And the beat goes on

Miserable first half dooms Tide...

   

I didn't think that Levi Randolph would score 33 points. I didn't believe that Alabama would even win the Ole Miss game on the road. I did think we might play a  good  game against the Rebels. The only way I can think to describe the first half of last nights game is laughable. We played so bad you continued watching just to see how bad it would be. It's kind of like going to a car race to see the wrecks and not the watch the winner. This season is over. The only things worth watching falls into three categories in my opinion. A - let's honor Trevor Releford by showing up and acknowledging his great play over his Alabama career. B - Let's see if Shannon Hale, Jimmy Taylor, and Algie Key can continue to improve. C. Hang around so we see whether or not Coach Grant deserves another season. Please note I didn't say he should or should not be back. I just want to watch what happens until the bitter end. Then we can say how we feel, and all of us have the right to tell the AD how we feel.

    Shannon Hale has been playing better and better. Last night he exploded for 27. He even made 10-11 free throw, knocked down a couple of threes and got some rebounds. He also played like a man possessed. It's almost like he's saying that we might not have a good season but he wants Tide fans to see how much he cares. If Alabama is a  to have a good season next year it appears that a lot of the burden may fall on Hale's improvement. Levi Randolph played a solid game even though he didn't score as much. Trevor Releford got 16 on a bum leg which was (and is) clearly hurting. He got 14 of those points when Alabama tried to make a comeback. They got it to 6 but ran out of cutring into that big Ole Miss lead. I think that is says a lot about the work  ethic of this team that they continued to try.

      The Tide started well. Things went south when Jimmy Taylor  got his second foul early on and had to sit on the bench. That's when things got really out of hand. Everyone chipped in to allow the Rebels to go run and hide. Alabama simply can't rebound on the defensive end of the floor. The Tide is the worst rebounding team I've ever seen. It seems like its 50/50 at best that the Crimson would get a missed shot. I know that Ole Miss got of good bounces off missed shots. They also got a lot of shots when Alabama was simply overwhelmed in the paint. The Tide did a good job on Henderson. This time he only got 13 but every other Ole Miss guard played like an All-American. The Tide couldn't defend any one who drove the ball to the basket. How Alabama's veteran players have lost a part of their defensive play is puzzling. Releford was limited. That hurt on both ends. But the other players? There is simply no way to understand that and no excuse to let it happen. I bet the Tide defenders could tell you the names of every Ole Miss players. After all, they were looking at their backs all night long.

    This is a problem  that we can't totally blame on Grant. He is clearly frustrated and just can seem to connect the dots. I'm not sure anyone could. Grant recruited these players. So ultimately it all falls on him. I think you'd have to say that Taylor, Hale, and Releford were good recruits. I think Levi Randolph over his career as been pretty good. I have no idea what has happened to Rodney Cooper. He is still trying. It just isn't working out for him. Before the game started if you told me that Hale would  have 27 I'd say we might have won. Great game from the freshman and the senior but where did everyone else go? 

     Now we get ready for the most important game in the career of Anthony Grant. It's Auburn.  Releford is unlikely going to be at full speed. It's likely not to be a sell out and I'd bet my last dollar a lot of Barn fans are going show up.  The Tide has played much better at home and that should help. I know that Grant is going to get another year if my source is correct. He usually is dead on. If Auburn beats Alabama in Coleman the howl will begin. Grant might see a lot of his supporters fade away. Only Battles vote matters. But a lot of disgruntled fans can certainly make it easier to remove Grant if next year is marginal. I like Grant but don't like what I've been seeing. No one does. Even Wimp had a bad year. His points were hurt. Playing basketball without a point guard is like playing football  without a quarterback. While I admire the Tide's comeback in the second half, I almost wished that Grant let Releford sit out that half so he might heal before AU game. Releford isn't that type guy. These guys  may not be very good but it would be very unfair to say that haven't given 100%.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN...

TIDE HOPES TO WIN A ROAD GAME...

 

  Releford lift three pointer over the out stretched arms of Marshall Henderson for a game winner. Tonight, things will be different. The game is being played at the Tad Pad, and Marshall Henderson is rarely held to 14 points.

     Willie Nelson not withstanding, the road has been a kill zone for the Crimson Tide. The Tide is 0 for as many games they've played so far. The Tide has had a few close games but the majority were pretty bad. That includes one at Auburn we'd all like to forget. The last time we saw the Ole Miss Rebels we saw Trevor

     As much as I'm impressed with the Rebel back court, it is the front court that worries me. They are a group of fast improving no names who have begun to assert themselves. If you watched the Ole Miss/Florida game you know what I mean. This time we go over to the Magnolia State we will be without Nick Jacobs (unless something has happened about him getting back on the team). This could be a nasty affair in the paint. Jimmy Taylor can stop one of those guys but not all. So once again Anthony Grant is going to have to manipulate line up.  That means Engstrom should get some good minutes. The ability to keep both of the Tide's big men out of foul trouble. Engstrom doesn't have the mobility to keep up with the Ole Miss inside players, but he can help protect the basket. Surely, we could recruit at least one mobile big man if Ole Miss can.

