Tide running out of chances...

Bama is playing better despite losses...

Can the Tide pull off a win tonight?

   

         

       I think they can. In fact, I believe they will. Despite losing to highly ranked Florida the Tide had some really good things happen. First, they played the Gators almost down to the wire without starter Retin Obasahan. Looking back you have to wonder what the outcome of that game might have been with Obasahan's defense grit against just one of the those deadly Florida outside shooters. Bottom line on the Florida game was that the Gators made their outside shots and Alabama didn't. The Tide was 2-12. Ouch. 2-12 at home. Bama needs to make at least 40% of those shots. It might also help if the Tide guards would shoot a few more short range jumpers. Randolph and Cooper can do that. Cooper needs to find something to help Alabama. 

      Here's something that Bama made some real progress toward becoming a better team - the Tide rebounded the ball very well after a shaky start under the boards. The Tide pulled down 39 boards against the Gator's 42. The Tide pulled down 15 offensive boards. The Gators had 18 but got 8 of those in the first five minutes of the game on two trips down the floor. In the end, it was the Tide's inability to make threes that  beat them. Grant gambled that giving up some outside shots on defense was better than giving up the inside. It almost worked.  Bama more than held there own inside. You also had to notice that Jacobs made a couple of mid range jumpers. Grant has clearly given Nick the green light to force defenders follow him outside. Carl Engstrom threw his considerable weight around inside. The Tide's ability to almost break even on the boards kept them closer enough to win. Once again, the offense just isn't there. So now the Bayou Bengals come to town. Grant has had the Tigers number since he's come to Bama. Maybe Cooper will remember his 28 point game against the LSU while a freshman and find his offensive game. 

     Beating LSU starts with slowing down Johnny O'Bryant, III. He is averaging almost 15 points per game. He is extremely active inside. He is also fearless. That doesn't always help the tall post player who sometimes gets out of control. If Bama can slow down Johnny O they have a very good chance to win. You might remember that at one point O'Bryant had the Tide at the top of his list. A considerable amount of discussion followed his commitment to LSU. The Jacobs/Taylor/Engstrom vs. O'Bryant battle will most likely decide the winner of this game. I like the Tide by 2.