Coaches nightmare...
We have some severe match up problems with Oregon State. They are big inside with decent talent. If we want to know how our inside game will fair this season I think the OSU will tell us. The Beavers also have a good coach in Craig Robinson. They have been picked to be 8th or 9th in the PAC 12. That was before Ahmad Starks showed he might be a first team All-league player. He is averaging 25 points per game. He is diminutive and very quick. At 5-9 you have to be. He dropped in 30 against New Mexico State in his last game. The Aggies are a good basketball team. Those points came against good players. Starks is the straw that stirs the Beavers game. Robinson has given him the green light from anywhere on the floor. If you watched that game on ESPN you had to be impressed with OSU. I have no idea what the line on this game will be tomorrow but if we are favored I'd be surprised. isn't the only player the Tide has to contend with however. For his efforts in the New Mexico State game Starks was namStarks e Pac 12 Player of the week.
Size, Size, and good shooters...
The front court of OSU is big and they are all shooting better than 50% from the field. Last season Eric Moreland, 6-10, led the PAC 12 in blocked shots. He has blocked 8 shots already this year. He is averagine 9 ppg, and is pulling down 9.5 boards per game. That means he is active and athletic and will clearly be the best inside player in the game. Angus Brandt is also 6-10 and is averaging 13 ppg and 7 rebounds a game. Throw in the power forward, Joe Burton who is 6-7 who tips the scales at 300 lbs. His endurance is always a question but so far he is averaging 11.5 ppg and 4 boards. You look at this line up and it is clear we have no one who can compete with the size. At least no one has shown the ability to do so in the young season. Burton is so large he has to be seen to appreciate his actual size. The other starter is shooting guard, Roberto Nelson. He is a muscular 6-3 and 198 lbs. He is averaging 15.5 points per game. 6th man Devon Collier, 6-8, forward comes in for Burton and gets a lot of minutes. He is knocking down 7 per game along with 3 boards.]
Bama cannot let this become a half court game...
The two guards are averaging 41 points together per game. Here's a scary little state. the two are 17-35 from behind the the point line. That is great shooting. Last seaon OSU averaged 79 points per game, and this season they believe they should score more. The Beavers want to paint and dominate the defensive end to give easy baskets for the guards. On paper, OSU is a dominating team. Alabama may very well lose this game because they just can't compete inside. The real question in my mind is how effect is Alabama's death by defense strategy going to be. I think we'll do well. The Beavers have no experienced ball handlers beside their starting guards. Bama will attempt to keep the ball out of Starks' hands as much as possible. The old cut the head of the snake off defense. That might very well work. The PAC 12 team has not seen the type of defense that Bama will throw at them. This is going to be a game of different style. It will be size vs. speed.
The Tide must do a few things to win:
I have no idea who will win. If I was forced to pick a team logic tells me that Oregon State will be favored. I'll say this - Craig Robinson vs. Anthony Grant is going to be one of the great coaching match ups this season. Mr. Offense vs. Mr. Defense. Update: Bama was just posted as 2.5 point favorite. That makes me feel a little better. Several people have told me they can't shoot, can't create their own shots, and are timid inside. People see different things. I think one thing that people are missing is that Utah State was a pretty good basketball team.
Bama has a shoot around around 2:30 shoot around. It will be the first time for a lot of the Tide Player to play at the Garden. It's as special place to play with a lot of history.
Size, Size, and good shooters...
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| The Big One - Joe Burton |
Bama cannot let this become a half court game...
The two guards are averaging 41 points together per game. Here's a scary little state. the two are 17-35 from behind the the point line. That is great shooting. Last seaon OSU averaged 79 points per game, and this season they believe they should score more. The Beavers want to paint and dominate the defensive end to give easy baskets for the guards. On paper, OSU is a dominating team. Alabama may very well lose this game because they just can't compete inside. The real question in my mind is how effect is Alabama's death by defense strategy going to be. I think we'll do well. The Beavers have no experienced ball handlers beside their starting guards. Bama will attempt to keep the ball out of Starks' hands as much as possible. The old cut the head of the snake off defense. That might very well work. The PAC 12 team has not seen the type of defense that Bama will throw at them. This is going to be a game of different style. It will be size vs. speed. The Tide must do a few things to win:
- They have to slow down the scoring of Starks and Nelson.
- They have to find some way of defending the inside
- Do not let this become a half court game
- The Tide needs to have a 50% + shooting from the outside.
I have no idea who will win. If I was forced to pick a team logic tells me that Oregon State will be favored. I'll say this - Craig Robinson vs. Anthony Grant is going to be one of the great coaching match ups this season. Mr. Offense vs. Mr. Defense. Update: Bama was just posted as 2.5 point favorite. That makes me feel a little better. Several people have told me they can't shoot, can't create their own shots, and are timid inside. People see different things. I think one thing that people are missing is that Utah State was a pretty good basketball team. Bama has a shoot around around 2:30 shoot around. It will be the first time for a lot of the Tide Player to play at the Garden. It's as special place to play with a lot of history.
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