    Alabama's Trevor Releford needs a good game and someone else needs to chip in for a good scoring night. It would be nice if Levi could have another such game. Two in a row might be too much. Cooper needs to step and score some in this game and as always he needs to continue to rebound like always. I expect that Algie Key is going to get a lot of time on Marshall Henderson. Last game, Key and the Bama zone shut him down. The Rebels need to win this game to keep the fading NCAA hopes alive. A big finish might get them there. Bama needs to continue forward from the Missouri game. It is important for all the returning player to step up and get ready for next season. Shannon Hale needs to play hard under boards. His wide open approach has been refreshing to watch. He is going to be  a good one. 

    We would like to extend our sympathies to all Ole Miss fans and the family of Cob Jarvis. Coach J was a living legend at Ole Miss. The two-time All SEC player turned to coaching after graduation. Mississippi has lost a great man.

Do you think Coach Grant should be renewed or replaced

Post your opinion and the why

       

Tulane transfer Ricky Tarrant will help.

I have to admit to really struggling with a solid opinion of whether Grant should stay or go. The hard part to me is that I believe he is a very good coach, but a poor recruiter. He might hire someone who can recruit. Lacey and Pollard were not really five star players but everyone recruited the pair like they were. He also signed Jacobs, Randolph, and Cooper. They were all listed as four star players. One or two publications had Randolph as a five. None of that has proven true. Some will argue it is a lack of player development on Grant's part. I just don't know. Trevor Releford was a four and has turned into a real star and will add his name to the legacy of Tide point guards. Is it fair to say he can't develop players when you look at Releford. I think that Taylor and Hale are coming along nicely. We all knew that Taylor wasn't an offensive hoss when we got him. He has been a solid defender and shot blocker. Hale has shown some really tenacity as the season has gone along. You can't argue he hasn't improved. Is it possible, just maybe, that most of his best players weren't as good as some experts thought? I think that is probably the case, and then you see Randolph score 33. Cooper had 28 as a freshman against LSU on the road. The both have had some flashes of brilliance. Jacobs has improved. You can't argue that Randolph, Jacobs,  and Cooper have had lackluster seasons. As juniors you would think they would be solid game in and game out. That has not been the case. Cooper despite horrible shooting and shot selection has been the leading rebounder for the Tide. That is why he plays so much. He now has so little arc on his jumper that it looks a like a line drive double into the gap at the Joe. He has no mid-range shot at all. So how much blame does Grant have to accept? I'm not sure.

    

There are other factors considering Grant. One thing you have to like about Grant is that he will not cheat. There is a saying in basketball - if you don't cheat you don't win. John Calipari has left blood stains wherever he has coached, and it won't be any different at Kentucky before it is all said and done. So  we have this conundrum regarding Grant.  His players graduate and stay out of trouble, but they don't win big. I know that Grant has three twenty win seasons. A closer look at those seasons will indicate just how weak the SEC has been. You can argue that his best SEC record didn't get him in the NCAA. That seemed unfair. I think that would be correct though Bama probably got jobbed that year. While I admire some of Grant's ethical positions I'm not sure you can really win big that way in modern basketball.  I'm not talking about a bag man. But taking some marginal players with academic problems could help. 

      This season he signed three of the best shooters I've seen in the high school ranks. Devin Mitchell is the shooting guard  we need.  Coleman can shoot the lights out, and Norris is a great long distance shooter. But the one thing Grant has not been able to do is get a beast in the middle. Kessons is going to help. He's a good player, but he is really more of a power forward than a post player. It is going to be interesting to see how Tarrant fits in with Mitchell coming on board. Tarrant is a better all round play with experience. Mitchell is a better bomber. Both have their place. 

     Here's my bottom line on Grant, or as close as I can find a bottom line.  He can coach, and he has shown some ability to get higher rated players to Alabama. However; I'm not sure whether he can be counted on to get enough great kids to make Alabama a player in the SEC again. Do his better qualities outweigh his problems? He is going to get another year if what I have been told holds true. He may not believe it but if AU beats Bama in Coleman it might be the straw that breaks him with his strongest supporters. I believe you should support the your coach. For almost five years I've been an avid Grant supporter. I've lost a great deal of faith this season. What I don't see is a strong foundation for the future in place with Grant at the helm. He has had more than an adequate amount of time to have built that foundation. Maybe its time to quit going for all the five stars we can find, and take a Gonzaga approach. Find good players who can improve and keep them four years. Releford is exhibit # 1 to that approach. Stay or go. I can live with either. I'd prefer to find a new coach who can inject some enthusiasm into the program, the fan base, and recognize the contributions of long time supporters of the program. Things haven't worked out the way. I honestly thought they would with Grant. We pay our coach 2 million dollars a year. We've held up our end of the bargain. Here's what I think  for what it is worth. One successful season next year is not going to salvage the program. It might save Grant, but not the program. One additional poor season will set the program back another five years. I said it would take Grant five seasons to straighten out the mess he found when he arrived. I was wrong . If you have four years  to find your own players that is pretty much the forecast of what you can expect in the future. I really like Coach Grant but I'm not convinced he's the man to get the job done viewing the last four seasons. Your fifth season should be a good one. 

