the ups and downs of tide hoops...
Common basketball logic dictates the first five minutes of a game is uber important to a road team. Against the Gators, the first five and then the second five minutes were not kind to Alabama. The Tide had far too many turnovers. 14 in a game is too many. 14 in the first half alone is atrocious. Somehow Alabama was down only 6 points. Six points were no guarantee of a win, but at least the Tide had not let the horse out of the barn. The second ten minutes of half one was an improvement. Florida was in the lead, but not in control. Alabama was shooting a light's out percentage but they were turning the ball over so much, they couldn't make enough baskets to take the lead. That was about to change.
Alabama captured the lead early in the second half by scoring the first eight points in the second half. The Tide played a tremendous second half. Sexton, Ingram, and Hall, in particular, turned mean. Hall dominated the inside, Ingram played the role of the steady hand, and Sexton was, well... he was Sexton. Key helped inside. Jones played some hard-nosed defense. All in all, the Tide, looked like a very good team, perhaps an NCAA head team, in whipping the hide off the Gators on their own home floor. The final score was 68-50. That is an outstanding effort. To beat the 23rd ranked team on their home floor got Bama back in the NCAA Tournament picture. Now what?
The coming games for 'Bama are a double-edged sword. Tough teams with good records are coming up. I think that Alabama needs to win their last four home games. That would include Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas, and LSU. Those games are important and on the surface, you would think that the Tide can hold serve. They failed to do so with Missouri and the up and down nature of the team makes everyone nervous. For argument's sake, let's assume the Crimson and White wins those four home games. Now let's throw in a road win. I'd suggest that the State game is a possibility. Nothing is set in stone on the road. I'm not sure that anything is set in stone in the SEC anymore. The Texas A&M is possibly a win because the Tide matches up well with the Aggies. Kentucky? They've lost a lot of games, but Lexington is tough. Auburn? It has been a magical year for the Tigers. A 20 win season prior to the SEC Tournament is possible. Throw in a couple of SEC Tournament wins and the Tide is looking a good seed.
Alabama has four very bad losses. Minnesota, Vandy, Ole Miss, and UCF are on the books. All the Tide can is that these teams win some games down the line. Georgia is a marginal loss, and some critical thinking might lead you to believe the NCAA Selection Committee will look at Minnesota as an outlier. Finish strong is a big deal to the Selection Committee. Whether a team that has not shown a lot of consistency, it remains unknown exactly what will happen.
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| Ingram scores compliments USA Today |
A week in college basketball is an eternity. In one week a team can go from the top of the world to the bottom of the heap. It works the other way as well. Exhibit # 1 - The Alabama Crimson Tide. The Tide was on the top of the world after beating Oklahoma. The Tide returned to Tuscaloosa to be thoroughly embarrassed by Missouri. It was as if the quest for an NCAA berth was lost. The Tide then flew for a game with Florida. No way the Crimson should beat the Gators. Low and behold, Alabama annihilated Florida by almost 20. The roller-coaster goes up and then it goes down. Up and down seems to the only consistency the Tide can muster. Today, the Tide is once again on the top in a maddening pursuit to make it to the NCAA Field of 64, If you like yo-yos, you will love being a 'Bama fans this season. Is Alabama ready to make a late-season move? Stay tuned.
Tide starts slow and finishes in a sprint...
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| Tide needs Key down the stretch |
Alabama captured the lead early in the second half by scoring the first eight points in the second half. The Tide played a tremendous second half. Sexton, Ingram, and Hall, in particular, turned mean. Hall dominated the inside, Ingram played the role of the steady hand, and Sexton was, well... he was Sexton. Key helped inside. Jones played some hard-nosed defense. All in all, the Tide, looked like a very good team, perhaps an NCAA head team, in whipping the hide off the Gators on their own home floor. The final score was 68-50. That is an outstanding effort. To beat the 23rd ranked team on their home floor got Bama back in the NCAA Tournament picture. Now what?
One tough closing schedule...
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| Sexton scores against Gators |
Some bad losses:
Alabama has four very bad losses. Minnesota, Vandy, Ole Miss, and UCF are on the books. All the Tide can is that these teams win some games down the line. Georgia is a marginal loss, and some critical thinking might lead you to believe the NCAA Selection Committee will look at Minnesota as an outlier. Finish strong is a big deal to the Selection Committee. Whether a team that has not shown a lot of consistency, it remains unknown exactly what will happen.
Thirty-second timeout:
Opponent: MState University
Where - Starkville,
When - Tuesday - 2/7/18
When - Tuesday - 2/7/18
Time - 6:00 PM (cst)
Network: SECN
The starting lineups -
