Part II - Who to hire if Battle makes a change...

 

Michigan Head Coach Jim Beilien

    A couple of days ago I laid out some of the problems we might have in hiring a new coach if the AD makes that decision. It probably goes without saying, but it seems most fans have had enough of what is going on in basketball under Anthont Grant. I finally threw my hat in that ring. I did so reluctantly because I want Grant to succeed. Things don't look good for the program right now, and this weekend isn't likely make things better. If we play Kentucky within 15 in Lexington I'd be surprised. I'd be surprised if anyone played UK close in Lexington now that they have gotten better. Just to make things harder, Ricky Tarrant is sitting it out in Lexington.

         In Part One, I suggested what it would take for Alabama to make a quick impact in the NCAA, by hiring a big name coach. Someone asked me who'd I'd hire if the choice was mine. So, if I was king for a day I'd really make a pitch to Michigan head coach Jim Beilien. He won the Big Ten Championships in 2012 and 2014. He took a team to the Final Four. He's 61 which is the new 51, and has a good 10 years left to coach. Another name that intrigues me is Mark Few of Gonzaga. He isn't a well known coach east of the Mississippi because Gonzaga plays it games in PCT. I am particularly impressed with how he puts together his team. Gregg Marshall is a very familiar name to Tide fans because of our recent past with Wichita State. I seriously doubt we could ever get Beilien to leave Michigan. Few, who is a really big time coach who might consider going to the SEC as a step down. He certainly has built his own little kingdom in Spokane. Gregg Marshall is a really good coach. He seems to take very average players and turns them into outstanding teams. That might be really good for the Tide program. I like the approach that Few takes. He looks at the long term development of players and chooses people he thinks will stay four years. Beilien is just a flat out coach from the bench. Michigan is having a sub-standard year due to departures to the NBA and losing two good senior players. The Wolverines are now 13-8, and recently took Wisconsin to overtime, and are tied for second in their league. The last name is Shaka Smart. He might not be considered a big name coach to the public. To the coaching ranks he is big time Those are the big name coaches I'd like to look at Bama when the time comes. I don't think we could get them to Tuscaloosa. Rank them?

1. Few - might be best coach in the NCAA overall
2. Beilien - great recruiter and highly regarded by peers
3. Smart - here's a man who would excite Tide fans
4  Marshall - He is straight to the point guy

Gonzaga's Mark Few

My gut feeling is that Shaka Smart is the best fit because of the style of play his teams play. Just because he is at VCU is not factor in my mind. I'd be happy with any of those guys. Those are long shots. I think a lot of our fans are starting to understand the precarious situation our program is in. Add to the fact that basketball coaches tend to think their sport is the biggest sport on campus and that might make someone think twice about coming to a football school. To get a big name coach it will take $$$$ and a commitment from Battle to make basketball a serious priority. That means a new facility. I don't think Alabama will spend the money, Battle hasn't shown me (yet) and that basketball will ever be more than an afterthought. How many people in Alabama really care that basketball could be important?  A lot on the forum posters perhaps.  The only think worst than the pot shots forum posters take at one another,  is their total their lack of understanding about basketball as a sport. Someone reminded me the other day that research shows about 80% of all posters on blog sites are negative. I can sure see that. 


So if we can't get a big name coach, or we won't try, where do we go? That next logical step would be a current head coach who is doing well, but hasn't made it to big name status. The field is wide open on this one. There might be dozens of current coaches who would jump to Alabama if the money is right. Everyone can name their favorite choice, and I see a lot of people on TI do that. Most all of them are good choices. We'd have to pay them good money. I'm talking Grant type money. Throw in a five year contract to boot, and we'd get a perfectly acceptable coach. Then it's wait and see how that works. That is what we did in securing Anthony Grant. From references to past records, there was nothing that might make anyone doubt his chance at success. I know he has had some bad luck, but the number of transfers out of the program is disturbing. The inconsistent play have made fans leery of keeping him any longer. Talk to most, including me, and I get this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach thinking he might stay. Sources in the AD department tell me he's going to get another year regardless. You really knows?

Marshall has a Saban-like personality

If you look around the SEC you'll find that Grant isn't the only one from this category that is struggling. Who is doing well?  The answer to that is not many. We aren't in this boat alone. That's why getting the right coach is so important. A great coach might lift us from average to really good quickly. Quick cannot come to any Alabama fan fast enough. This season isn't over, but if we now win 20 I'd be surprised.  I thought we could win 20 a week or so ago, and then Auburn and Florida came to town. We were lucky to split. It alarmed me that Auburn ever got in a position where they might win. It really surprised me that Grant's team looked so unprepared that they got down 13 against Florida, particular considering the lackluster start with AU. 13 is a big number to come back against a team as sound as Florida is defensively. There are times when you keep a guy too long and you pay forever. That is my fear for the Tide. 

Part III and a report on the UK game this weekend. Part III lays out the ultimate gamble you might take.

The four listed above - Any of these guys would give us one of the top three coaches in the SEC in my opinion.

First half of Auburn and Florida convince me...

Battles must make a change to save program

 

 

Good man in a bad position for him and supporters

Once again it was a tale of two halves. This time the come-back fell short. Earlier in the week I said that if Florida got off to a quick start they had too much talent for us to come back. For a few minutes it seemed my prediction was wrong. Alabama fought back to 47-47. I was impressed with their effort. The problem is that basketball has only one score in the end. The Tide lost a heart breaker 52-50, primarily because we looked like the worst basketball team in the history of bad basketball teams in the first half.

The game was essentially over when Jimmy Taylor go two earlier charging fouls. By the way if you look at the replays of those calls it is unmistakably that blocking should have been called. The same official made three horrendous calls in the first half. The two charges on Taylor, and the foul called on Levi Randolph which gave Florida three foul shots. The review wasn’t about whether there was foul. It was about whether the player got 2 or 3 freebies. All in all it was not a good way to start a game you could have won. Grant seemed to be clueless about how to attack the Florida zone. If the SEC gave an award for useless passing on the perimeter we would be an unfortunate lock.