       I've turned down dozens of requests to talk on the radio about Grant, but I felt he deserved the benefit of the doubt. Right now i feel like we are in the old Soviet Union. The last five year plan hasn't worked.

Randolph scores career high to help bring down Missou 80-73.

Finally, some help arrives...

    

    Just when it seemed as though the Tide might not win another game this season, Levi Randolph exploded for a career high 33 points. He did that on 11-15 shooting including 5-7 from downtown. He also had 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. It couldn't come at a better time. The Tide had lost 4 of their last 5. This game isn't going to get Alabama into any postseason game but it sure did a lot for the team and the fans. The announced attendance was over 10,000.  At least 5,000 of those fans must have passed through the turnstiles twice. Too bad. They missed the best game of the year. For Alabama it was sweet revenge for the shellacking the Tigers laid on them earlier in the season. Trevor Releford had 18. In the first two minutes of the first half Releford caught a knee in his quad and limped to the locker room. Despite the game it got very quiet in Coleman. Trevor returned but was no where near full speed. On his way to the locker Releford told his team to "play hard." Bama did. The played from the opening tip until the clock ran down. 

    For Levi it was a second coming out party. The slump he was in was more like a drought. He showed some signs of shooting better at South Carolina and Texas A&M. I don't think anyone expected the sonic boom that we all saw at last night. This was one of the best games played by any Alabama player in a long time. Kudos to a team that wouldn't quit. You have to be happy for Coach Grant as well. Randolph explained in his post game comments told the public that Grant and his teammates told him to start shooting. Randolph showed just how much a second shooting option  means to a team. I don't care how pessimistic you are. This gives Alabama fans some hope for the rest of the season.  Maybe its only one game.  Maybe not. Today I don't really care.

Missouri (19-8)

Starters	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
Earnest Ross	38	8	12	.667	4	5	.800	4	7	.571	5	6	.833	3	5	8	3	0	0	4	1	25
Jabari Brown	38	6	11	.545	5	6	.833	1	5	.200	10	12	.833	1	1	2	5	0	0	2	1	23
Jordan Clarkson	38	4	15	.267	4	12	.333	0	3	.000	6	8	.750	1	5	6	2	2	0	4	2	14
Johnathan Williams III	25	1	2	.500	1	2	.500	0	0		0	2	.000	1	1	2	2	1	1	1	5	2
Ryan Rosburg	20	1	2	.500	1	2	.500	0	0		0	0		0	1	1	0	0	0	0	3	2
Reserves	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
Wes Clark	17	0	2	.000	0	1	.000	0	1	.000	0	0		0	1	1	1	1	0	3	4	0
Torren Jones	11	1	2	.500	1	2	.500	0	0		1	1	1.000	2	3	5	1	0	0	0	3	3
Tony Criswell	9	2	2	1.000	2	2	1.000	0	0		0	0		0	2	2	0	0	0	1	2	4
Keanau Post	4	0	0		0	0		0	0		0	0		0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
School Totals	200	23	48	.479	18	32	.563	5	16	.313	22	29	.759	8	21	29	14	4	1	15	21	73

Alabama (11-16)

Starters	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
Rodney Cooper	36	3	8	.375	2	5	.400	1	3	.333	2	2	1.000	0	6	6	4	0	0	1	3	9
Trevor Releford	35	7	12	.583	4	5	.800	3	7	.429	1	3	.333	0	2	2	6	2	0	2	0	18
Jimmie Taylor	25	1	1	1.000	1	1	1.000	0	0		3	7	.429	1	2	3	0	0	1	0	5	5
Retin Obasohan	24	3	5	.600	3	3	1.000	0	2	.000	2	6	.333	0	2	2	1	2	0	0	5	8
Shannon Hale	13	1	2	.500	0	0		1	2	.500	1	2	.500	0	0	0	0	1	1	3	4	4
Reserves	MP	FG	FGA	FG%	2P	2PA	2P%	3P	3PA	3P%	FT	FTA	FT%	ORB	DRB	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
Levi Randolph	38	11	15	.733	6	8	.750	5	7	.714	6	7	.857	0	2	2	2	2	0	0	3	33
Algie Key	15	1	3	.333	1	3	.333	0	0		1	2	.500	1	2	3	3	0	0	0	0	3
Carl Engstrom	14	0	1	.000	0	1	.000	0	0		0	0		1	2	3	0	0	1	2	1	0
School Totals	200	27	47	.574	17	26	.654	10	21	.476	16	29	.552	3	18	21	16	7	3	8	21	80

'Bama to host Missouri at 7:00

Missouri playing to get in the dance...

