BAMA MIGHT BE NEAR THE BOTTOM OF SEC

Some tough times lie ahead...

    "The captain has turned off the seatbelt sign. You can unbuckle your seats and walk around the cabin. We ask you not jump off the plane, however," That pretty much sums up the way a lot of Alabama fans must feel tonight.  For the first half of the Clemson game, the Tide was an embarrassment. Coach Johnson's promise of a fast paced game seems like a distant memory.  Before the season started I thought the Tide would be hard pressed to match last season's win total. Right now, it's hard to see more than a handful of games the Tide will win. I think believing Alabama is going to win a few road games just isn't going to happen. I'm sure the Tide's coaching staff will come up with something to win a few home games. Beyond that, I don't see even 16 wins for the season.

        The Tide's offense is hopeless. We have no inside game, and our guards can't drop a ball off the end of a pier and hit the ocean.  They all seemed scared to death to even shoot. I'm glad that Johnson finally put Shannon Hale in the last ten minutes. He'll shoot. He might not make a lot but he'll cause the defense to seek him out. Add to that he will take the ball to the basket and it causes some offensive movement. Alabama even managed to get the Clemson down to single digits, but it was far too little and far too late. The Tide's record is now 5-5 with a possible win coming up on Wednesday in Huntsville. You tell where the Tide is going to win enough games to make the NIT, much less the NCAA.

       No doubt, the Tide has recruited well for next season. You might even see four of the Tide's recruits in the starting lineup. Right now, Don'ta Hall is the only Tide player I believe would start next season. So what does the Tide coaching staff do now? I'd give some strong consideration to calling this season unimportant. Would the Tide be better off just playing those players who might contribute next season?  I see only two Tide players, Avery Johnson, Jr. and Braxton Key that seems to play up to what the coaching staff wants to do. The strange disappearance of Riley Norris and Shannon Hale is surprising. Point guard Dazon Ingram has been like a lost sheep on the floor. Granted, the point guard position is a tough one. Even graduate transfers have been ineffective.

     Johnson's team is on the brink of collapse. Even the most miraculous coaching possible isn't going to turn this season around. The talent isn't there, the chemistry isn't there, and more than a few boos were rained down on the floor from fans who questioned the effort. Coach Johnson has a Merry-Go-Round of a playing rotation. Surely, that is going to stop at some time in the future.

     Coach Johnson pumped this team up to the fans. Perhaps he has misjudged or his boundless enthusiasm got the best. The Tide showed some enthusiasm in ten minutes. Kudos to them for doing so. The deficit was just too great.  It was the worst half of basketball I've seen in some time. Our offense doesn't exist. Our defense allows guards to penetrate untouched to the basket far too many times.

      Next year the Tide has better players coming in. But what are we getting off this year's team to help the newbies transition into SEC ball? Hall might continue to improve. Braxton Key    will be rock solid. Can Ingram figure out his problems? This team is on the verge of a complete disintegration unless like Saul they see the light. I don't think they even know where the light bulb might be. 

SLOW START HAS 'BAMA FANS WORRIED...

Players have closed door meeting to sort things out

 

         

Best Tide single season ? 

I've held off writing much because it seemed important to see the team play several games. I've seen six of the seven games the Tide has played and you can color me unimpressed. Last season, the Tide excited the 'Bama Nation with some good wins. I think most fans now understand how much Retin Obasahan meant to the Tide and how his inspiring play covered up a multitude of basketball sins for the rest of the team. Now, it is plainly clear that Obasahan meant a lot more than most fans and writers believed. The Tide's guard play this season and been average as best. I think the jury is still out on Dazon Ingram's play at the point. His outside shooting has improved. He penetration to the basket in undeniable. His turnovers are too frequent and come at the worst time. He is pressing in an attempt to carry his team. Ingram has all the physical skills necessary to be a great point guard. He will get better. His year off waiting for a foot injury to heal has left him rusty on the court. I expect him to show vast improvement as the year progresses. If Ingram doesn't or isn't able to step up the game it is going to be a long year for the Tide.

THE TRANSFERS...

   

Bama needs some points

Let's be honest. Nick King and Corbin Collins have been disappointing at best. King seems to be a jack of all trades but a master of none. Collins, who was a 40% shooter behind the line has not found his touch yet. He hit three bigs against Texas but has otherwise not delivered the offense fans expected. leadership cannot be denied. He's a solid addition at a time when 'Bama needs better than solid performances. Nick King has picked up with disruptive play inside on defense. His offense has been woefully short of what the Tide needs. The former top 25 recruit  signed with Memphis and then transferred to Bama. The Tide needs him to play the power forward. He is a classic tweener at the two forward positions. Avery Johnson, Jr. has been surprisingly steady off the bench. He is obviously well versed by his father and he has helped the Crimson. Nick King is now MIA due to an undisclosed medical problem which has caused him to lose "substantial" weight.

THE NEWBIES...

     

Davis needs to step up his game

When 'Bama signed Ar'mond Davis, the hot shot three-man from the College of Southern Idaho, there was a big hope his outside shooting would give the Tide some instant help. It has not happened. It's early in his Division One career. He has the touch to be a real asset.He is more of a catch and shoot three point shooter as opposed to creating his own shot. 

    If any player has exceeded expectations it is Braxton Key. Key who played at famed Oak Hill Academy. Key is 6-8 and checks in at 230 pounds.He is a real talent and is the best player on the team in my opinion. He can make the three-point basket and take it down low. He is good rebounder and has some real court sense. His play will likely determine just how well the Tide will do this season. He was a top 25 recruit according to some publications and was a consencus four-star player.

    Bola Olananiyan, the 6-7 grad transfer from Southern Illinois is a scrapper. It remains to be seen if excellent rebound skills will make his a strong addition to the Tide's team. Of all the Tide's new players he is the one that puzzles me the most. He got good reviews from fellow teammates for his leadership and hard work in practice. It has yet to manifest in games. He has started some games but his contributions have been modest.

RETURNING PLAYERS...

    I like Riley Cooper. He is an old fashioned blue collar player. In high school, he was a prolific scoring and rebounder. He has had two good years in Tuscaloosa already. I expect him to play well this season. Like a lot of shooters, he needs to shot. I know that sounds odd but long range shooters are not going to sit on the bench and come in a make a few very often.    

    How do you not pull for Jimmie Taylor, the much-maligned post player? He is a good shot blocker and that's about it. He plays hard, and I think he has lived up to his potential. That's about anyone can hope for. He has some good moments. But that's about it. Just moments and not games will to fall short for what the Tide needs. His backup, Don'ta Hall is an athletic animal who is short of any basketball skills. No doubt he can rebound and block shots. He has improved from last season. I think the time as come to put him ahead of Taylor

FINAL THOUGHTS...

    The excitement of Avery Johnson landing a gig in Tuscaloosa was huge. As usual, Alabama fans went completely crazy. That's okay because its been a long time since Bama has had a great team. If you understand Basketball it should have been apparent that this was going to hard season.

    I don't understand Johnson's refusal to key in on eight players and get his rotation settled. The Tide is averaging 33 points off the bench. That's not as good as what we'd like to believe. What that means for Bama is that the starters still haven't been selected. Tonight, the Tide plays Oregon. Alabama is a 12 point dog. We've all buckled up. Now we are going to find out if Coach Johnson can coach. Last season, he had already pulled off a couple of upsets. I hope he can get one tonight.