I have tried really hard to find some middle ground this season regarding Coach Grant. I’m finished supporting him now. . The first half was the most horrid basketball coaching I’ve ever seen. We played a little better the second half, but honestly our defense caused some turnovers to let us get back in the game. Our offense was still ham-fisted. In other words, we stunk up the joint. At least the crowd was small and the embarrassment was reduced. I’m well aware that we have lost several close games. And if you want to do time travel math we could easily be 17-4. But then there is nothing such as time travel math. What we are left with is a free falling span of 4 losses in the last 5 games. Not only could we have won those four games, I’d argue we should have won 3 of them. Now we get to go to Lexington. Talk about salt in the wound. I’m also aware we have improved in some areas. You can’t overlook the fact that the SEC is a weak league, however. Predictably, there are going to be a lot of close game. Here is why having a great coach in basketball is key. In hoops you have a great coach and some talent you can win big. If you have an average coach and some talent you’re dead. Last season, Florida is an example. This season, Florida will still be an example now that the team has assimilated four new starters.

I don’t know how you feel, but what we should do and what we end up doing, is getting to be a time-worn phrase. How long do we have to listen to press conferences all sound the same? As we say in the country – that dog just don’t hunt. None of remarks are directed at our fine young men who play for our team. I know most of them personally and they are fine individuals. What I do feel for them and for the Bama Nation having to live with this mediocrity. Also, we have to live with the dispassionate attitude of the coach. Grant showed a little emotion when the Levi Randolph foul was called. That would have been a perfect time to insure your team that you weren’t going to take such nonsense. I’m talking about a full Bobby Knight. Instead, Grant made a verbal protest, showed his displeasure and turned back into his usual self. We were playing so poorly what difference would it had made? Of course, Grant would argue that could have turned into a 8 point play when the dust cleared. I don’t think the officials respect Grant. We can’t even get calls on our home floor. How does that happen? I’ll tell you how. It means the refs don’t respect the coach and the home crowd just isn’t going to go “throw paper on the floor” ballistic. Who knows what would have happened if Grant got tossed? I guess that would be time travel thinking?

What we watched in the first half of the Auburn and Florida was just a future glimpse of what we’ll see in the future of Alabama basketball. That is my biggest concern. We have three decent recruits coming in. I think two of them are underrated. Hall is now 6-10 according to his high school coach. That would give the Tide three decent inside players if they can get stronger and meaner. I wish they played with the intensity of Riley Norris under the boards. That kid is has the mentality missing with our post players. I think he may very well have the mentality missing in our head coach. None of this means that Grant can’t get things turned around. I just don’t think we have 40 years to wander around trying to find the Promised Land.

In one game the cameras panned Wimp Sanderson. You didn’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to see what was on his mind. Honestly, Grant has reached a point where fans just have given up on him. As much as I love Alabama basketball it is getting to painful to even watch. We had 11 turnovers in an eight minute stretch against a team playing a zone defense. Hoover High School would have had less. I’ll say this – if the shot clock is eliminated and we can run the four corners offense we set to go right now. Humiliating, excruciating, embarrassing, mortifying, or demeaning would all sound about right. Mr. Battles, if you have any love for you fans and your players it is time to put an end to all this nonsense. I am not fluent in coach speak but I am very fluent in fed up talk. We are going to win some more games and then the talk about giving another season or two, or letting him work out his contract will start all over. When the Kentucky game is over, assuming they don’t have a mercy rule, you will have the greatest opportunity to end the pain and misery. I have to think all of this is uncomfortable for Coach Grant at well.

Roll Tide Roll

So I’m a fan who did over 200 radio shows promoting Grant in place of Gottfried. I’m stunned we are where we are. I never saw this coming. Now, six years later I can tell you exactly what’s coming – the absolute collapse of Tide Hoops. We are on the edge of collapse of the program for a long time.  Ask LSU and Arkansas if that can happen. This program has reached the point of critical mass. Are we going to make the needed change or have a “China Syndrome” meltdown?

 

 

 

Alabama hopes to snap the Gator chomp...
Losing sneak is now nine games...



        Here's an interesting fact. Anthony Grant has never beaten his old coach, Billy Donavon. The number now stands at 9. Florida is 3-3 in the league and is only 10-9 overall. This seems like the game to end the streak, but never count out Billy D. The line opened with the Tide being a 2 point favorite but has swung to the Gators being the favorite by 1.

       Alabama is also 3-3 in the league, but is a respectable 13-6 overall. Florida's RPI is 85. That's nowhere near the lofty Florida standards. Their non-conference RPI is only 96. However; the SOS is 25. How does that compare with the Crimson Tide? Their RPI is a solid 45 and non-league is a very average 63. The Tide checks in with an overall 40 on their SOS. Florida has played a more difficult schedule but have few wins to show for their efforts. The one area that Tide fans should remember is this stat - Alabama's non-conference SOS is a lackluster 128. Florida's is 23. Therein lies the difference between the two schools. Florida has played a much tougher schedule. I hate the RPI. It can be so misleading at times. In applying the eyeball test, which I favor, the Gators are probably a little better than the Tide. Since the game will be played in the vacant confines of Coleman Coliseum, the normal home-court advantage with not be as significant. It would be enough to make this a pick 'em game at least.

       Streaks are funny things. The main reason that the Gators have won 9 in a row over Bama is talent. They have had a lot more than the Tide. The other reason is that Florida plays terrific defense. This season is no different. They always have great athletes and really good players. This season the edge is pretty close. I give the Gators a slight edge. Very slight. Florida also has four new starters. Only the sharpshooting Michael Frazier returns. He is averaging 13.9 per game. This kid can fill it up from the outside. If he gets it going then the Tide is in trouble. Frazier is 6-4 which means that Rodney Cooper will have a win span advantage at least. What the Gators like to do is dribble penetrate and kick back to Frazier. If he has time to set and shoot he'll kill you.

     The second scorer for Florida has been Dorian Finney-Smith who knocks down 13.7 ppg. He's 6-8 and is a good rebounder. He has improved a lot since the season started according to his coach. Jon Horford, the younger brother of Al, is 6-10, 245 pound senior. I'd expect Taylor to match with him when the Tide goes Man. Five Star recruit Kasey Hill plays the point and he's averaging 4.5 assist per game. Eli Cooper, who is a combo guard, rounds out the starters.

    Florida extended their SEC winning streak to 24 after winning the first three SEC games. They've now lost four in a row. The Gators had Ole Miss on the ropes in Oxford last week before falling by one point. They lost to a much improved Georgia team in Athens, and took one on the chin when they lost to LSU by 18 in Gainesville. That was a major shocker to Florida fans.