'Bama will play to regain some self respect

   

HALE HAS BEEN IMPROVING

  The last time the Tide played the Missouri Tigers their record was 8-8. In the second half of that game the Tide scored only 17 points. Releford didn't have a good game, and no one was there for the Tide to pick up the slack. It was a glimpse  of things to come for Alabama. The good guys have now won 10 games and lost 16. That pretty much sums up what has happened to Alabama since that game. Here are few other numbers to think about if you really want to know what's happening.

• Alabama is ranked 262nd in scoring and rebounding. 33 rebounds per game will get you beat almost every game.

• The Tide is ranked 298th in assists. Hmm...

• The Tide is ranked 199th in shooting percentage at 44%.

   

     When you can't shoot or rebound you will get beat. In fact, I'm surprised that Alabama has managed to win 10 games. Before the season started I thought we might win 14 or 15. That's not going to happen. A perfect storm of poor shooting, absent rebounding, too many turnovers, and a lack of help from the coaches hit Alabama from all directions.  Alabama loses so many players you think Tuscaloosa is the launching spot for refugees seeking a better life. Fans give Jacobs a hard time. If Alabama can't get him back into the lineup the inside scoring will get even worse. I know that Grant has the right to suspend Jacobs for cutting class (gee, none of us ever did that) but I'm not sure that was the right thing to do to a player who was already struggling. Instead of suspending him for a game, Jacobs turned the tables on the staff and said he was taking a leave of absence to think things over. Let me translate that - he's deciding where to go to play next year or the year after. He may or may not be back later this year. I hope so. He's a good kid. He's very sensitive and lowering the hammer on that type personality might not be the best approach. But I'm not the coach and I certainly don't make $5000.00 dollars a day like Anthony Grant. 

      Missouri has good athletes. They  beat UCLA. But they haven't been playing well since their strong opening run. They have won their last three games. Most experts have them on the bubble. Clarkson and Parker are great players. The last time the these two teams met the Tigers won 68-47. That was the first game where another team exploited all the Tide's weak spots.  It was also the first game that Shannon Hale took a big step forward. I know that Hale took a lot shots, made some, missed more, but at least kid isn't afraid to shoot the ball. He's a keep. So is Taylor. I think Missouri should beat us by 10. We'll see. There is no way the Tide should win this game considering how poorly they've played lately. I expect the beleagured Tide to play hard to find some redemption from the Texas A&M game.The only thing certain about basketball is that nothing is certain. Roll Tide. Let's get some fans in the seats tonight. 

KEYS TO WIN

 1. Releford needs to keep making it rain. (last game against Missouri 4-16)

 2. Shannon Hale needs to keep playing that hard nosed brand of basketball.

 3. DEFENSIVE STOPS, DEFENSIVE STOPS, AND MORE DEFENSIVE STOPS

 4. Need a big game for someone else. Obasahan, Randolph, and Cooper

 5. Jimmy Taylor needs to avoid foul trouble and block some shots, rebound.

 6. Alabama needs forty or more rebounds.  

Tide is a favorite against the Missouri Tigers???

This line is hard to understand...

    

   At first I thought my friend was joking. He called wanting to know if he should bet against the Tide. He told me that Alabama was 1.5 point favorite. He's right. All the Las Vegas odds makers set the same line. Sometime last week did Missouri lose all their starters, and it went unreported? Did anyone in Vegas watch the Texas A&M game on Thursday night? Don't get me wrong I'd love for Alabama to beat Missouri. I'd love for the Tide to beat anyone right about now. Those kids deserve something good to happen. What they've been through has been pretty tough. Surely, something good will happen. Isn't that in the odds somewhere.

        But the line is indeed -1.5. Can anyone give me the slightest idea why? I hope Alabama gets fired up and takes it out on Missouri. Maybe we can say there is no way Alabama can play that poorly two games in a row. That probably has some validity. Alabama is playing at home. The Tide has played pretty well at home. At times they have played excellent basketball. Perhaps tomorrow they will they will play above their heads. That's what it is going to take for Bama  to beat the Tigers. Over the years I've learned on thing about odds makers. They are generally pretty good at getting it right. More than anything that knowledge gives me hope. That's pretty bad when you believe in gamblers more than your coach and team. At this point in the season I'll grab for any straw I can find. Regardless of how bad the season has been we always have hope. I will not pull against the Tide under any circumstances. I know people believe that more losses will cause Grant to resign or Battle to replace him. Maybe so.  But I think all of us would love to see some wins before the end of the season. The only thing I can say is the stage is set for a monumental comeback.

Bama embarrassed by Texas A & M

Where are we going? 

