TIDE NOW FIGHTING FOR NIT BID

NCAA IS GONE, AND NIT IS ALL THAT
REMAINS FOR THE TIDE...
Obasahan is playing well for Tide
Norris off a career high game
Levi needs to come back from poor game...

   

The captain can't be MIA in this one

    Alabama was riding high with quick 2-0 start in the SEC. Their third game was against South Carolina. Alabama lost a close game which started a pattern for Alabama that has continued through the loss to Georgia.  It’s always, close but no cigar. Alabama is 16-11 and could easily have 23 wins right now if they won the close ones. That would be NCAA time for the Tide. Instead, here we are once again chained to the floor with a so-so season. Give credit to Grant and Alabama. They are better than last season, and they were very close to winning big. Now, I’m not sure 20 wins is in reach. To do that they need to win their last four regular season games. Two of those are on the road at Vanderbilt and Texas A&M. There is also a home game with Ole Miss.

  

Retin Obasahan has eased the loss of Tarrant

     If Bama could win two of the last three that would probably get us in the NIT. Whether we would be a host team isn’t so clear. Poor attendance will hurt the Tide for that bid.  Once again the Tide will without Ricky Tarrant, whose injury will not be revealed to the public. A lower leg injury could mean a lot of things. He reportedly is out of a walking boot. Grant must expect him back at some point because he hasn’t said he’s finished for the year.  Retin Obasahan has stepped in his place and done extremely well. His play as a junior makes me feel a little bit easier about next season. Same thing with Riley Cooper. Obasahan is one of those players who defy the idiotic notion that Grant cannot develop players.  Take a look at Norris from day one until the present. Expect them to be key players next season.

 

Head Coach Frank Martin

     South Carolina is 13-13 and isn’t going anywhere but home unless they win the SEC Tournament it appears. Frank Martin, coach of USC has seen his team make steady progress through the year. If you have played basketball in the past you know that playing for a .500 team is hard to do. The coach is constantly putting in players trying to find his best lineup. Carolina is not without talent. They are a better team than the one we played in Columbia.  Alabama opened at -4.5 and the line stayed right there. I think Alabama will win this game by more than 5, they can make their free throws.  As most of you know, Martin and Grant are close friends, and played high school ball together at Miami Senior High School. So this a game that Grant would like to win. Tip-Off at Coleman tonight at 6:00 PM. Joe Dean, the son of string music and my long time friend, is doing the game. He's the best in the business.