HIGH TIDE IN THE DUST BOWL

bama wins despite sloppy second half
late randolph jumper saves game
    

       I guess it would be appropriate to report Alabama won this game. Texas Tech should never be confused with a good basketball team. Alabama blew a 20 point second half lead and salvaged a win.Levi Randolph nailed an 8 foot jump shot, and  Moussa Gueye also had a big time traffic rebound very late to help the Tide hang on. Even though Alabama won I doubt the win is going to make Tide fans feel much better about their team. Alabama showed what kind of potential they had in the first half when they opened up a huge half time lead of 16 points at 35-23. The Tide would stretch the lead to 20 points in the second half.   The Tide also showed what kind of basketball team they currently are at this time by almost folding in the second half. The Tide roar out like the dust storm that hit Lubbock at lunchtime. They were focused and fierce. They execute plays. They dominated the boards. And then...

             Then the bottom literally fell out in the second half.Three quick Tide turnovers were converte into TT baskets.  Alabama starting running clock and Texas Tech figured out that if they put two big men inside they could score. Tech ripped the Bama interior wide open and cut the lead to 2 points on two occasions. Bama helped the Red Raiders with 20 turnovers. The Alabama team isn't going to beat many decent teams playing give away. What is really concerning about these turnovers is how sloppy and unmotivate  the team appears at times. When Alabama is holding on to a lead they play to protect that leadn and not to expand the marginll. The vast majority of these mistakes are simply lack of execution. One reason I'd pick the Tide to win a low scoring game was based on three things; 1 - turnovers. there is no excuse for the numbers of turnovers with our ball handlers. 2 - inability to stop other teams from scoring inside. Last night is a good example. Had Tech's coach done so        earlier  we'd have been toast. 3 - this team's tendancy to miss free throws in key

      moments. I guess you could say we made enough to win, but had we nailed all those missed second half freebies we would coasted home. In short, we have a very mediocre team right now. The only positive thing I can say is that we seem to understand we have to create Lacey some shots, Pollard was very instrumental in the first half with his amped up play. Randolph is consistent and you always get a good effort from the sophomore. Every game it seems that someone disappears from the face of the earth. Last night it was Cooper. Jacobs showed some spark and then parked. Gueye looks lost although he plays are. He and Jacobs both set great picks. Things like that somtimes gets lost in the shuffle of the game. The only positive thing I can say about the Tide is that they have won 7 of their first 10 games, and I haven't seen a good team in the SEC West emerege so far. The Tide should have 10 wins when the SEC season starts. None were against highly rated RPI teams (at present). I think that the Tide is going to have to win 12 or 13 more games to make the NCAA field. Grant's team is currently holding the 31st best RPI primarily on the two decent wins and two losses to toughs team.(the so-called good loss)  The saving grace may be a decent RPI but a top 20 SOS.