    The truth about tonight's game is that it is extremely important to Alabama. Florida is not going to make the NCAA field unless they get on a winning streak of major proportions, and other teams slip. It's possible, it isn't probable. Alabama still has some dim hopes of making the NCAA. A win tonight move the Tide to 14-6. There are lot of games left. If the Tide can get to 20 in the regular season and wins a couple in the SEC Tournament they can get in. 22 wins is cinch in my opinion. But the Tide can't slip up tonight. Against Auburn, Kessens was limited, Tarrant got into foul trouble, and Norris caught two early fouls, and Bama never got in an offensive flow. We've talked about their fatigue earlier this week. I personally think this is a key game for the Tide. Beating Florida, for Alabama, would be huge. Grant beating Donavon would be a relief. Anytime the pupil beats his teacher it feels great. Heck, it'd make Billy happy as well. He's that kind of guy.

Keys to winning:

1.  Shoot 20 free throws and make 75% or better;

2.  Good perimeter defense to keep Taylor alive and well.

3.  Try to establish something, anything, a nibble or crumb inside; or,
     flatten out the defensive wings to create some space for the guards
     inside.

4.  Where ever Michael Frazier spots up don't leave him. If someone slips pas
     the zone do not collapse to help inside. Find Frazier and deny him the ball.
     
5.  Keep the turnovers down to 5 a half. Come out hard and determined.

6.  I'd like to see Coach Grant ask Levi to shoot a lot more.

7.  Crash the boards the entire game. 

There is nothing that we need to do that might be unusual. We just need to play our hard nosed defense, rebound better, and try to take of the ball. Maybe we make some outside shots which would be nice. I believe that Florida is going to use a match up zone to try to keep our guards out of the paint. 

Trying to predict a winner when Alabama plays is an exercise in futility. We know what we need to do. The question is, as always, will we do that. I expect to see a big game out of Tarrant, Cooper, and Randolph. Anything else we get on the offensive end is gravy. It's time for Kessens to get tough. He's way to soft around the basket. Taylor has no back down in him. That is what Kessens can learn from his teammate. 

    

What if Alabama hired new head coach?
Would that bring success...

      Right off the bat let me say that I am not advocating the firing of Anthony Grant. There is so just so much hatred and animosity built up within the fan base. Maybe we should all take a breathe and consider what happens if Grant leaves. The opinion piece is not about why or why not Grant should stay or leave. Let's just pretend that some day, perhaps soon, that Bill Battle wants to go in a different direction. Would hiring a new coach be a magical move to insure success. Of course not, it might be even worse. Success isn't like putting on a new coat and tie you just bought down at the local clothing store. Sure, it might look nice, but how will it look in a couple of years. Let's look at this scenario for the sake of argument.

April 2016 - Anthony Grant announces he is leaving Alabama. Failing to get a team in either the '15 or '16 NCAA Tournament led Grant to make the decision. " I want to thank all the wonderful people who gave me this opportunity to coach at the University of Alabama. The community welcomed our family and we grew to love Tuscaloosa. The terrible tornado that ripped into our hometown gave my family a strong sense of belonging. I am regretful that we were unable to provide the type of teams the fans wanted and deserved. There comes a time when regardless of how much you want to succeed we fall short. I fell short, but gave it my best effort. Thank you for your support."

April 2016 - Fans are placated with the departure of Anthony Grant. Speculation runs wild about who will be the next head coach. Everyone has an opinion, but no one actually knows who the next coach might be. It will be difficult to find the right man.

May 2016 - The Board of Trustees, having already named a search committee, meets with that group to talk about the candidates. They also will report, as part of their mandate, what it will take for Alabama to be successful. That encompasses more than just a hiring change.  John Smith, head of the Committee starts his report with this reminder. "You selected me, and this committee to make serious recommendations for both a coach and the road to success for Alabama basketball. We have taken this job seriously. There has been spirited debate among the Committee as to who our next coach will be, how much should he be paid, is the candidate the right to lead us into the next era of basketball at the Capstone? Some of what I say will not be popular. Some may not be feasible at this time, but everything we recommend is necessary to meet your goals." With that being said, John Smith, turns the floor over Mike Jones, an ex-player, and successful businessman. "as it relates to hiring a new coach there seemed to be three distinct paths to follow: 1. Do we hire a big name coach with a similar reputation as Nick Saban? 2. Do we find a current coach who is successful at his current job and pay him enough to come to Alabama?" 3. Do we find a bright young head coach at a lower level who we think can win at the SEC level? All of these choices have their good and bad points. If we hire a coach in the first category we will have to pay that individual a minimum of five-million dollars a year for a five year contract, and no buy out clause.

You might ask us why we should pay that type of money for basketball? The answer is three-fold. 1. that kind of money is needed to attract a top coach. 2. That amount of money is not a lot higher than some coaches make now. 3. The basketball program has descended into a state of irrelevance, and will require a lengthy period of time to recover regardless of who we name.

A top coach will have a national recruiting base as opposed to a regional basis as matters stand now, Alabama is simply not an attractive destination to young men wanting to further their careers at the next level. It will take someone with a national reputation to re-establish our program. That is a sad but honest appraisal. He will not come cheaply, and he will demand an increase in his recruiting budget, and some better facilities. We will address that later. College basketball has evolved to a point of lesser regional loyalty. We can longer assume or expect top local prospects to come to the University due to growing up in Alabama or the South. The new campus in America is ESPN and all their reporting, and game telecasts. As ESPN and like networks expand their coverage they are going to look at perennial winners, and larger markets. Exposure is guaranteed with a big name coach. So does the likelihood of success.

We also think that from a cost benefit analysis basis such a hire will be less expensive. Game day revenues will expand, merchandise is more marketable, and large donors will give more to a defined winning program. Each of us should remember the effect that Saban had on our revenue stream. Alabama is a brand name. There is no reason not cash in on that brand in basketball as well. The initial expense will be high. The end result will be higher

He went on to say, "it's all about a serious decision to elevate basketball at Alabama or not". In essence he went on to say that Alabama had merely paid lip service to basketball over the past decade or so. "To be a real contender in basketball you have to have a total commitment to the process", he said. The renovation of Coleman Coliseum was a monumental error in judgment" he added. "If you serious want to contend for the SEC Championship, NCAA Tournament, and go after the really big recruits you'll have to publically make an announcement of your intent.' Football produces enough revenue to make that happen. We can do that without jeopardizing the football program." To conclude his comments on option one - "there is no middle ground. We have to jump in the deep end of the pool. We are not just Alabama football, but are Alabama period, and that includes basketball."  The room became very quiet. A few mummers were heard, and then a trustee raised his hand and said, "do you realize how much that would cost us?"  The member replied "do you know how much it cost us to not do that in terms of revenue and national brand."  We are no longer relevant in college basketball. There is simply no other way to express that regardless of how it sounds". We are not sure we can find such a coach unless he is convinced we can put our money where our mouths have been for far to long." 

