Bama can move to 17-8 with win
LSU destroys South Carolina
I am sure a lot of you watched LSU play at South Carolina. Our household sure did. It would be a fair statement to say that LSU destroyed the 'Gamecocks. The the final score was 64-46 and as they say - it wasn't that close. Basketball is an odd game. The Gamecocks had beaten LSU in Baton Rouge earlier in the season. Now, all of us are licking our basketball chops for the USC game this Saturday at 3:00 PM at Coleman. Don't expect it to be that easy.
Carolina has some real match-up problems inside with the size of the Tigers. Johhny O'Bryant's led the scoring parade with 30. LSU also started a 7-3 tuba player. The Tigers also have a point guard who could keep up with Bruce Ellington. Anthony Hickey did a great job on Ellington. Alabama will not match-up the same way as LSU did last night. Carolina didn't have the size inside to contend. They'll match up better with Alabama in the paint. Bruce Ellington is a special type player. I'm not sure whether Alabama will put Releford or Lacey on him in man. We'll likely play a lot of 2-3 zone. Carolina shot less than 30% against LSU. Frank Martin is a heck of a good coach. Why he left KState to go to Carolina was a stunner. He's recently stated he's coached JV teams better his current team. Don't hold back Frank, tell us how you really feel. Carolina is a truly bad basketball team. So was Mercer and to a lesser degree Tulane. Perhaps no sport is effected by physical match-ups more than basketball. Alabama lives life on the edge and cannot afford to look ahead. So what will Bama do?
First and foremost they will need to shut down Bruce Ellington. That won't be easy. LSU limited his touches which was a sound plan. If we play a lot of man it will be much harder to do that. Second, Alabama needs to keep Moussa Gueye out of foul trouble. I'm sure that Coach Grant will tell the tall one that he doesn't have to block a lot of shots but just make
people shot over him. He'll also tell him not to set moving screens. I also sure that Gueye will attempt to block anything coming his way, and he'll move on screens even though those picks are less important in this game than some. Third, look for Bama to take it inside as often as they can to get to the foul line. I'm talking about a real concerted effort to take it to the hoops. If Bama is going anywhere in the remaining season they are need to shoot more free throws. Teams that press for long periods don't historically shoot a good percentage of free throws due to the build up of lactic acid in the legs. Now that Retin is playing more minutes it should help all the them with some rest. By the way, if Devonta is going to have a break out game this might be it. He'll never have a better match-up in his favor. Bama has a chance to win all their remaining games except for Florida. I'm an optimist but not an idiot. If Bama wins that game it would be the biggest upset in college basketball. If Bama could win the rest of their games except Florida it will set the stage for an invitation. It also will give the Tide a couple of bye games in the SEC. I don't know if that would actually be good because the Tide needs wins, and not open nights. Roll Tide and see you tomorrow.
Bama should win this game but it might be closer than you think. Bama by 9
LSU destroys South Carolina
Carolina has some real match-up problems inside with the size of the Tigers. Johhny O'Bryant's led the scoring parade with 30. LSU also started a 7-3 tuba player. The Tigers also have a point guard who could keep up with Bruce Ellington. Anthony Hickey did a great job on Ellington. Alabama will not match-up the same way as LSU did last night. Carolina didn't have the size inside to contend. They'll match up better with Alabama in the paint. Bruce Ellington is a special type player. I'm not sure whether Alabama will put Releford or Lacey on him in man. We'll likely play a lot of 2-3 zone. Carolina shot less than 30% against LSU. Frank Martin is a heck of a good coach. Why he left KState to go to Carolina was a stunner. He's recently stated he's coached JV teams better his current team. Don't hold back Frank, tell us how you really feel. Carolina is a truly bad basketball team. So was Mercer and to a lesser degree Tulane. Perhaps no sport is effected by physical match-ups more than basketball. Alabama lives life on the edge and cannot afford to look ahead. So what will Bama do?
First and foremost they will need to shut down Bruce Ellington. That won't be easy. LSU limited his touches which was a sound plan. If we play a lot of man it will be much harder to do that. Second, Alabama needs to keep Moussa Gueye out of foul trouble. I'm sure that Coach Grant will tell the tall one that he doesn't have to block a lot of shots but just make
people shot over him. He'll also tell him not to set moving screens. I also sure that Gueye will attempt to block anything coming his way, and he'll move on screens even though those picks are less important in this game than some. Third, look for Bama to take it inside as often as they can to get to the foul line. I'm talking about a real concerted effort to take it to the hoops. If Bama is going anywhere in the remaining season they are need to shoot more free throws. Teams that press for long periods don't historically shoot a good percentage of free throws due to the build up of lactic acid in the legs. Now that Retin is playing more minutes it should help all the them with some rest. By the way, if Devonta is going to have a break out game this might be it. He'll never have a better match-up in his favor. Bama has a chance to win all their remaining games except for Florida. I'm an optimist but not an idiot. If Bama wins that game it would be the biggest upset in college basketball. If Bama could win the rest of their games except Florida it will set the stage for an invitation. It also will give the Tide a couple of bye games in the SEC. I don't know if that would actually be good because the Tide needs wins, and not open nights. Roll Tide and see you tomorrow.
Bama should win this game but it might be closer than you think. Bama by 9
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