     Rock bottom? The Alabama Crimson Tide Men's Basketball Program continued their crimson slide last night in College Station, Texas. The final score was 63-48. That's a pretty good thumping but the score didn't reflect the embarrassing play by the Tide. In watching Alabama play basketball for 50 years I've never seen such pitiful play as last night. This has been a horrible season. Last night the Crimson Tide compiled a highlight reel of everything that is wrong with the team and program. For 30 minutes the game was competitive. Then in the last 10 minutes of the game the Anthony Grant coached team  fell apart. When the ESPN cameras panned the coaches I suddenly remembered where I'd seen these guys. The moonlight as zombies on The Walking Dead television show.  Only the coaches are far less involved with their surroundings.

        It's crystal clear that Alabama doesn't have enough talent to play in league as weak as the SEC. Rock Bottom? Check with me after the Auburn game later. The Alabama coaches sat with their heads resting in their hands and watched that last ten minutes of that debacle like they were thinking about where to submit resumes for their next job. I have  no doubt that Bill Battle will allow Grant to return for one more season and that decision will set the Tide program back five years.  Recruits will hear stories about the eminent departure  of Grant. The Tide football  program survived Mike Dubose and Mike Shula. I don't think the basketball program is that resilient. There will be some real anger among longtime fans if Grant returns. He may be a great guy, but he can't manage a basketball program like Alabama. Every player who was on the floor last night or who has transferred out is the responsibility of the coach. I'll be honest with you - I just don't get Grant at all. Algie Key shut down Marshall Henderson and helped the Tide beat Ole Miss. He was a JUCO All-American. Against TAM  he barely played.

     Last night was the first indication that the team has packed it in. I hope I'm wrong but who can blame them. Only Releford, Hale, and Taylor seemed remotely in touch with the game. Obasahan has contributed less and less as the season progresses. Levi Randolph has fallen apart. Rodney Cooper makes the worst decisions of any player I've ever seen. These three players are killing Alabama. I'm not surprised that Releford is scoring around 20 ppg. He has the talent. I'm surprised that other teams can't stop him. It's not like they have anyone else to worry about on offense. It would be easy to say all teams have bad games. The TAM gamewas worse than that. It was the first game this season where I though key players just don't care. Up until Thursday night I thought the team was trying. Some of the players are hanging in there. Hale played hard. He almost had a double double and he made the effort to draws some fouls. Jimmy Taylor played well on defense blocking several shots. Levi Randolph has lost his confidence and his game. Rodney Cooper is the worst whiner I've ever seen. Quit complaining and start playing. You are making a fool out of yourself. All of this must be hard on Trevor Releford. His classy play stands out in the SEC. If Bama was a contender he'd make some AA teams. You could see his disgust last night. He's the Captain of the Voyage of the Damned. He deserves better.

     Grant has driven this program in the ground. I supported him. I wanted him at Alabama. He was my first choice. Now, he needs to leave before he destroys the program completely. Give him one more year would be unfair to the fans, the players, and the players who came before him. He'll have more success next season if a few things fall into place. People will  start to hope again. Then... well,  you know the Mark Gottfried story. Alabama was so inept last night is was staggering. They were so unprepared it was shocking. I noticed something last night. In team huddles the players were looking away from their coach at times. That is not a good sign. In fact, there are no good signs from this team. (I exclude Releford, Hale, and Taylor from this mix.)   

Another 'Bama players leaves.

   

  How long can Alabama endure the tenure of Anthony Grant? If my count is correct the departure of Nick Jacobs means that 9 of the last 14 players signed have left the team. I have some insight into what happened on this one.  It is a lot more than Jacobs refusing to be disciplined by Grant. I hate this for Nick because one day he'll look back and regret letting his teammates down. Is there more? Sure, Nick felt like he deserved more playing time. Nick  was  very frustrated with the playing rotation. Nick also understands that Jimmy Taylor and Michaels Kessons are the future of the post play at Alabama.

     I'm not saying that Grant is fully at fault because he expects certain things from his players regarding academics. Going to class is one of those. Nick has one more year to play basketball and it looks like Alabama isn't going to be his team. Still, something is going on that is causing players to transfer. If one transfers you say 'that happens', if two go you can say it is 'coincidental',  when multitude leave you've got a problem. The only common denominator in all this is Anthony Grant.  

       Grant released the following statement "Nick and I met early this week regarding a pattern of behavior and inconsistencies with his responsibilities as a student athlete,  When addressed with these off-the-court issues, he requested a leave of absence which I granted. He and I both feel it is in his best interest to step away from the team for the immediate future. We will continue to provide Nick the support and assistance he needs to reassess his priorities and focus on his well-being." Whether its his personality,  his coaching ability, or a pervasive atmosphere of gloom, something is going on. As they say, some one's got some s'plaining to do. That someone is the head coach. Jacobs says he's taking "indefinite leave of absence" in light of his recent conversation with Anthony Grant. Perhaps another way of saying it is "I've had enough."