"We need to build a new facility just for basketball. I'm not talking about 15-20 thousand seats. We need maybe 10-12K. Demand will cause revenue to soar as the team wins. We have to do that or we fail. And it to put it bluntly -  our arch-rival has done it why can't we". Getting top name coach will not be easy at a football school. But I don't believe it is an issue of having one at the expense of the other. We have all seen what has happened at Auburn after they hired Bruce Pearl. To put it bluntly, they are the best basketball program in the State, and will continue to be until we make a decision to end that run. But we need to do that with more than an ad hoc approach. We need to build, fund, supply, promote, and support our basketball program with the same type vigor as we do football. Attracting the head coach we need will simply not happen because we are Alabama. We need someone who will take up the challenge of making Alabama tantamount Alabama football, or as close as he can make that happen. Thank you your attention and love for our University. Roll Tide.

My point is hiring a really great coach will not solve all of our problems in basketball. It is a great start, but why not commit to something even greater. Something with a vision to the future.

Tomorrow: The Florida game
Later this week: The additional two approaches to rebuilding Alabama football



 

Auburn at Bama - A Second Look


       The team Alabama had on the floor in the last 6:20 played pretty darn  well. Levi Randolph has excellent hands. He stole a backdoor pass when Harrell was open. I have no idea why Bruce Pearl was running back door plays for a guard. But, thank you Bruce. Alabama played with a sense of urgency down the stretch but they weren't forcing shots. Anyone who has ever played the game of basketball knows how hard that is to do. Credit to the Tide for running their offense and taking good shots. More credit to Levi Randolph for creating some good shots. 

       Putting Cooper on Harrell was a smart move. That was a coaching move and credit to the staff. Coopers length caused the Tigers leading scorer to alter shots. He missed more than he made. He also played out of control in the last three minutes. That's the time  of a close game where the brain quits working for most players. It's also the time of the game  where great players see things in slow motion. I bet Levi would tell you that himself. Randolph played with a composure and confidence lacking last season. I wish he'd double his shots. It was a great comeback. It also happened with Tarrant  on the bench. 

     After watching the last 6 minutes Coach Grant made a couple of defensive and offensive moves I failed to see while watching the game. On offensive, Grant effectively thinned out an area in the paint for Randolph to operate. When the Tigers moved up to stop him he dumped a pass down low. After that, the Tigers seemingly decided to give up the easy baskets and concentrate on shutting down Randolph. They did neither.Randolph scored 11 points. And Cooper and Kessens had a couple of easy chances down low.  Cooper's rebound off a missed shot was the winner.  The Auburn players were watching the ball in the air, but Cooper was looking for position. That is smart play under a lot of pressure. Auburn committed the same error that Alabama made Fayetteville to lose that game. 

    It was pretty clear that the Tide was leg weary the entire game. Sloppy execution is usually the result of fatigue. The purpose of a full court press to to tire the other team down. It's not to force turnovers per se.  I hope we get to look back at the game and see it mattered a lot for post season play. Next is Florida. At least the Gators don't get an extra day of rest. I'm not sure how Florida is going to react after losing to Ole Miss. They are out of NCAA competition. Donovan is a great coach. If anyone can get the ready he's the man. One thing the Tide learned from the game on Saturday. You have to play hard from the start. If Alabama starts off with a lackluster beginning I'd bet they don't have enough to beat the Gators. 

Randolph leads comeback...
COOPER'S PUT BACK IS THE WINNER

Randolph had a night to remember

         What do you say after last night's 57-55 win? The Tide was completely out played until the 6:20 mark of the second half. Aubie got a shot clock violation, and after that it was all Tide. To be precise,  it was the Levi Randolph show. The senior rallied his teammates for one final push. In the last 6 minutes the Tide finally started to show some energy, and it was just enough to win. Randolph scored 11 of his teams last 16 points. Included in that number was a great steal when Levi left his man, and jumped a passing lane for a steal. The subsequent dunk woke up an Alabama crowd who was fearing he worse. It was a fitting end for the senior guard and team captain. It was also the stuff of legends. 

    Lost in the happiness, or perhaps relief, you cannot overlook the fact that Alabama coaches put a team on the floor devoid of preparation. Frankly, what Tide fans witnessed the majority of game was completely ineptness. Tide faithful watched their worst nightmare unfolding. It seemed the coaching staff had no answers. Even Ricky Tarrant, who has been a stalwart this season, lost his composure, got two technical fouls, and a free bus ride home. His play, which was a complete departure from his regular game, summed up the Tide. They were out-hustled, clearly out-coached, and uptight. If you want to find a silver lining in last night it was that Alabama played as bad as a team could play, and still prevail.  When it mattered most, Levi Randolph led his team out of the abyss and into the light.  

   I want to point out that Alabama shot over 50% in the second half. They also had no turnovers the last 7 minutes, after handing them out like free candy the rest of the game. The Tide didn't panic when Tarrant left. Justin Coleman came in and ran the show. He didn't make any of his patented long range rainbows, but he settled the team down,  got the offense back on track, and did his job. Tarrant's second technical was something I've never seen before. The refs called a foul on Auburn, and after review,  took that foul away, and let Auburn shoot free throws. The referees finally realized that Tarrant had to leave. Bruce Pearl had to point that out. The officiating in the SEC has reached a level of complete comedy this season. Auburn got their share of bad calls as well. It was an equal opportunity meltdown by three men who lost control of the game. The constant whistle blowing not only made for disjointed play but kept the players on edge. No one understood exactly what was going to be called. Horrible. 

    So Anthony Grant escaped the full blown anger of what would have happened if the Tide lost. I want to be very clear about one thing. I think that Grant had little to do with the comeback. That was Randolph and his teammates. I'd give Grant this. He has three games in six days and that is ridiculous on the part of the SEC. Alabama won't practice today, but they'll watch video of the Florida. They will wear those astounding body compressors, soak in a little ice water and count their blessing. Bama moves the 13-6. Auburn is a very bad basketball team. Pearl got a lot out of a little talent. Keep this in mind for all those who wanted Pearl at the Capstone. Bama kept the Auburn big men from going wild, shut down the top scorer after his two early three point baskets, and caused more turnovers than any team can endure. Let's keep in mind that despite all the problems, the defense gave up only 55 points. We actually out boarded the Tigers which was key. There were some good things. There was a disconnect between our coach and what was going on in the game in my opinion. Bama won, and in that's all that matters. I think Grant lost more ground with the fans last night.  I'm not saying that matters or was fair. It is what it simply is. The fans want someone who can win big at Bama.  Maybe that's Grant. Perhaps it's not not. I'm just glad the game was over. It could have been a lot worst. 

