Bama bounces back 65-45

'bama gets a much needed win
levi randolph plays his best game
steele returns from injury

     Oakland isn't a basketball power.  It really doesn't matter. Alabama needed a win against someone. The Golden Grizzlies played hard but were unable to overcome the stifling Tide defense. Hitting only 16-59 from the field isn't going to win a lot of games. That's 27% for the game. Hidden within that poor shooting percentage lies a problem. Giving up 60 shots to an inferior team isn't good. The Tide put up only 48 shots and hit 25, and that will win a lot of games. The best number is one. One more Tide win. After losing 5 of their last 6 games it was important to win one. When you score only 65 points and win by 20 you've done a lot of good things. Among those good things was the play of Levi Randolph. He did a whole lot of good things in playing his best game in his short career with Alabama. Randolph was 6-11 from the field including 2-3 from behind the arc to end the day with 15 points. It was Randolph who jump started the sluggish Tide in the first half. He played a great floor game with his hustle.

         After starting the season with a 6-0 run it is disappointing to Tide fans to see us finish the early part of the season at 8-5. The season isn't over, and the Tide lost a couple of very close games to Cincinnati and Tulane. The great news for Tide fans is that many of the Tide's problems can be fixed and the Oakland game proved the point. When Alabama gave up 8 early offensive rebounds, Grant put Moussa Gueye into the line up. He responded with 9 big rebounds blocked 2 shots. He also altered shots, and that usually means a missed shot. The pair of Gueye and Jacobs had a total of 16 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. That is the type of inside production That will go a long way to solving a piece of the Tide's poor play. Alabama had the edge off the glass 38-33.  That's not exactly dominance but it's on the right side of stats book. Once Alabama kept Oakland off the offensive boards the Tide blew open a close game.

         Trevor Releford led the Tide with points on 67% shooting from the floor. He only played 29 minutes as Grant tried to get him some rest. His next game is Missouri on the road. Releford will be matched up against the dynamic Phil Pressy. Pressy is only 5-10 but is so quick. Like Releford, Pressy is nominated for the Bob Cousey Award. He is shooting 43% from the floor, but his forte is assists. The Tide will not play in a more hostile enviroment than the Mizzou Arena. This will be the top two point guards in the SEC going head to head. Missouri had a surprisingly tough time in a 66-64 win over Bucknell. The Arena is one of the best home courts in the NCAA.  Bama will need to play their best game to keep it close. If we play like we did against Oakland and Missouri has another Bucknell type game their is a chance. Otherwise, you'd have to think its a long road to a win. I expect the Tigers to be a 12 point favorite.

Key to Bama win:Gueye and Jacobs shut down Corey Petros inside.


Rating the play:

A - Trevor Releford on outstanding shooting and floor play
A - Levi Randolph on his shooting and doing all the dirty little things
A - Nick Jacobs on his 6 points and 7 rebounds.
B+ Moussa Gueye on his 8 defensive rebounds and shot altering all game
B- Trevor Lacey on the strenght of his 7 assists which was a caree high
B- Andrew Steele for his gutty play while still hurt
C- Devonta Pollard isn't living up to his five star rating
C+ Retin Obasahan on his hard play and improvement