Boomer Sooner over Roll Tide...

Bama Falls Apart in Second Half

Foul trouble kills the Tide

Rebounding is non-existent

 

      Here is the most important thing to take out of Bama's 82-73 loss to Oklahoma.  Alabama can't play it's usual type of pressure defense with this new wimpy touchy foul rule. Today had nothing to do with our players, our coach, or our program. I know people will start calling for Grant's head on pike. As long as Alabama was allowed to play tough defense they were fine. When the officials started to call touch fouls Bama was dead.
 

        The season is not over. The sun will rise in the east, and a lot of Bama fans will continue their criticism.  I know for a fact that all this negativity has cost Alabama a commitment of a one player, at least at this time. Posting comes with a cost in some cases. Tread lightly even though a screen name protects who you are.

Releford couldn't play his game...

       The fouls called on Releford were laughable. I'd be laughing but I understand that this team's future will not be decided on coaching or talent. It will be decided on some stupid rule. So what does Bama do?  They did it today. Drive to the basket. Go dribble-penetrate on almost every possession. I'll let the readers decide if the new rule was applied equally today. There is an unspoken rule in college basketball - you don't foul out stars in the pre-season. Our best hope is that this new rule will be called both ways.  The Tide has plenty of players who can prosper - Key, Obasahan, Releford, and Randolph. For those who are going to criticise Levi try to remember this is the second time he's been on the floor since his knee injury.

Algie Key is a player...

     I was very impressed with Key. Of the new players he is obviously the best. Obasahan looked much improved, and Releford continues his fine play. Hale and Taylor have a long way to go. Engstrom was lost. He's clearly favoring his foot. Rodney Cooper played like this was the first game he's ever seen. Very disappointing. It's hard to talk about Jacobs because he rarely go a touch. We don't rebound. I'm not sure we can rebound with Engstrom and Taylor in the lineup. All totaled a bad day for Bama, but a worst day for basketball with a silly rule that takes hard nosed defense out of game. Here's what I see for this team. If the new rule is called like it was today we are in trouble. If the rule is called in a manner to allow contact we will be fine. In the meantime I'd be working on a zone defense and trying to some size that can play. That was what was so disappointing about William Lee's decision to delay his college choice. All the perceived negativity surrounding Coach Grant has confused the young man. I have long suspected that all this social media and ability comment about coaches effect recruiting. This is the first case I know it to be true.

College basketball headed the way of the NBA?

     Despite the new rule we have to deal with it. College basketball is about to change. It's going to become a junior NBA where defense is an after thought. Games will be longer because of all the foul shooting. Quality of play will suffer because players get in foul trouble. It is going to be very interesting to see how teams deal with the rule. I think zone defenses will become the rule. Outside shooting will be more important in the second half of games. Games will begin with guards flying toward that basket like a Kamikaze pilots. The kids will try to score on the these penetration but the main goal of basketball may become fouling out players.

Rebounding effort was an embarrassment...

     You can't sugar coat the Tide's obvious problems. The inside game is lacking to be kind. Taylor will help. Engstrom needs to get well, and Jacobs needs more touches. We don't rebound. Rebounding is effort. Playing four guards will become more and more risky. The upside falls like a rock because of the new foul rule. The landscape of college basketball is about to change. Officials will be looked at like bacteria under a microscope. Bama got the bad end of officiating last night. How Grant deals with this is going to be interesting to watch unfold. His main offensive weapon is on the bench due to legislation.  I have quit watching NBA ball because it is so boring. Is college basketball about to become the same? My bet is that enough coaches will complain to have the rule modified. When you reach out to touch an offensive player, not necessarily to impede progress,  it is silly. But then again the NCAA has always been a clown college in my opinion. I'm not overlooking Alabama's shortcomings. This article is about a bigger problem.