 

 

Tide gets ready for Auburn tonight...
Pearl vs. Grant: Round One

 

   Is today the most important game for Anthony Grant since he arrived at the Capstone? If you listen to a lot of fans there is no doubt that a loss to Auburn will set off a hell storm of "fire him today" posts. I don't know whether that is fair or not, but I believe it is true. It's also a story that simply cannot ignored or glossed over as some of the large state newspapers have done. It's Alabama vs. Auburn and that brings the fringe fans in from the curb to voice their opinions. There is absolutely no one who should say that Alabama is a bad team, or they haven't improved from last season. But Auburn doesn't bring out level headed thinking, nor should it do so. This is rivalry. This is one of those games when the Tigers hit the number 44 on the scoreboard you are going to hear some noise.But this is one game where everyone is an Anthony Grant fan. If you aren't then you aren't a Tide fan in my eyes.

  Big game for NCAA hopes tonight...

    Alabama opened the SEC with two wins, and then lost three. The loss to South Carolina was one that we should have won. I'm just glad Kentucky has gone home, and the Tide lost an heartbreaker to Arkansas on the road. I don't have to cow tail to the SEC like big time media so I will say we got hosed by the refs. he Tide lost four starters in the Arkansas game on a lot of bad calls, a whole lot of bad calls.  Did the officiating lose that game? Probably it did. It was as bad as anything I've ever seen. But as an Alabama fan I was still proud of our team for hanging. I was happy we could put five on the floor for the start of the overtime. 

 

This Tide coach cannot lose to Auburn...

   Alabama can lose the KU, Arkansas, and South Carolina and fans aren't happy. We are just a second or two away from being 4-1 in conference play. You might not take any solace in that statement, but we are not a bad eam. We aren't a good team either. We are right on the edge of being good or being bad, and as odd as that may sound it is ture. The Tide is 12-6. One game you cannot lose in any season is to Auburn at home. This game is electrified by the return of Bruce Pearl, who may be a jerk of a human to many, but he can coach. Today, they aren't grading on character only points scored. Many fans continue to write that 'Bama should have hired Bruce Pearl. Are you serious? This man could go right into snake oil sales after coaching and not miss a beat. I would compare him to a used car salesman but I don't want to demean those guys. Like him, or hate him, here he comes. Of all the things that Pearl needs to do to establish a better program is to beat Alababam and Coach Grant. That is the apex of his goals this season. He needs to beat Grant twice. He knows that he can stab a dagger in the heart of our head coach with those wins.

    On the opposite side of the coin, Coach Grant knows this is probalbly the biggest game of the season. A lot of people think that Grant is finished with a loss and a stumbling finish to the season. I don't think that will happen, but I hope and pray the Tide wins just so I can enjoy reading the forum on TiderInsider in relative peace. Regardless, this is the very definition of a must win game for the Tide. They need to stay in the SEC race, the NCAA hunt, and to keep a house from becoming divided.  Abraham Lincoln said that a house divided will not stand, and that is where we are in our basketball program. I personally am pleased with the coaching of Grant this season, but he still hasn't signed any truly dominant big men. So who should win today?

Some Keys to winning...

• Alabama is a better team in my opinion. 
• Auburn has better offensive players
• Bama has a much better defense.
• Auburn can rebound
• Alabama is one of the poorest reboundng teams I've ever seen 
• Alabama has the best leadership
• Auburn has been together long enough to find any real cohesion.
• Alabama finally had a game where they made some three point shots.
• Justin Coleman and Riley Norris have proved to me they belong on the floor.
• Alabama seems to play better with Norris in the game. He isn't afraid to mix it up.
• If Coleman can produce anywhere close to iperformance we are going to win games
• Ricky Tarrant is still limping and that's not good.
• Levi Randolph will you please start shooting. again.
• Someone tell Jimmy Taylor you don't have to contest every shot
• Ditto that for Michael Kessens.
• Thank you Rodney Cooper for stepping up like the senior you are. 
• Grant coach one heck of a game against Arkasansas, and you can whine but he did a great job.
• Retin Obasahan is playing a little better and he is a team on the bench. That's important.

We have a pcked house for the game. about 90% will wear Crimson (or white if you read memos) Bama didn't get much rest or prep time for the game. AU had 3 days.We are tired.What do we need to do to win?

1. Rebound better. At least come close to breaking even.

2. Shoot the three to break down the AU Zone. Make 5-8

3. Penetrate so we can shoot 25 free throws.
 n
4. Keep the turnovers to around 10.

5. Better perimeter defense to keep Taylor out of foul trouble

6. The crowd needs to be somewhere around 10 on the noise meter all game.

Last second tip-in kills the Tide in OT 93-91

Tide loses a thriller in Fayetteville...
Lack of rebounds hurt Crimson
Cooper and Coleman shine




     When you lose a game by two in overtime no single play beat you. I'm sure that Anthony Grant is going to catch a lot of heat for this loss. Not from me. He put the Tide into a position to win on the road. You can teach players how to rebound, but you can't rebound for them on the Court. We are a horrible reboundng team. Arkansas got 18 offensive rebounds. Are you serious? How do you give up that many rebounds? You break down on a simple fundamental - block out someone. Block out anyone wearing white. Don't just stand there a wait for bread to fall from heaven into your arms. 

     I wish Grant would pull out some old schools films of one Reginald "Mule" King and let the team see how a real man rebounds. It starts with the word fearless. It moves on to mean and angry, and ends with pride. It they shot it, and miss it, the ball is ours. Last night Alabama certainly got its share of rebounds that sailed over the heads of Tide players. It looked like Arkansas was playing volleyball under the goal. In my opinion, we have one player who seems to understand the king of the painted jungle - Riley Norris. Norris understands how to block out, how to spread out his arms and body, and hold his ground. Same can be said about Levi Randoph. The senior comes in from the backcourt and gets more than his fair share of missed shots. Shannon Hale failed to block out Bobby Portis on the winning shot. I'm not going to give Hale a hard time. The truth is that with so little time remaining you are focused on the ball and not whose behind you on the floor.  

