Bama looked pretty inept against Northeastern...

What did we learn in Bama's first three games?

   

Johnson needs some shooters

 Okay, I buckled up for season one. Alabama got an NIT bid. It was a one and done deal. I buckled up for season two. The NIT asked Bama back, and it was one game and gone. Then fans buckled up for season three. Honestly, a lot of fans buckled up for Collin Sexton. Alabama finished strong and made it to the NCAA. It was another one and done deal, when 'Bama got bumped after one win. It was progress for the Tide. With Sexton gone followers wondered how good the would be. I laughed out loud when some fans said the Tide would be better without Sexton. How could any team be better without Sexton? 

    Season four was upon the Tide hoops nation. I can't remember exactly what number of wins I picked prior to the season's first game. I think it was around 18 or so. I have to wonder if that was optimistic. The Tide got thumped by Northeastern 68-52.  It was a complete beat down. Alabama was not competitive in any phase of the game. The inside game was non-existent. The outside shooting was laughable, except no one was laughing. Is this a trend or, was this all just a bad shooting night? Every team has bad shooting nights. 

    After watching the Tide's first three games it is becoming clear that this Alabama may have some long-term shooting problems. John Petty is a good shooter but the word "road" means he can't drop a ball off the end of a pier and hit the water. Herb Jones is still playing hard-nosed defense, but his offense leaves a lot to be desired. Dazon Ingram seems lost at times. Alabama couldn't get the ball inside to Don'ta Hall. Tevin Mack needs to step it up and score like he did at Texas. It might be "rust" from not playing for a season.

     Here is the sad truth about Alabama at this stage in the season - their best player is a 17-year-old kid who should still be in high school. My own belief is that Avery Johnson plays too many players in whatever his rotation might be. It reminds me more of hockey lines changing on the fly. The more you have in a rotation the harder it is to find chemistry.  Jack Nicklaus said that good putting covers up a multitude of sins. The same is true for good shooting. If Alabama shoots better fans believe they are playing better. That isn't always true. Right now, the Crimson Tide isn't shooting well and frankly, they aren't playing well. For the first time since Avery Johnson arrived at Alabama, I wondered about his coaching. I am getting emails asking me about whether he is a good coach. He is a good coach. I'll get some criticism by saying the problem is recruiting. The Tide gets some good players. They got a great player.  Some of their current players will get better. Alabama doesn't have a player who can strike fear into opposing teams. In today's game, you have to have some outside shooters. Johnson is caught in the modern dilemma that all coaches face. Do I try to recruit players who can leave after a year or two, or do I use the Gonzaga model? The Zags get players who hang around for four or five years. This means player development is important and they build consistent cohesion.

      I think the question of whether Alabama is better without Sexton has been answered. Fans will now move on to the next question.   Would Alabama be better off without Johnson? It is a fair question. I think he may coach himself out of this slow start, but this isn't going to be a banner year. If you want to know what is wrong with this team you need only look at the Tide's three new players. All hang their hats on great shooting. What Bama needs right now are a couple of players who can light it up from the outside. This is year four of the Johnson era. Fans will not be happy if the Tide doesn't make the NCAA, and they should be. Alabama has more money than any college team. The Tide still plays in a second-rate arena. I question Alabama's desire to have a great hoops program. If Alabama can hire a Nick Saban it means they can hire a Coach K type if the need arises. Don't get me wrong. I love Avery Johnson. His charisma is infectious. He makes me want to play again. I need to find a reason to buckle up. 

 Here's what I have learned so far this season

• Kira Lewis, Jr. is the real deal. He will get better, and when has some NCAA experience he will be a load for other teams
• Petty is playing hard. He is rebounding and can run the floor. He needs to keep shooting. They will fall.      
• Alabama's offense is standing around and not moving.
• Teams will zone the Tide until shots start to fall.
• Hall can help inside if he can get the ball. 
• Johnson is playing far too many players to find chemistry. I am not sure what he is looking for.
• Bama is playing decent defense and it will become more important for this season.
• Alabama enters season four with no real proven outside shooter except Petty. How did that happen? 
• Alabama's players are competive and are givng great effort. Don't knock the effort.

And from Alcrtide: 

• Good write-up Bill. Agree with most of what you say, but they didn't play hard alcrtide 2018-11-16 09:45:23
yesterday. And the part where you talk about too much standing around on offense - movement is effort, and they aren't moving so they aren't giving enough effort.
I think after CAJ lost to Nova in the NCAA tourney he saw he needed shooters and went out and signed three good ones. I am afraid the sad reality is this program is not going to greatly improve until the players that aren't good shooters graduate and the good shooters arrive.
You are dead-on that our best player is Kira Lewis. Last year it was Sexton. CAJ can evaluate talent and recruit, and there is no reason we can't be successful going forward if CAJ can develop them and get good rotations and team chemistry on the floor.
The fact we have a player or two that think they are ready for the NBA after this season says a lot. I noticed Petty is #23 and we signed Jalen Forbes, who is shown in a Bama uniform wearing #23. Petty is not ready - the NBA plays 41 road games - and if he can't hit his shots on the road in college I don't know why he thinks he can score on the road in the NBA. The fact we are still trying to sign one more tells us someone is leaving. Maybe Petty, maybe Giddens who is a 4th year junior.
We agree on the problem of rotation and floor chemistry. I would get this down to 8 players and build the team around them:
Lewis, Petty, Jones, Hall, Smith, Mack, Reese and Ingram.
I don't know how you can put Hall, Jones, Ingram and Smith on the floor at the same time - who is going to make outside shots except Lewis or Petty? You need at least 2 good shooters on the floor at the same time. Unless we go big to match the size of opposing teams, or for brief spurts - I would not play Hall and Smith at the same time. You also can't play Ingram and Jones at the same time unless you have a lead and are trying to lock down a team defensively. They are both good defensively and very good rebounders, but neither is a good scorer. I would play a lot more of Mack and Reese with Lewis, Petty, Jones and Hall. I would substitute so that we don't put too many players who have trouble shooting and scoring on the floor at the same time.
I think we will still have a good season, we'll see. I hope so, but everyone else in the SEC is improving too.