DON'T WORRY ABOUT A FIRST PUBLIC SCRIMMAGE...Wimp Sanderson once said that you should never read to much into a public intrasquad scrimmage.I've always taken that advice to heart. So, at the weekend scrimmage I saw a great deal of mostly nothing. Some things did stick out.
1. Steele was not dressed but said he was just banged up. Nothing serious. I take him at his word. He seems fine.
2. I finally saw the Trevor Lacey who played in high school. Deadly shooter, tough nosed, and he is going to have a super season. He didn't shoot that well in the scrimmage but in other workouts he has been deadly. Same for Levi.
3. The Pollard question: Great athlete. Has every tool needed to succeed and play in the NBA. A little shaky on free throws. Can jack the three and make them. You can tell he is still having adjustment problems.
4. There is no doubt the Tide has much talent on the floor as any team in the SEC except Kentucky, Missouri, and Florida. The Tide's problem is that the talent they lack is inside. We will be solid inside, but in the SEC solid isn't enough. Someone is must emerge and play at a higher level for the Tide to be a real contender. But, let me say this - this team is tenancious on defense, and they can shoot the three point as well as any team I've seen in a long time. Freshman who become sophomores usually make a big jump in that year. Our players seem to have done that. Lacey, Randolph, and Jacobs seem to me to have made that jump.
5. Defensively we are fine. Offensively we can score points in bunches. The real question can we cobble together enough of an inside game to compete with the big dogs. Right now I'd say no. A lot depends on how much Pollard can contribute inside despite his size. The real question in my mind is whether Jacobs, MG, and the Swede can step up their games. If Bama can find two decent inside players they will be a good team.
I'd place us in the upper half of the SEC. Top Five? I don't think so. NCAA? Yes or probably. Win 20 games? yes. Pull a few upsets? Absolutely. Win two games in the NCAA? Not right now. We'll see. There are some missing pieces to the puzzle. 'Bama is going to miss Green, and miss him a lot. But basketball is a funny sport. Chemistry is what it is all about. I have a lot of faith in Grant. Next season is going to be great. This season may be good.
We have the best true point guard in the conference. In basketball, without a point you have no chance. Let's give this team a while to settle in.