      Say you and I are sitting at Starbucks on Friday morning drinking coffee. You tell me that Arkansas out boarded the Tide by over 20 including 21 offensive rebounds and I'd say "how bad did we get beat?"  Then you say that the Rarzorbacks had more assists, steals, and blocked shots? The Tide got beat in so many categories you would  think they score was a landslide. But it wasn't.   Bama made 12 three point baskets and hit their free throws. And they didn' t quit. They never came near to giving  up. The didn't pack it in when starter after starter fouled out.  Coleman made five threes in the second half. Hale made a  huge three, and then found Michael Kessens under the basket for an old fashion three to send the game into OT. With four starters on the bench the Tide tied the game  in overtime with 6.2 seconds left.  Then came the tip-in. If you want to know what bad coaching is you need to ask Mike Anderson how come his team fouled Kessens when the game could have been over. I say that with tongue in cheek of course. All you can do is tell 'em what to do. 

     Now we have to hope that the Tide will get enough rest and preparation for Auburn. If Bruce Pearl beats Anthony Grant in Tuscaloosa, I don't want to be anywhere near Tide fans after the game. There are big games, and then are career ending games. 

Tide has a tough season left...

Winning at home is a must

     Ready or not the Tide now hits the road after getting thumped by Kentucky.  Next up is Arkansas, and the Crimson has to travel to Wal-Mart USA  for the game.  After the loss to the Wildcats I pulled up the remaining schedule to see where we might finish. Here is my take on our games.

1.  Arkansas - Loss, and this could get ugly if the Tide hasn't rebounded from UK

2.  Auburn at home - this is going to be tough. The Tide plays Thursday night and then returns home to play the Tigers on Saturday. Not rest for the weary. Bama should Win but the game really scares me.  

3.  Florida - the Gators are hitting their stride. Grant has never beaten Florida but I like the match-ups and our zone defense. I'm picking us to Win but not feeling good about it.

4.  Kentucky - In Lexington. Why us? Loss. I bet we play a little better though.

5.  Missouri - The Tigers are lost right now. In  T-Town Win.

6.  LSU in Baton Rouge. Next to Kentucky this team gives up match-up problems galore.

7.  Mississippi State - A road game we should Win. Lose this game the season is over.

8.  Vandy - Home again against a team we can beat. I think we Win

9.  Aubie on the road. As much as I hate to say it, its a Loss.

10. Georgia - At home gives us a chance to Win.

11. South Carolina - Like Georgia, this is going to be a tough Win

12. At Vandy - The 'Dores are hard to beat in Nashville - Loss

13. Ole Miss at home - This could be huge - Win

14. Texas A&M - we could win this if A&M is done, but I think a Loss is more likely

    That's five more losses in my mind. That could be eight more wins. The razor's edge that Bama lives on could make this a lot worse. The Tide could easily lose to Florida, Auburn at home, Vandy has a great big man. South Carolina and Georgia are going to be motivated to get in the NCAA dance. The lack of a home and home schedule hurts some teams, including the Tide. Someone needs to do some re-evaluating on this pot luck scheduling.

     Just for fun that would make us 20-9. Win one in the SEC and that might just, just might be enough. Certainly, the NIT will love us. Then the Grant arguments can really start. 

Kentucky spanks Tide 70-48

Tide seemed intimidated

 

            I've run my predictions for the remainder of the SEC. Best case outcome might be for us to win 20 games going into the SEC Tournament. That includes 4 maybe games. If we finished at 18-13,  I wouldn't be surprised. If we finished at 16-15 I wouldn't be stunned. Let's go over those later. I don't think anyone but the villiage idiot thought be might beat Kentucky. The score of 70-48 was every bit as throrough as the numbers suggest. This was like  little children playing with grown men. This was the difference between a University that values basketball, and one that seems to not care. It's about school that loves its tradition, and refuses to take a backseat to anyone. Alabama was a like a gnat to Kentucky's road to further greatness. If I could make a suggestion. Admire the skills and coaching of the University of Kentucky.  Kentucky realized a few season's  ago that they were slipping and their program wasn't going to become the next UCLA if it could be prevented.

 

         When the Wildcats held UCLA to seven points earlier this season I bet that a lot of influencial Kentucky administrators said, "we told you so". Kentucky decided to hire John Calipari and look the other way about what he did, or what his recruiting methods have done to their institution's reputation. Kentucky did not care about what it might mean to NCAA basketball. The only think that was on the table was winning. There were no methods that the school would not utilize to get back on top. Mission accomplished. You cannot deny the success of the methods or their result. Kentucky decided to play hard ball. The Wildcats were not going to let Alabama or Florida become the new Kentucky. Alabama shot itself in the foot and was out of the way. Florida is still around, and it seems that Billy Donovan is the only thing between Kentucky and what's left of the SEC Conference. 

   None of that took away from the absolute beauty of watching the single best game performance I've ever seen. If you love basketball like a lot of us, you had to admire the skill, power, and execution of the Kentucky team. They did it on both ends of the floor. I just hated it was against Alabama. Everyone on the TiderInsider forum seems to think that we played poorly and Grant couldn't coach his way out of a wet paper bag. That's not true. The Tide held UK to only 70 points. As long as Jimmy Taylor was in the line up the Tide had some chance to win. It might have been small. Perhaps it was just a theoretical chance. When the Tide cut the Wildcat lead to 9 it seemed that Alabama had found a way to keep the game close. When Taylor got his fourth foul the game was over. The margin of the win was just window dressing. If you love basketball then watching Kentucky play was thrilling. If you love Alabama it was a nightmare of the worst kind. Now the question is whether the nightmare is over, or do others follow. It is going to be very interesting to see where the Tide goes after Saturday. Calipari had lost in his two previous trips to Tuscaloosa. He wasn't going to allow a hat trick to occur.The man coached until the final buzzer sounded. He even made light of the fact that Alabama looked at him wondering why he continued to pile it on. Sorry Bama, if that statement is true you were looking at the wrong bench.

 Tomorrow: Where we finish the season

Email: Bamamidcourt@gmail.com

 

'Bama gets ready for Kentucky...
Sell out crowd expected with Kentucky buying 30% of tickets
Let's see some fire from our coach on the sidelines...

    
 

That had to be a  charge!

        We landed a man on the moon several times. That was hard. I think that beating Kentucky will be harder for us than that moon land. Why? Kentucky is very, very good. we are tying to be good. Kentucky has an inside game that is almost NBA caliber. Alabama has a struggling inside game at best. But we did land a man on the moon, so a lot of things are possible. I have been thinking about a game plan we might use to beat Kentucky. Short of a severe flu epidemic hitting the Wildcat team I just can't think of a single way we can beat them.