      I'm sure there is some  truth in what the Coach says. He has the right to do about  anything he wants to do. I really have no idea what a leave of absence means in the current situation. One thing we can all agree on is that Grant is stubborn. He's stubborn on discipline problems to the extent of inflexibility.  He is stubborn in the way he insists on the way that  the team plays. It's his way or the highway. The road as been a freeway lately. If you can't recruit enough players to be competitive and then many of them leave in disgust, mistrust,  or I've just had enough, its not good. I had high hopes for Grant. Clearly, the team doesn't relate well to their coach. I think we've all  had enough of what's going on. We need something positive to happen. I want to see our coliseum filled with fired up fans. Right now its as quiet as Grant's Tomb. 

p.s.     I have told again that Battles has no intention of firing Grant. Like him or not it appears he'll be given additional time. An indirect hint on the program. Battles urges patience in some sports.

    

Bama's comeback falls short

Tide's Fall into Oblivion Continues... 

 Releford and Hale hit three three point baskets to give Tide a lead  but   they couldn't hold on to win

             

It's so hard to watch this Bama team play. They score only 19 in the first half which was 6 less than Releford individually scored in the second half.  That great new offensive set which we saw in the Ole Miss game was discarded for Carolina. In the second half the Tide goes back to those sets and scores over 40. It's enough for a fan to set his hair on fire. Make no mistake - South Carolina is a sorry basketball team. I guess that officially makes us sorrier. The  days of Wimp Sanderson are gone, a lot of fans don't know or remember him. To those who can't never knew Wimp those were salad days. Will Bama ever return to that level?  I just don't know. Can they do that under Grant? it seem doubtful at best. 

    If this team wasn't trying so hard it would be downright embarrassing to watch them play. Somehow the team  has not quit. You haven't quit when you turn a 12 point deficit into a 4 point lead. How these kids have managed to keep the effort up is impressive. They have lost so many games at the end it is hard to believe. I do know that Alabama fans will not stand this much longer. Next up is another road game for Alabama. They haven't won a single game on the road this season.  It has been a year where two key players, Randolph and Cooper, have turned mediocre at best. Levi won't shoot the ball. Cooper doesn't understand when not to shoot the ball.  The continued development of Shannon Hale and Jimmy Taylor has been something positive. Will Bill Battle let Grant coach next season. My friend  in the AD office says he will.  TAM on the road, Missouri at home, and all the rest may see the Tide not win another game. If Alabama loses  to Auburn at home Battle will have to seriously consider replacing Coach Grant. 

    We are certainly getting some new blood  in the lineup next year, but losing Releford will be another blow. I've seen years when the Tide had losing seasons. Those were  caused by injuries. This is caused by the absolute lack of inside talent. Here's how I judge how Bama feels about Grant. The number of hits I get on my blog is down over 30 percent. This may get a lot worse before it gets  better. What a shame for Trevor Releford. What a shame for Tide fans, and what a shame for a noble institution paying this man 2 million a year. 

The good:  Bama shot 55% in second half and never quit
  
The Bad:   Releford and Cooper each missed free throws that could have sealed the win

The Ugly:  19 points in the first was laughable
 

 Can 'Bama finish strong?

   

Key's defense against Marshall Henderson helped Tide beat Ole Miss

  I was looking at Alabama's remaining schedule. Trying to project a bevy of games is next to impossible. But let's take a shot.

South Carolina - if Alabama is going to win an SEC road game this is the one.  It is always difficult for road teams to win in the conference. If Alabama plays as well as they did in the first half and last four minutes of the Ole Miss game they can win - Bama

TAM - Here is a second road game the Tide can win. I'll be more of a believer if we take the Gamecocks. Bama

Missouri - This is an interesting game. The Tide does not match up well with the Tigers. But the Tigers seem to have been struggling lately. Bama

Ole Miss - Payback is tough. Get ready. Ole Miss

Auburn - If Alabama doesn't win this game Grant should be fired. Bama

Kentucky - Have you ever seen Hell actually freeze over? Me neither.  Kentucky

Arkansas - This is a game the Tide should win at home - Bama

    Okay, clearly I've taken a very optimistic approach to the end of the season. I don't really think Bama can pull all this off, but this might happen if the stars and moon align. That means that Alabama might finish the regular season at 15-16. That is horrible by Tide standards. It also means if Alabama could win a couple of games in the SEC Tournament they might finish even. That would be a remarkable ending for this team given the lack of talent, the slumps of key players, the departure of others through transfer, and the lack of a big man.

    The Ole Miss gave me some hope that Grant has modified his offense and defense. Hale stepping forward has been nice. Getting the ball to Jacobs was fun to watch. It seems that Cooper is making some steps forward just when we need it to happen. Taylor is becoming really good under  the boards, and has shown (gasp) he can score. Releford is playing at a level just beyond the moon. We can all hope.

Releford drains one from downtown to win game...

Tide stops streak at four...

Releford, Jacobs, and Hale shine...

