC could be big for 'Bama...
Alabama looks to Green, Releford, and Steele to find the magic...
Sometime around 2:30 to 3:00 PM on Thursday the Alabama Crimson Tide will take the floor against the Gamecocks of South Carolina. The last time the two teams met Carolina beat the Crimson Tide 56-54. Bruce Ellington hit a running left handed layup to upend the then nationally ranked Tide. Everyone watching the game knew that Ellington was going to take the last shot. Everyone except the five players on the floor who were wearing bright crimson jersey. Take nothing away from a splendid player but there was no way he should have been allowed to take that shot. As I recall Carolina was about 3 for a million from the outside that night. As we have previous noted, the Tide was never the same after that. Mitchell and Green started their descent from star players to starring in a soap opera.
Mitchell is gone. Green came back with mixed results. JaMychal played well against Mississppi State, led a comeback against Auburn, and then disappeared for one half against Ole Miss. I know that South Carolina is a bad basketball team. I also remember they beat us earlier in the season. Alabama looked a the Krimson Keystone Kops that night. Don't think that Malik Cooke and Bruce Ellington can't do it again. If the same Bama teams that played games against Auburn and Ole Miss shows up the Tide can lose once again. Granted, that isn't likely to happen. One thing is crystal clear; however, if Alabama doesn't find their defensive intensity, and at least make some outside baskets it will be a short SEC. Call it a field trip. What Bama needs is a four day weekend instead. Alabama needs a to run to make a run in the post season.
I was told today that Trevor Lacey's ankle isn't completely well and probably won't be the remainder of the season. He can still shoot, but frankly he has been a liability on defense in the last three games. Perhaps it would be better to play him in certain offensive situations against the zone, and let someone else play defense. Alabama might beat Carolina with a defensive performance that isn't the teams best. They can't beat Florida and whoever is drawn in the NCAA. The depth to play without him on defense is there. Ankle injuries are funny things. He might show up tomorrow and look likes he's never been hurt. Watch to see if he has explosiveness off that ankle early on.
This will also be a game where Nick Jacobs can put in some big minutes. You might remember how physical Carolina played against Alabama in the first game. I think that took the team by surprise. Had Carolina shot the ball well that night it would have been a massacre. Neither team could make anything until USC made a few threes in the last seven minutes. Alabama needs to get on top of Carolina early on. If the Tide comes out and plays that horrid offense in the first 10 minutes it will be a long hard day. I'm not saying that Alabama won't win, but it will be a fistfight.
As it stands right now I believe that Bama will win the game tomorrow and then face a monumental game against Florida. Two wins in the SEC will get them out of the 8/9 bracket. They might be a 7 and have to face a #2 seed instead. I'd consider that a small victory in a season were victories were hard to come by at times. Let's wish Coach Grant, his staff, and his team all the good luck in the world. I feel like we are going back to the NCAA and under Grant it will be the first of many. The Tide may not be there every year but the years they are absent will be few and far between. And as we all say our prayers tonight as we all do let us hope that no one is hurt, that sportsmanship is evident, and that Coach Grant can find a couple of big inside players to commit. The name to remember is Pollard and the foreign player is a name I can't spell.
Alabama looks to Green, Releford, and Steele to find the magic...
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| Ellington hit the buzzer beater in game 1 against the Tide... |
Mitchell is gone. Green came back with mixed results. JaMychal played well against Mississppi State, led a comeback against Auburn, and then disappeared for one half against Ole Miss. I know that South Carolina is a bad basketball team. I also remember they beat us earlier in the season. Alabama looked a the Krimson Keystone Kops that night. Don't think that Malik Cooke and Bruce Ellington can't do it again. If the same Bama teams that played games against Auburn and Ole Miss shows up the Tide can lose once again. Granted, that isn't likely to happen. One thing is crystal clear; however, if Alabama doesn't find their defensive intensity, and at least make some outside baskets it will be a short SEC. Call it a field trip. What Bama needs is a four day weekend instead. Alabama needs a to run to make a run in the post season.
As it stands right now I believe that Bama will win the game tomorrow and then face a monumental game against Florida. Two wins in the SEC will get them out of the 8/9 bracket. They might be a 7 and have to face a #2 seed instead. I'd consider that a small victory in a season were victories were hard to come by at times. Let's wish Coach Grant, his staff, and his team all the good luck in the world. I feel like we are going back to the NCAA and under Grant it will be the first of many. The Tide may not be there every year but the years they are absent will be few and far between. And as we all say our prayers tonight as we all do let us hope that no one is hurt, that sportsmanship is evident, and that Coach Grant can find a couple of big inside players to commit. The name to remember is Pollard and the foreign player is a name I can't spell.
Keys to a 'Bama win...
- Make 38.5% of 3 point attempts
- Shoot 50 % from the floor
- Make 78% of our free throws
- Keep turnovers below 13
- More than 15 turnovers by Carolina
- Contol the Defensive Glass and have 10 offensive rebounds
- Hold Carolina to below 40% from the floor
- Hold Carolina to less that 25% made 3 point shots
- Have a vocal crowd to offset what will be a anti-Alabama arena
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| Not just another pretty face this is a fan... |
Final Pick - Bama 68 - USC 55
LSU in a barn burner
OleMiss wins
State loses
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