     Serious question to all of you readers. Do we have one single player who can make the two platoon system that Calipari uses?(I am aware he is drifting away from that). I'm thinking that Levi Randolph and Ricky Tarrant are the only possibilities of any Tide player making the team. I don't think they could. That doesn't  mean they aren't good players. They simply are Kentucky good. Good players can beat great players on rare occasion. Rollie M. put together a game against Georgetown and beat the Hoyas for a national championship. His team shot 76% from the floor. So can we beat the Wildcats? In theory. In reality? That is a different question.

      Quality losses have made analyzing a record more difficult in my opinion. It might be better to play and loss to Kentucky than beat a team like North Florida. Losing on the road isn't as bad as losing at home for some reason. A loss is not necessary just a loss any longer in college basketball.  I have to tip my hat to Bama for coming back against Carolina. Last year, I think the team would have drifted away. This year seems to be different. I don't think we will beat Kentucky, but I think we will play them a decent game. Whether it seems correct to lose in a close game seems kind of strange, but that's the new world we live in.

My biggest grip is SEC scheduling. It's not all home and home. You might draw Kentucky twice. Some teams don't. That doesn't seem and isn't fair. You might draw Mississippi State twice. I'd rather that happen to us, but it may not always occur. The beauty of home and home is the fairness that follows such a schedule. Truthfully, beating a team like Kentucky or Arizona once a year is better than beating some other teams two times. So if Bama plays Kentucky, and we win, that is like landing a man on the moon. Losing a close game to the Wildcats might be like orbiting the moon with no touchdown.

We just waited to long to respond to Carolina's rough ball tactics...

South Carolina played bully ball and we didn't respond the way I'd hope we did. Personally, I'd like for a coach to rogue elephant and get a technical foul using language that would a.) have to be bleeped, and b.) get you kicked out of the gym. I'm talking about going Norman Dale on the refs. I don't think coaches get fined for technical fouls. Better to get one then than at a post game interview. In my officiating career I could tell when a coach wanted to get tossed. One asked me what he needed to do go get tossed. I told him just ask and scream in my face a little. I had no problem with that. Coaches want to see how his assistants and players react in his absence. The fans love their coach getting a technical foul when the refs blow a bad one.

Time for Coach Grant to learn to value of temper...

Not that it matters, but in my high school career I got one technical. We were getting beat by 20. I was getting roughed up. I'd already shot 15 or so free throws. I was tired, hurt, and angry. Any time you talk to a ref and the first letter of the conversation starts with an F... you get a technical. I told the ref I said the word but not directly at him. If  he thinks you said the F word followed by you you are a goner. That gets you tossed. It also got me suspended for two days from school. I got sent to see the principal who asked me if the reports were true. "Yes, Sir", I said, beaming with pride. He said he was going to suspend me for two days for saying that. I appealed. Told him I wasn't even on the school grounds. He said it made no difference. I will remember this as long as I live. So I said, "you telling me that if I said FU I can get suspended for two days?" Mr. Collier said absolutely. I looked him in the eye and said "F U then". That got me a week. I'm not proud of doing that, but my teammates thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. And by the way, I got to play three basketball games during the suspension which seemed odd. My first thought was - if I say those words I don't have to go to school and can still play. My father, Big Bill, straitened me out on that little plan. I seem to recall I was without transportation for a month.  That driving ban didn't include going to the store to buy my Dad his smokes. I was learning about life.

 

I think maybe it's time for Grant to learn a little something about sideline demeanor. It means a lot to players to think your coach is getting tossed because he thinks the refs are cheating you, the player, unfairly. Heck, my daughter, even got tossed from a game when she was a cheerleader. I beamed in admiration. That girl was a fighter, and her sense of right and wrong had no area of gray. So Anthony, let's get you teed up one game. Throw off that Armani or Hugo Boss shirt in the stands. Kick over a chair. Get in Teddy Valentine's year and tell him to toss you. Sports are about emotion. I want noise, I want loyalty, I want a man who makes me believe in his mission. If you don't understand exactly what to do, call Wimp Sanderson. You could call Bobby Knight and as bonus learn about slamming down phones and throwing chairs. Don't give me one of those drive by technical fouls. You know, the kind that no one really doesn't know what happened. Give me a technical that would make your mama blush. Throw in a little Rodney Dangerfield for good measure. Stick you chin out like Churchhill. Inspire us if you can. Get outside that little coaching box. Show your disapproval in the officiating. Get tossed. Get fined. Make us proud. Most fans are starting to get back behind you. Let us know you care. P.S. Don't do that in a critical moment however

Prize fight breaks out last night in Columbia
'Bama misses a great chance to win...

Tarrant fouls out on some "who me?" calls.

   What a wasted opportunity. 20-30 from the free throw line. 66% won't win on the road. You need at least 75% to win. Bama did make 14-16 in the second half. That type of consistency in the first half might have made the difference. In a two point loss you could point to a dozen things which "lost the game". What really lost the game was Alabama's weak play on the boards. The Tide gave up 13 offensive rebounds last night. That is horrible. That is simply without excuse. When Carolina decided to switch to cage fighting in the first half, the Tide backed down. We all know the officiating hurt. It's a fact of life in the SEC that road teams are going to get hosed unless you are Kentucky. The fouls were even at 27. It was the big fouls that killed Alabama late.

        The problem that Bama created was putting themselves in a position to make those fouls matter. After the "trying one" offense of the first half, the Tide decided to take the ball inside more in the second. That made a world of difference.  Grant called time out with 11 seconds to set up a play to tie or win the game. That didn't work. That didn't come close, and the Tide went down 68-66. It was the first prize fight I've ever seen Alabama lose. Uncalled intentional fouls was only the start of the poor officiating. I can't say for sure poor calls beat the Tide. It was a travesty that the SEC allows officials of that poor caliber call games. One official in particular just isn't up to NCAA standards.

    I officiated basketball up to the level of Jacksonville State, West Alabama, North Alabama, and other leagues of that level. Basketball is a very difficult sport to officiate. First, the players are simply too big, strong, and fast to really determine a lot of fouls. That leads to "situational" fouls. You know, the ones where some one gets on a fast break, ups goes to the glee level of the crowd, and a whistle blows. Hysteria follows from the home crowd. That is what I call horrible officiating. Last night the officiating went well beyond that. It happened to both teams. Frank Martin decided to play bully ball last night, and got rewarded for doing so. I've always felt that basketball was a game of grace and skill for the most part. Last night was just trench warfare. Put Detroit Pistons on the Gamecocks and they would have fit right at home. That was good coaching on the part of Martin. If you can cause the other team to back down, you've won more than half the battle.