 

    With .06 seconds left in the second half the little man, Trevor Releford, was up to some old tricks. This one arrived in the form of a 24 foot three pointer that gave the Tide a 67-64  victory.  With the entire arena knowing who was going to take the final shot, Grant chose to pass the ball to Cooper on the wing. The Rebels bit and gave Releford just enough room to hit the winner. It was a gusty call on the part of Grant. It was a picture pure shot by Releford.  The player guarding him? How about Marshall Henderson?  He got schooled by a classy player. The Tide now stands at 10-14 (4-7).  The Tide is fighting to keep out of positions 13 or 14 for the SEC Tournament. 

        You have to feel a lot of admiration for the Tide. The jumped out to a big lead for a change. They then saw that lead dissolve and the Rebels took their first second-half lead with 9:46 left in the game on a   LaDarius White triple.That's when Releford and Jacobs took over. The lefty made some strong hook shots. Releford drove down the lane time and time again. Those drives down the paint left Ole Miss players caught flat footed and probably a little bit in awe. Releford put the Tide back ahead with some masterful moves before his final shot. In the Henderson/Releford showdown it was all Trevor. He finished with a game high 26 points. Although Algie Key failed to score he shut down Henderson holding him to only 14 points. Henderson won a few battles with Key but lost the war to the Alabama junior. Key may have found himself a new role on this team with his strong effort. None of the late games heroics would have been possible with the 18 points and 8 points from Nick Jacobs who dominated the inside during the first half. Shannon Hale finished with 15 points and 3 assists. I thought his aggressive play in the first half set the tone for game

 Alabama lost the lead but not their poise...

       Alabama had a five point lead late in the game.  It didn't last.Ole Miss got an offensive rebound off a missed free throw and Marshall Henderson made a three pointer. Summers hit two free throws to tie the game at 64. That set up the Releford winner. Number 12 scored 21 of his 26 in the second half. Bama's defense which had been missing in action held the Rebels to 64 points. That's a number which means that Alabama generally wins a game. Coach Grant had his team switching off screens to try to cut down the deadly three point Rebel game instead of fighting through them. It is something that most coaches don't like doing because of the pick and roll mismatches. On the offensive end it was clear that Alabama was going to force the action inside instead of passively settling for three point shots. Hale, in  particular, took the ball inside early in the game. Poor free throw shooting by Alabama kept the Rebels in the game. It all came down to one classy little guard shooting a bomb to win the game. The fact that the shot sailed over the outstretched arms of a less than classy opponent made it all the sweeter.

    The Tide could have rolled over and died. Instead, the Tide got up and fought back to tie the game and win. Bama made some significant coaching moves in this game. All in all it was a good game and should give Bama some hope for the remainder of the year.

Grant to remain as head coach

Anthony Grant to return for another season...

    

According to a source close to the AD and basketball program I have been told that Coach Grant will have at least one more season. When I asked if as collapse of the remainder of the season would cause that to change - here's what I was told, " I see no circumstance under which Anthony would no be  back next season."

     This man has never misled or lied to me. I think most of us thought this was the likely outcome for the program. Without going into specifics the powers to be expect some substantial improvement next season.  Do not expect any statement from the University on this topic

THE CHINA SYNDROME

In Baseball they always fire the Manager...

   In baseball when the owner gets dissatisfied with the progress of the team he just fires the manager. Often, there is no real reason to do so. Things are going bad and something has to be done. I'm seen Coach Grant try to coach a team that is only slightly more talented than a good JUCO team. He can do everything a coach can do to win and still lose. Grant's problem has been recruiting.
  

    We signed a top 15 class and three of the best outside shooters in America. I saw one poll that said Bama had signed the 6th best shooters, and another said the 3rd best. Either way, that's really outstanding. So the question that Bill Battles is going to have to face after the most disastrous season in modern Alabama basketball is this - do I fire the manager. I personally think that Coach Grant has reached the "China Syndrome" meltdown point. I really want a coach that can take us back  to Wimp Sanderson's level. That is a very high level. The two transfers coming in averaged over 13 ppg at their first Universities. So they have experience. That will help get back to a better level

   What was that old proverb that Shakespeare used in Richard III "For want of the nail the shoe was lost, for want of the shoe the horse was lost?..." In the end the battle was lost and the kingdom was lost as well. The nail here is a dominant big man. All of this nonsense we are going through today was because we didn't recruit another big man. Gueye wasn't great but he could intimidate in the middle and rebound. Taylor is to slim and weak to intimidate anyone this season. He is getting better but the season is lost. So what does Battle do? Does he give Grant another year and hope that Jacobs and Taylor have some akin to Saul on the road to Damascus? Or will Michael Kessens turn out to be the answer? My guess is that Kessens who was selected as the Mid-Major Freshman of the year will get the job done. Kessens is 6-9 and looks to weigh about 220. That might be 235 by next season as he hits the weight room. I'll say that in scrimmages he dominates our inside players right now. Had he been able to play this season Grant might be a hero.

