Bama and Ole Miss is an elimination game...
Tide opens a 6 point underdog...
TTuesday night is the opening round of the NCAA Tournament for these two old rivals. It will be the size and bulk of Ole Miss vs. the speed and quickness of Alabama. So far this season this hasn't been particularly good for Alabama. Take into account that Ole Miss has an absolute deadly shooter in Marshall Henderson. Henderson is the most despised player in the SEC. His talent is tremendous. His actions are atrocious. Henderson lives at the corner of redneck and hip hop. Henderson manages to merge the worst of both cultures. He has managed to take each to a new low. There is no disputing his ability to score baskets in buckets. Not only is he a deadly three-point shooter, but he gets a large percentage of his points at the foul line. He is one of those rare players who draws fouls like flies on roadkill. Henderson may well beat Alabama with his skills. Give him that. But he is also the poster boy for all that's wrong with college sports.
If you choose to allow one of your players to taunt crowds, shot the old one finger salute to the other team, and use language that would embarrass a sailor you've lost prospective on who your employer is. The young man is a representative of the University of Mississippi. Andy Kennedy allows Henderson to act this way. In my opinion that makes Kennedy lower than dirt because he knows better, and the SEC should put an end to such behavior. Why not? Money and television ratings. Some Universities talk the talk but can't make the walk. I'm surprised that a educational institution would let this happen. Oh well, no accounting for taste. I think a month with Grant might help both of them. None of that means Ole Miss won't win. There will be no guardian angel of truth and virtue on the Court. Even thugs and the mentally deranged can have talent. The good guys don't always win. A person who acts like Henderson causes us to remember why they should, perhaps.
Alabama just couldn't get to the foul line enough to beat Florida. I'm not sure a single Alabama player could even identify the lane in the O Dome. I have a good friend who is affiliated with the SEC home office. Grant had his say in this officiating matter. Whether it does any good remains to be seen. I kinda wonder if the SEC wants to nationally showcase a thug vs. someone like Trevor Releford? All I can say if my youngest daughter brought this kid home I would break down and beseech God for an explanation for what did we do to get this punishment.
But it is Marshall's outside skills that make an already strong Ole Miss inside game even stronger. You clog up the inside and Marshall kills you outside. You shut down Marshall and the Rebels inside game kills you. Actually Andy Kennedy has done one of the worst jobs in the SEC given the tools he has to use in Oxford. The Rebels had a fantastic start with an 18-2 record. Since sitting in the rafters they been 4-6. It seems that each time Ole Miss needs to win a game to become a lock in the NCAA they've come up short. Alabama has lost their last two games but have played very in the losses. Free throws aside the Tide won almost every aspect of the games except the scoreboard. But they are playing better. Once more the Tide has to go on the road. The Tide has blown two big second half leads against the Rebels under Grant. That has an ominous ring to me. Winning on the road is tough. Tuesday night may be the hardest of all the road trips. Let's say this - if Alabama plays as well as they did in Florida I think we win.
One real concern for Bama is always the front court. Grant has minimized Jacob' back injury. He is at a point where bending over is becoming a real problem. I doubt he'll be anywhere near 100% against Ole Miss. I give the kid credit for the game he had in Florida. We need a better on in Oxford. Muessa Gueye needs to stick around for the entire game. He needs to learn to defend, contest, but not foul. Basically, all needs to do is hang around the basket and rebound and block shots. He really doesn't need to actually block shots. Disrupting a shooter is almost as good and you are more likely to pick up a defensive rebound.
It's also senior night in Oxford. I just don't think the Tide is going to go into Oxford, where we rarely play well, and steal on from the Rebs.They are 15-1 at home. If the 18-2 Rebels show up we don't win. If the 4-6 Rebels take the floor we have a chance.
What it will take:
Prediction : Ole Miss by 7
Tide opens a 6 point underdog...
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| Look at me, I'm a neo-nazi rap star |
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| Andy Kennedy - looks like mug shot Oh yeah, it is a mug shot |
But it is Marshall's outside skills that make an already strong Ole Miss inside game even stronger. You clog up the inside and Marshall kills you outside. You shut down Marshall and the Rebels inside game kills you. Actually Andy Kennedy has done one of the worst jobs in the SEC given the tools he has to use in Oxford. The Rebels had a fantastic start with an 18-2 record. Since sitting in the rafters they been 4-6. It seems that each time Ole Miss needs to win a game to become a lock in the NCAA they've come up short. Alabama has lost their last two games but have played very in the losses. Free throws aside the Tide won almost every aspect of the games except the scoreboard. But they are playing better. Once more the Tide has to go on the road. The Tide has blown two big second half leads against the Rebels under Grant. That has an ominous ring to me. Winning on the road is tough. Tuesday night may be the hardest of all the road trips. Let's say this - if Alabama plays as well as they did in Florida I think we win.
One real concern for Bama is always the front court. Grant has minimized Jacob' back injury. He is at a point where bending over is becoming a real problem. I doubt he'll be anywhere near 100% against Ole Miss. I give the kid credit for the game he had in Florida. We need a better on in Oxford. Muessa Gueye needs to stick around for the entire game. He needs to learn to defend, contest, but not foul. Basically, all needs to do is hang around the basket and rebound and block shots. He really doesn't need to actually block shots. Disrupting a shooter is almost as good and you are more likely to pick up a defensive rebound.
It's also senior night in Oxford. I just don't think the Tide is going to go into Oxford, where we rarely play well, and steal on from the Rebs.They are 15-1 at home. If the 18-2 Rebels show up we don't win. If the 4-6 Rebels take the floor we have a chance.
What it will take:
- Keep Marshall under his average. Put someone in his face the moment the Rebels throw the ball inbounds. I'd go with Levi due to his length.
- Try to minimize what Reginald Buckner does on the offensive boards. Block out and try to make him work hard for baskets.
- Keep turnovers under 10
- Cause more than 15 turnovers
- break close to even on the boars,
- Shoot 45% from the floor and try to shoot 15-18 free throws. Make 80% of 'em
- Knock down some three balls, and finally
- Pray for fairness from the officiating crew.
Prediction : Ole Miss by 7
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