TIDE FINISHES STRONG TO BEAT STATE...

     

     Itś not much of a secret that the Tide is a little short on talent. There are three things that Alabama has an abundance of this season. They have a big heart, they have excellent coaching, and the understand the meaning of the term team. All four of those things are important. What I´d like for Tide fan to imagine future teams that have all four. I believe that Avery Johnson will make that happen. I think Johnson has found the knack of coaching in the college ranks. Then look at next yearś incoming class. Iḿ not just talking about the two five-star members. The other three are fine basketball players. Iḿ personally interested in Smith from Mississippi. I would love to see what those two would look like in tandem on the inside. Jones is a great shooter and is at least 6-5 which is a little taller than reported. Reese is a very solid all round player. He can shoot it from downtown. He can also play inside but needs some weight and trips to the strength coach.

     Yesterday, Alabama won a basketball game by doing three things. First, they were very patient. The offense is starting to understand the benefit of one extra pass. Second, the Tide can play defense. They rarely gave State anything that wasn´t hotly contested. Bama shut down the best two players on Stateś team. 

     The third thing that Alabama did was play aggressive basketball which allowed them to shoot free throws. I thought Howland made a decision to put the Tide on the free throw line. Given recent history, it wasn´t a bad idea. When the Tide surprised everyone by making 31-36 free throws the strategy looked pretty short sided. 

     One thing that Johnson pointed out was the players used the legs more in their shooting. He was talking about from the free throw line, but Riley Norris finally was stepping into shots with some authority. I have no idea if Rileyś slump is over, but most of his hoops were pure nylon.

     On Saturday, the Crimson took a large first half lead and built on it after the second half started. Like so many other games the Tide got sloppy. When Mississipi State took a lead it looked like a back to the future finish. It didn´t happen. Alabamaś guards took the
game over, made free throws when fouled. 
The also utilized freshman Braxton Key. The budding superstar drained a three deep in the corner and the Tide was on their way to a win. 

TIDE IS NOW 5-2 ...

   The Crimson Tide is now 5-2 in SEC play. Now, granted the SEC is not the Charles Atlas of the basketball. Bama is not ready to compete with those type teams. You have to acknowledge that 5-2 with 3 road wins is pretty impressive. Road team with around 17% of their SEC road games.The Tide knocked off a pretty good, and getting better, Mississippi State team at The Hump. That is always sweet to Tide fans. Alabama also beat LSU and Georgia on the road. Thatś a big deal. When you have three road wins a lot of good things can happen. Will they happen to Bama? I think the first thing you do is to see Tide has left on the road which they could win.

    The easy part of the road games is gone. Bama might beat Missouri in Columbia. The Tide likely won´t beat South Carolina, Texas A&M, or Arkansas on their home floors. That leaves the Tennessee.The Vols are up or down. Catch them on a down night and Bama could have four road wins. Iḿ impressed we have three. So can Bama hold serve at home? Not likely with the Kentucky Wildcats calling. Alabama can beat Auburn. The two big man game may hurt Wiley. Make no
mistake, the Tigers have better players that Alabama. Wiley inside and four impressive outside shooters will win you some games. 

   On paper, the Tide looks good against the three teams and Ole Miss at. That would be a remarkable season for the Tide and Avery Johnson should be SEC Coach of the Year. If any told me this team could finish 9-9  or 0-8 I wouldn´t have believed it. Alabamaś lackluster pre-season will keep them out of the NIT. Their great conference performances will get them a home court NIT if, and this is a big if, attendance stays good.

    There are a couple of lesser tournaments but the Tide will give those folks a cold shoulder. I am a proponent of playing as many games as you can. Ingram, AJjr, Hall and Key could use the extra floor time. If Nick King ever gets well he could get a few minutes.

Surprise of the Season - Braxton Key was great at Oak Hill Academy. Itś also a big time program. Moving Key to the two guard is genius coaching by Grant. Key can make the long range bomb and can penetrate. He can also post up a smaller guard. 

Iḿ also in impressed with AJjr. He is a baller. He runs the floor, doesn´t turn it over much, and can also penetrate and run the floor. His off the glass shots may be a little unorthodox, but aren´t they sweet? 

And finally Shannon Hale.  Itś a money season and that has gone away one way or the other. He has been a major problem for Grant this season. Bama needs some senior leadership. Hall didn´t answer the bell. I wouldn´t be stunned if he is gone. Official word is a lower leg injury. Word on the street is he is no longer on the team. I'm going with the official story until I learn anything more definitive