     Releford leaves. He's a tough one to replace. Fortunately, Alabama signed one of the best point guards in America. Justin Coleman will carry on the Alabama tradition of having great point guards. He's the most exciting player I've seen come out of Birmingham in a long, long time. Riley Norris narrowed his final two choices to Florida and Alabama. Devin Mitchell, who is a little less known had Georgia and Alabama as the last two schools on his wish list. Of the three, Mitchell is the best shooter. Mitchell is one of the best high school shooters I've eve seen. Alabama can teach him to play defense but no one would ever consider messing with his step-away jump shot. The future for Alabama looks much brighter next year. I think if Grant stays we make the NCAA field for sure. I think a new coach would come here with so many good players he will start to drool. Any coach who might consider Alabama would look at the next years crop and be blown away. Stay or go it really won't matter. I'd like a new coach for a lot of reasons. Grant makes some coaching errors. All coaches do. But to backhand him as a bad coach is just plain incorrect. I'd vote for a new coach like the opt for new managers in baseball. But if Anthony stays we'll be good.

Bama plays better but comes up short again...

The Wal-Mart team pulled one off.

 

       No knock from me on the loss to Arkansas. We played a good game. It wasn't perfect but it was almost good enough to win. The defensive effort was great. Every once in a while a player, like Portis, will go crazy. They guy played a super game. It helped that we don't have a big man who is mobile enough to really contest his shooting. The zone worked. Period. If we had played Arkansas in a man all game we would have been run out of Bud Walton Arena. The officiating certainly helped Arkansas but the home team  usually gets all the calls. Tonight was no exception.

    I thought our players were ready to play and they gave it their best effort. We just can't score because we don't have the talent. Shannon Hale was aggressive. He didn't do a lot but he set a tone that said Bama wasn't backing down. Rodney Cooper finally played a really good game. I'd say great in fact. Releford played well, but it wasn't his best game. Retin Obasahan is like a two year old in a candy store. He is completely out of control. His mad dash to basket when the Tide was down three was really stupid. I know he got fouled but you just aren't going to get those calls on the road. At that point in the game only two players should have shot the ball - Releford or Cooper. I have no idea what has happened to Levi Randolph. He was reckless and played like a freshman. His insistance to take the ball to the goal was ill advised. He has a very nice pull up 10 foot jump shot. He didn't use it when  we needed it.

    You can disparage Grant all you want but this one was well coached. Players make the plays. The coaches put them in the position to do that. Grant's defense was stifling. The offense is woefully inept.  You can teach someone to play defense when you don't have talent. You just can't teach that level of play on offense  Here's how close we are to being good - One decent inside player whose middle name is "you come inside the paint and you'll feel it tomorrow." We also need a couple of decent offensive threats from the outside. They are coming next season. I saw a team tonight that wouldn't quit, and a bunch of kids who gave it all they had.  They just don't have enough. I saw a coach who is in pain watching his team play because he knows he has no vital  options. Bama played good basketball for 38 minutes in a 40 minute game. On the road that just won't work. I don't think we have the players to play that 40 minute game and it isn't the fault of the players. The are pressing and forcing and not allowing the game to come to them.  This is a going to go down as a horrible season. If Releford continues his play, Cooper keeps it up, and one other player steps up to the plate we might win a couple of more gae

Tennessee humbles Tide with strong second half

Once again the Tide starts in a hole...

 

   

       

Bama started the UT game by spotting the Big Orange a 9-0 lead.  This was act two of the Auburn debacle. The Tide cut the lead to 9-8 only to watch Tennessee became strong inside and outside games systematically carve the Crimson to nothing but bone. When it was all over the Vols had handed the Tide humbling 76-59. This one was at home in Coleman. The Tennessee team dominated every aspect of the game. They out shot the Tide. Pulled down more rebounds, outscored the Tide off turnovers, beat us from the free throw line and would have won the Wheel of Fortune game had their been one. After the laughable effort in the Auburn game one might have believe that Bama would have come out chomping at the bit to start the game.  Once again, the Tide looked like a horse on the way to the glue factory. Once again an embarrassing effort.  It's hard to understand the lack of focus and effort.

       Give credit to the Tide for making a brief second half run when the cut the lead to 52-50. It looked like the game was on. From that point on the Crimson Tide looked more like the Keystone Kops than basketball players. it is clear that Levi Randolph and Rodney Cooper have lost their faith in the ability to make shots. At one point in the firs half Releford openly chastised Cooper for not taking a shot. Look, I could right a thousand things the team is doing wrong. Not only is there a lack of talent, there is a lack  of chemistry and some really poor coaching. Find a fork, stick it in the team, because they seem to be done.  I'm not going to harangue on the to chance coaches. Even a blind man can see that. But I am stunned at the lack of effort and team play among certain members of this team. Kudos for a couple of the Tide players for getting in the faces of Volunteer players on nasty plays. What can you say? We are worse than bad. You feel in the word. I'm out of word and out of hope for this team. They need a win in the worse way. I just don't think they can win a game with this attitude and lineup. After six decades of watching Tide round ball this is the worst. I'll give you my list of coaching hopefuls for the after Coach Grant sadly leaves.