    Despite all the things that happened, the Tide could have won. South Carolina scored four points in the last 90 seconds on fouls that an illusionist could market in Vegas. A general rule by great officials is to let the players decide the outcome. Officials can do that and still maintain control of the game. Last night the refs did neither. The result was an abomination of a game. I'm not saying the officiating cost the Tide the game. It merely hurt the integrity of SEC officiating in general. It's not like the league is doing anything to eliminate the problem. Back in the day poor officiating was self enforcing. The other ref, or later, the two refs, would kindly suggest that the offending official get his whistle out his rectum and start making decent calls. I've always maintained, and always will, that officials have a responsibility to insure the visiting team gets a fair break. As on official there is nothing more assuring that making a tough call, getting it right, and having the home crowd go into a hissy fit over the call. I loved that. Good refs don't go out of their way to make such calls. They just have the nerve to make them. I never had any league officials suggest that some leeway might be given the home crowd. I'd like to ask other officials out there the same question. Did that ever happen to you?

       Coaches make millions of dollars a year to coach now. Officials owe it to both coaches to get it right to the best of their ability. When someone asked me about a game, who will win, that sort of thing, the first thing I ask is who is blowing the whistles? It is the single most important thing about a game and no one ever thinks about it. After the game, coaches get fined for complaining about biased officiating. There are two things in life that I know are certain. 1. We will all die, and 2. Kentucky never gets a bad call in key situations in Lexington. (or almost anywhere for that matter). The final score was 68-66 on a split card.  Next up is Kentucky.

One final comment. I respect the maturity of Ricky Tarrant. He handled the last foul call very well, when the world could see what a joke call it was.

Tide has a big opportunity tonight

A win in Columbia would move Tide to 3-0

 

Bama needs some big defensive
minutes from Obasahan...

     South Carolina is 0-2 in the SEC. If you have any doubt as to whether Frank Martin's much improved Gamecock team will be ready just look at that start. It is tough to dig your way out of a 0-3 start in the SEC. The game tips off tonight at 8CST. That means it will tip off at 9PM local time in South Carolina. Let's hope the late start might keep a few fans away.

   South Carolina got off to a great start early on this season. The Gamecocks now stand at 9-5. That includes  four point loss to Florida at home and a 16 point road thumping in Oxford, Miss. Las Vegas line makers have the Gamecocks as a 4 point favorite. That's not surprising. The road has historically proven to be a tough place to win in the SEC. The Tide is coming off an absolute crushing of Tennessee on the road. The Vols scored zip for a period of 12 minutes in the second half in face of an inspired Alabama defense. The over/under is a whopping 124.5 points. That essentially means that the first team to 63 is projected to be the winner.

     Carolina has beaten some good teams. They beat ISU by four on a neutral floor. The Tide lost a road game to the Cyclones. Carolina took down Oklahoma State by 16 in Columbia, and Clemson by 23. Those are three good teams. The Gamecocks certainly have better wins that Alabama, and have no real embarrassments either. This game would probably be a pick 'em on a neutral floor. Last season the Gamecocks beat Alabama 66-65 in Columbia. It was not a good game for Bama as they managed to snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory. 

The Match ups: 

1. The last ten games have been decided by less than ten points;
2. Free throws - Bama has won every game they have been able to get to the linen more often than the opponent. That means that Randolph, Cooper, and Tarrant must creat situations that put them on the line. 
3. South Carolina is going to start three guards. All are good shooters from the outside. Sindarius Thornwell might be the best of the three even though he is not their top scorer.
4. Alabama is going to extend their zone to cover those outside shots. That means that Taylor and Kessens will have the burden of helping on penetration. The Gamecocks are not as tall as Bama but have quickness on the insider that might cause the Tide problems
5. Alabama guards are going to have to wear down their defenders. They need to press and keep South Carolina's legs a little tired, especially in the last ten minutes. 
6. Alabama is going to need some help from Justin Coleman in this game. Not only can help on defense, he is quicker than anyone on the floor.
7. Rodney Cooper is going to get some match-ups with a Carolina guard.He might have the opportunity to abuse someone down low. On the other side of the coin he is going to depend on length to offset Carolina quickness.
8. Taylor and Kessens will need to offset the insider game of Laimonus Chatevicus, a former three star recruit. He is 6-11 and weighs 260. He's not the least bit shy about throwing his weight around.
9. Bama would be in great a place with no more than 12 turnovers.
10. A fast start. And some though defense from Obasahan. 

       I think Bama can win this game. That's not the same as winning however. Prior to the Florida loss the Gamecocks had won seven straight games. Frank Martin and his team were getting a lot of notice from ESPN as one of the most improved teams in the NCAA. The question is whether Bama can bring the same energy and focus as they did against UT. You'd believe that SC will be ready with their backs against the wall. 

       This road game is going to tell us a great deal about the Tide's future this season. I hope Bama can find some really carryover from the UT game. I never feel good about a road game. Tonight is no exception. We do have three upperclassmen. That helps. Two of those players are backcourt players. Guards win games. I think the experience of Randolph and Tarrant could be the edge.

       

Tough year for some power teams...

Start at UCLA and Travel East to Find NCAA Powers Reeling...

Florida in the SEC is an Example...

      It hasn't just been Alabama who has struggled to remain a powerful program. Look all around the NCAA and you will find some of the real blue bloods struggling to catch their breath. It's been that kind of season. I'll be really interested in seeing if the Selection Committee treats all teams equally regardless of pedigree. We can start this hoops trail of tears looking in the SEC. Florida has won two recent NCAA Championships and now finds itself with a 9-6 record despite the infusion of recent talent. The Gators have not beaten a single noteworthy opponent this season. A road win at South Carolina is a long drop from some of their recent successes. Every other ranked team has spanked the O'Gators this year. 

Those great programs lanquishing in the trash bin is a pretty impressive list. In the past you would think of each of teams fighting for an NCAA Championship. Here's my short list: UCLA, Michigan, Michigan State, Syracuse, and Memphis. A few other other teams might easily fit in this group. SDSU is not exactly soaring to recent heights. St. Johns is on the cusp of having a bad season. Last week Duke, Arizona, and Wisconsin all got beat.  Those programs are not struggling but those losses just show that the NCAA is leveling out this season.